Repair install

[RipperT]

I have a friends Gateway laptop and trying to do a reinstall of the OS. I
began with a retail version XP pro upgrade disc, when it got to the product
key screen, I entered the key that's on the laptop case and it wouldn't take
it. I called M$ and they gave me a new key and that won't work either. In
the meantime, said friend coughed up his original Gateway OEM recovery disc.
Figuring I should try that now, the laptop won't get out of "continuing the
installation..." screen each time I reboot. Is it possible to start this
process over?

Many thanks,

Rip

 

[Guest]

Yes there is a fix, remove the disc from the drive and place in it the OEM
disc with the original Operating System on it, then reboot the laptop while
the laptop reboots, hit either F8 or F9 while it boots and it will popup a
boot from device screen with the following options boot from hard drive, boot
from the CDRW drive or from a floppy drive choose the CDRW drive and it will
boot up from the OEM disc then go thru the steps to either repair or
re-install the Operating System..

Hopefully that helps you guys out...

 

[RipperT]

F9 doesn't do anything. F8 brings up the Windows Advanced Options Menu with
the options for safe mode, last known good, start windows normally, reboot
and return to OS choices menu (among others). None of these work (or they
don't apply) except safe mode and going into that generates the error
message "Setup cannot run under safe mode. Setup will now restart" and it
restarts. I am not getting a boot from device screen. Please help!

Ripper

 

[Jerry]

Change the boot order in the BIOS so you boot from the CD - then try the
repair install.

 

[Guest]

hit the delete button while it reboots to get to your diagnostics and/or BIOS
menu in there will be an option to change the main or first boot device
choose the CDRW drive and make sure you save the settings before you exit
reboot from the CDRW OEM Disc and follow the screen commands from there

 

[RipperT]

OK, I got it to boot from the CD. Per Michael Stevens Tech site, I chose "To
set up Windows XP, press enter" (bypassed the Recovery Console). I selected
the Windows XP install that I want to repair and press R. This brings up the
screen:

Setup has already attempted to upgrade the following Windows installation.
C:\Windows "Microsoft Windows XP Professional"
Setup will try to complete the upgrade again.
To retry upgrading to Windows XP, press ENTER.
To continue installing a fresh copy of Windows XP without repairing, press
ESC.
To quit Setup, press F3.

I retried upgrading to Windows XP (1st selection)
files are copied (takes awhile)...
Error messeges ensue...
"A write operation was attempted after a volume was dismounted" (or similar
msg)
automatic reboot
"Setup is being restarted"
"Insufficient resources exist to complete the API" ("lsass.exe System Error"
in the title bar)
automatic reboot
"Setup is being restarted"
"Not enough memory exists to complete the specified operation." ("lsass.exe
System Error" in the title bar)
automatic reboot
"Setup is being restarted"
"Not enough paging file or virtual memory quota is available to complete the
specified operation."
automatic reboot
"Setup is being restarted"
etc...
And so it goes. I am trying to salvage the data files left on this laptop.
You guys have been helpful. Dare I ask more?

Rip