Windows XP (Clean) install

[Davmswan]

Long story short...
I recieved this PC from my Brother-in-Law about a year and a half
ago. He recieved the PC from tigerdirect. After having this PC's MoBo,
GCards, Memory, and Powersupply all changed out by a technician (from
tigerdirect) and sent back to tigerdirect two times for repairs to replace
the above mentioned hardware and all cables plaus having it diagnosed and
repaired (or at least attempted to) by BestBuys GEEK squad in between returns
to tigerdirect I am STILL having a problem of sorts.

Again Long story short....
I've posted on both ATI and World Of Warcraft websites. It seems that the
simplest way to solve any issue is to reinstall Windows so that's why I'm
here.

I only have a restore disk for Windows XP Home 32-Bit SP2, (due to somone
misplacing the original disks for this PC, but I won't say who. from a
different PC that my Brother-in-Law has.

The current OS in the PC is XP Pro 32-Bit SP3 and I would like to keep it.
Is there any way of doing a clean install of the OS that is currently on the
PC or do I have to buy another version?
I have the OEM serial number (on the back of the PC) for the OS, if that
helps any.

 

[Daave]

Long story short...
I recieved this PC from my Brother-in-Law about a year and a
half
ago. He recieved the PC from tigerdirect. After having this PC's MoBo,
GCards, Memory, and Powersupply all changed out by a technician (from
tigerdirect) and sent back to tigerdirect two times for repairs to
replace
the above mentioned hardware and all cables plaus having it diagnosed
and
repaired (or at least attempted to) by BestBuys GEEK squad in between
returns
to tigerdirect I am STILL having a problem of sorts.

Well, that sure is some story! FWIW, the Geek Squad doesn't exactly have
a sterling reputation in this newsgroup. I hate to ask how much they
charged for their service. Also, I have a hard time believing that all
those parts needed to be changed in the first place!

Again Long story short....
I've posted on both ATI and World Of Warcraft websites. It seems that
the
simplest way to solve any issue is to reinstall Windows so that's why
I'm
here.

There is no "simplest way to solve any issue." I would normally not
recommend a clean install for most issues. However, since this is *your*
PC now, a clean install *is* the wise thing to do.

I only have a restore disk for Windows XP Home 32-Bit SP2, (due to
somone
misplacing the original disks for this PC, but I won't say who.
from a
different PC that my Brother-in-Law has.

Since you didn't describe the disk, I can't help you. Basically, what
you need is an *installation* disk (not a restore disk). It should
ideally be a generic OEM disk for the same type of XP that is on your PC
(Home, Pro, or MCE). Since you do have your Product Key, that is the key
you use. There is no need to purchase this CD; hopefully you either
already have it or you can borrow it from somebody. It's even possible
to make your own as long as you have an intact i386 folder:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

Make sure you have all your drivers!

The current OS in the PC is XP Pro 32-Bit SP3 and I would like to keep
it.
Is there any way of doing a clean install of the OS that is currently
on the
PC or do I have to buy another version?
I have the OEM serial number (on the back of the PC) for the OS, if
that
helps any.

XP Pro it is. Get your hands on a generic OEM installation CD of XP Pro
(32 bit). Note: they are also known as System Builder CDs. If not, make
your own, using the instructions in the above link.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Long story short...
I recieved this PC from my Brother-in-Law about a year and a half
ago. He recieved the PC from tigerdirect. After having this PC's MoBo,
GCards, Memory, and Powersupply all changed out by a technician (from
tigerdirect) and sent back to tigerdirect two times for repairs to replace
the above mentioned hardware and all cables plaus having it diagnosed and
repaired (or at least attempted to) by BestBuys GEEK squad in between
returns
to tigerdirect I am STILL having a problem of sorts.

Again Long story short....
I've posted on both ATI and World Of Warcraft websites. It seems that the
simplest way to solve any issue is to reinstall Windows so that's why I'm
here.

I only have a restore disk for Windows XP Home 32-Bit SP2, (due to somone
misplacing the original disks for this PC, but I won't say who. from a
different PC that my Brother-in-Law has.

The current OS in the PC is XP Pro 32-Bit SP3 and I would like to keep it.
Is there any way of doing a clean install of the OS that is currently on
the
PC or do I have to buy another version?
I have the OEM serial number (on the back of the PC) for the OS, if that
helps any.

--
XP(32) SP3 - Intel D975XBX x6800 @ 2.93GHz (2CPU''s) - 2Gb DDR2 -
VisionTek
ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512Mb) x2 - CCC 9.2 - SB X-Fi Audio
Any thing else need to be added?

