Replacing C drive

[Richard]

I was attempting to help a low income woman with a computer problem and need
advice.
She had a young man build her a computer but go ripped off.
He installed two old hard drives, one 2 GB for C and one 3 GB for D (data
and programs)
On the C drive he installed Windows XP Pro, but did not give her the disk.
Of course the C drive is now 99% full and it does not operate well and can't
accept updates.
She bought a new WD 40 GB drive and I used the WD software to partition it,
format it and mirror the C drive contents to it as a new boot disk.
All that went well, but the computer will not boot from the new disk (yes
the new disk was jumpered as master and put on the primary IDE cable).
The error message was "cant access OS". Of course she does not have the
Windows XP disk for a repair installation.
I am guessing that the original installation may have been a pirate copy and
when the HD is changed, the system rejects it.
Any suggestions other than go buy another copy. (She would be better off to
get a new computer)
I returned the original drives to the unit and she can use it for email and
letters. (programs are on the data disk)

The young man appears to be no longer available to string up, at least he
won't answer is phone messages..
He charged her for a 533 MH cpu and installed a 400 MH cpu
He charged her for a new computer and installed a 4 year old mother board in
a damaged case (hot melt glue repaired)
He installed two very old hard drives (both are over 6 years old)
He installed both hard drives on the secondary IDE controller.
He did not provide the OS software or the motherboard software with drivers.
He charged her $450 for this tower case, she already had the monitor,
keyboard and mouse.
Luckily she has only paid him about $200 so far, I advised her to stop any
more payments and he will contact her.

 

[mb]

I was attempting to help a low income woman with a computer problem and need
advice.
She had a young man build her a computer but go ripped off.
He installed two old hard drives, one 2 GB for C and one 3 GB for D (data
and programs)
On the C drive he installed Windows XP Pro, but did not give her the disk.
Of course the C drive is now 99% full and it does not operate well and can't
accept updates.
She bought a new WD 40 GB drive and I used the WD software to partition it,
format it and mirror the C drive contents to it as a new boot disk.

Try something like Norton Ghost.
Failing that, XP OEMs can be found on ebay for cheap prices.

 

[Richard]

Problem is, I am not going to invest any of my money. Time I can give, but
not more money. I am a retired IT teacher and have a fixed income tool

 

[Lawrence]

Then GO COMPLAIN SOMEWHERE ELSE!!

YOU CHEAP BUM.

 

[Richard]

If Lawrence had read the full series, he would have noted that it is not my
computer. I can't invest my money in her computer, time I can give, money I
cant.
Messages like Lawrence's add little value to this group.

 

[Lawrence]

And people like you add little value to Society! Why don't you want to spend
a few bucks on the Old ladies ( or old man's) setup? What does it need 10 or
20 bucks worth of parts?
Why don't you ask for some donations from somewhere if you don't want to
spend a few
bucks on it for the elderly?