New Gateway XP Pro Config

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ross
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Ross

Just got a new Gateway computer with XP Pro installed. It came without
media, and with a partition configured as FAT32 that contains a program
called PCAngel (www.pcangelle.com) that appears to create some locked
folders that contain the installation image. Upon boot, it is unable to
install MSN or Windows Media Player 10 (both end with errors) . There is
no option for a clean XP Pro install, you have to take the whole image which
includes AOL 9, napster and others. Bad news if you like to run a clean
machine. After one week of talking to their tech support, they are unable
to help. They have had me run restore 4 times so far, same image restored
(big surprise). Shouldn't the end user be allowed to reinstall the OS only,
without all of the garbage, especially if the image appears unable to
perform basic tasks like upgrading to Media Player version 10.

Anyone else have experience with this problem. Does this violate the
microsoft aggrements with gateway, I would think Microsoft would like to see
the customer have an option to install the OS without AOL 9 for instance.
 
Ross said:
Just got a new Gateway computer with XP Pro installed. It came without
media, and with a partition configured as FAT32 that contains a program
called PCAngel (www.pcangelle.com) that appears to create some locked
folders that contain the installation image. Upon boot, it is unable to
install MSN or Windows Media Player 10 (both end with errors) . There is
no option for a clean XP Pro install, you have to take the whole image which
includes AOL 9, napster and others. Bad news if you like to run a clean
machine. After one week of talking to their tech support, they are unable
to help. They have had me run restore 4 times so far, same image restored
(big surprise). Shouldn't the end user be allowed to reinstall the OS only,
without all of the garbage, especially if the image appears unable to
perform basic tasks like upgrading to Media Player version 10.

Anyone else have experience with this problem. Does this violate the
microsoft aggrements with gateway, I would think Microsoft would like to see
the customer have an option to install the OS without AOL 9 for instance.
Click to expand...

A vendor must provide one of three ways to restore the computer: a
Windows Installation CD, a Restore CD, or a hidden partition to restore
the system. It seems like Gateway provided #3 and have complied with
their obligation. I am surprised, though. I bought a gateway 2 1/2
years ago and it came with a complete XP installation CD and CDs for the
apps. I guess they may have changed to cut costs, or maybe it depends
on the particular model -- too bad. I personally would not get a system
that didn't have an installation CD.
 
You should be able to uninstall PCAnget in Control Panel/Add or Remove
programs.
Doing a clean install must be done from the XP installation disk. While in
progress of installing it "should" ask you if you want to install the other
programs
and give you the opportunity to skip them. Also ask you if you want to use
the
FAT32 or NTFS formats. If not, contact Gateway tech support and file a
complaint, give them h..., or ask for an XP installation disk. If you paid
by credit
card, you can always tell them you're going to stop payment on it and return
the
product. Buy Dell.............
 
There is a complicated way to install xp. However, you will lose all
you preinstalled stuff including msworks.

This wll take sometime.

Burn i386 folder to a cd rom
Burn all drivers to a cd-rom
Now get the key viewer.
Write that key down somewhere.
Now get a windows 98se bootdisk. With fdisk on it.
Boot to floppy
Run Fdisk
Delete all non-dos or ntfs partitions.
Create whole fat32 partition.
Reboot with 98se disk
Format drive C:
Now reboot with floppy indrive
load a:\smartdrv.exe (if not loaded)
Now install xp
x:\i386\winnt.exe*
Remove floppy when asked
Keep fat32 until after the installation is done.
Use that key from the key viewer
Convert to ntfs after yor are done. If you want.
One thing you will need to do. Is remove the extra entry in the
c:\boot.ini
Either will say boot to previous operating system or windows 98

*x:\is your cd drive


Greg R



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http://www.aclu.org/refusetosurrender/
 
Ross said:
Just got a new Gateway computer with XP Pro installed. It came without
media, and with a partition configured as FAT32 that contains a program
called PCAngel (www.pcangelle.com) that appears to create some locked
folders that contain the installation image. Upon boot, it is unable to
install MSN or Windows Media Player 10 (both end with errors) . There is
no option for a clean XP Pro install, you have to take the whole image which
includes AOL 9, napster and others. Bad news if you like to run a clean
machine. After one week of talking to their tech support, they are unable
to help. They have had me run restore 4 times so far, same image restored
(big surprise). Shouldn't the end user be allowed to reinstall the OS only,
without all of the garbage, especially if the image appears unable to
perform basic tasks like upgrading to Media Player version 10.

Anyone else have experience with this problem. Does this violate the
microsoft aggrements with gateway, I would think Microsoft would like to see
the customer have an option to install the OS without AOL 9 for instance.
Click to expand...
How long ago did you get the computer? If it's been 30 days or less,
call Gateway and tell them you want to return it. They will do damn near
anything to get you to keep it, including, most likely, supplying you
with real installation media. Be firm and if they resist, return the
computer and buy one that comes with an XP disk, and make sure that the
disk is a condition of the sale.
 
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