If you can beg, borrow but not steal a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 or SP3, you
should be able to use the key code attached to the back of the machine.

 

[Davmswan]

--
XP(32) SP3 - Intel D975XBX x6800 @ 2.93GHz (2CPU''''s) - 2Gb DDR2 -
VisionTek ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512Mb) x2 - CCC 9.2 - SB X-Fi Audio
Any thing else need to be added?

If you can beg, borrow but not steal a generic OEM XP Pro SP2 or SP3, you
should be able to use the key code attached to the back of the machine.



--
Mike Hall - MVP

Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

Thanks

 

[Davmswan]

--
XP(32) SP3 - Intel D975XBX x6800 @ 2.93GHz (2CPU''''s) - 2Gb DDR2 -
VisionTek ATI Radeon HD 4850 (512Mb) x2 - CCC 9.2 - SB X-Fi Audio
Any thing else need to be added?

Well, that sure is some story! FWIW, the Geek Squad doesn't exactly have
a sterling reputation in this newsgroup. I hate to ask how much they
charged for their service. Also, I have a hard time believing that all
those parts needed to be changed in the first place!


There is no "simplest way to solve any issue." I would normally not
recommend a clean install for most issues. However, since this is *your*
PC now, a clean install *is* the wise thing to do.


Since you didn't describe the disk, I can't help you. Basically, what
you need is an *installation* disk (not a restore disk). It should
ideally be a generic OEM disk for the same type of XP that is on your PC
(Home, Pro, or MCE). Since you do have your Product Key, that is the key
you use. There is no need to purchase this CD; hopefully you either
already have it or you can borrow it from somebody. It's even possible
to make your own as long as you have an intact i386 folder:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

Make sure you have all your drivers!


XP Pro it is. Get your hands on a generic OEM installation CD of XP Pro
(32 bit). Note: they are also known as System Builder CDs. If not, make
your own, using the instructions in the above link.


Many thanks

And yea actually they were all replaced initially by a tech (he came back
twice - First time the MoBo, Powersupply and Memory - Second GCards) Then
after the problem we were having back then wasnt corrected we sent it back to
tigerdirect... they said they tested and returned it. Then GEEK squad a total
of two times (first they charged $200+ said to booted properly and after
taking it home it didnt boot at all - Second time they said that the gcards
mem was corrupted and refunded the money). And then finally back to
tigerdirect who replaced the MoBo, Memory, Powersupply, cables and Gcards.

As for an intact i386 folder should I worry that its not intact?

On of the replys on the WoW forums stated that I had a bad/corrupted Windows
update... I had gotten a BSOD error c000021a - while trying to run the
testing features in dxdiag (DirectDraw)

Would that affect the i386 folder?

If not then Im sure I can create my own SysBuilder Disk. I hope lol.
Sorry for all the questions.

 

[Daave]

Comments inline.


Davmswan, your sig should not be appear at the beginning of the post!
Are you able to make it appear where it belongs (at the very end)?

And yea actually they were all replaced initially by a tech (he came
back
twice - First time the MoBo, Powersupply and Memory - Second GCards)
Then
after the problem we were having back then wasnt corrected we sent it
back to
tigerdirect... they said they tested and returned it. Then GEEK squad
a total
of two times (first they charged $200+ said to booted properly and
after
taking it home it didnt boot at all - Second time they said that the
gcards
mem was corrupted and refunded the money). And then finally back to
tigerdirect who replaced the MoBo, Memory, Powersupply, cables and
Gcards.

That is unbelieveable.

As for an intact i386 folder should I worry that its not intact?

No need to worry, especially since you know you have one on the disk you
said you have. What kind of disk is it? And let me backtrack. You need
to have an *installation* CD. If this is a restore CD for a major OEM
PC, then you can't use it. But you still might be able to use the i386
folder from your C: drive. Is there such a folder?

On of the replys on the WoW forums stated that I had a bad/corrupted
Windows
update... I had gotten a BSOD error c000021a - while trying to run the
testing features in dxdiag (DirectDraw)

Normally, if that was the only problem, I would encourage you to post
back with more details because it's probably solveable. However, since
you obtained this PC secondhand, you really should perform a clean
install.

Hopefully, you will be able to obtain a generic OEM 32-bit XP Pro
Installation CD.

If not then Im sure I can create my own SysBuilder Disk. I hope lol.

I have faith in you.

 

[Davmswan]

OK currently I am reading about how to create your own System Builder Disk
from
http://www.howtohaven.com/system/createwindowssetupdisk.shtml

It states that I'd need to have a C:\I386 folder.
This I dont have.
Only two I've found are C:\c80e42f857d2887e5b\i386 (AMD64 folder also in
this Dir) and C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386

It states not to use any folder other than the C:\I386 folder so that's not
going to work.
I really wish it would have lol.
So I'm guessing the only option is to get a (non Dell,HP etc.) generic OEM
installation CD of XP Pro (32 bit).
Anyone know where to find one easily?
As due to a lack of contacts (that would possibly have a generic OEM disk)
would kinda make finding one a bit harder.

Thanks again!

 

[G. Morgan]

So I'm guessing the only option is to get a (non Dell,HP etc.) generic OEM
installation CD of XP Pro (32 bit).
Anyone know where to find one easily?
As due to a lack of contacts (that would possibly have a generic OEM disk)
would kinda make finding one a bit harder.

I'm pretty sure you can extract the \i386 folder from the recovery DVD's if
you do some digging. I think HP has a copy of the O/S installation inside a
big archive with a .wim extension.

Or, if you don't mind 'borrowing' a copy from a stranger you can grab it at a
warez site or grab a torrent.

 

[Davmswan]

Ahh sry about that... I had scrolled down to read and just added my reply to
the bottom and not where I was supposed to.

The disk is a repair disk so I can count that out.
The i386 folder... well I don't have one directly on C:
I have i386 folders but the guide stated that it should come from C:/i386
and not from different locations, so nope no C:/i386

Ill find a generic OEM instal disk sooner or later. lol

 

[Daave]

The disk is a repair disk so I can count that out.
The i386 folder... well I don't have one directly on C:
I have i386 folders but the guide stated that it should come from
C:/i386
and not from different locations, so nope no C:/i386

Ill find a generic OEM instal disk sooner or later. lol

Good luck and when you are ready to perform the clean install, you may
use this guide:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

 

[Davmswan]

I've got a problem I know lol.

I was just thinking about a possible BIOS update might be the fix to my
situation?
Not sure but was just looking into some specs on the mainboard and CPU-Z
reports:
Mainboard tab
Intel D975XBX
Chipset i975X
BIOS version:
BX97510J.86A.1474.2006.1220.1826

Did a google for the BIOS version 1474 and got
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/BIOS/Intel/Intel-D975XBX-BIOS-1487.shtml
which is version 1487 (4 updates ahead of my current version I believe.

December 20, 2006 (1474.2006.1220.xxx) is the date of the current BIOS on
the Mobo.
September 02, 2007 (BX97510J.86A.1487.2007.0902.1724) is the current update
version of the BIOS.

Should I update it?

Also what is iflashwin and itoolkitw?

 

[Daave]

I've got a problem I know lol.

I was just thinking about a possible BIOS update might be the fix to
my
situation?
Not sure but was just looking into some specs on the mainboard and
CPU-Z
reports:
Mainboard tab
Intel D975XBX
Chipset i975X
BIOS version:
BX97510J.86A.1474.2006.1220.1826

Did a google for the BIOS version 1474 and got
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/BIOS/Intel/Intel-D975XBX-BIOS-1487.shtml
which is version 1487 (4 updates ahead of my current version I
believe.

December 20, 2006 (1474.2006.1220.xxx) is the date of the current BIOS
on
the Mobo.
September 02, 2007 (BX97510J.86A.1487.2007.0902.1724) is the current
update
version of the BIOS.

Should I update it?

I would update it only if the new version fixes specific problems you
were having with the older version. Otherwise, if ain't broke, don't fix
it. ;-)

 

[Frank-FL]

Chipset Drivers
<http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!>

BIOS
<http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!>

message

 

[Andy]

I've got a problem I know lol.

I was just thinking about a possible BIOS update might be the fix to my
situation?
Not sure but was just looking into some specs on the mainboard and CPU-Z
reports:
Mainboard tab
Intel D975XBX
Chipset i975X
BIOS version:
BX97510J.86A.1474.2006.1220.1826

Did a google for the BIOS version 1474 and got
http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/BIOS/Intel/Intel-D975XBX-BIOS-1487.shtml
which is version 1487 (4 updates ahead of my current version I believe.

December 20, 2006 (1474.2006.1220.xxx) is the date of the current BIOS on
the Mobo.
September 02, 2007 (BX97510J.86A.1487.2007.0902.1724) is the current update
version of the BIOS.

Should I update it?

Read the Release Notes available from

Also what is iflashwin and itoolkitw?

Read the Read Me file.