Windows XP Re-Install

[Cryptic_rain]

I have a Dell XPS. I recently tried to re-install Windows by using the built
in program. Dell PC Restore. The program started, got half way through, and
I got the message that the program was NOT successful. And to click FINISH,
not to reboot. And that is what I did. After clicking finish, my computer
restarted, and after seeing the Dell logo, I get this message....

Loading PBR for descriptor 2...done.

A disk read error occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.

Now, if I do Ctrl+Alt+Del, nothing happens except that the computer
restarts, and I get the exact same message again. There's nothing in the
cd-rom, nor the floppy drive.

I'm guessing, guessing, that something happened whent he PC Restore was
running to wipe out my OS. My question is this, if I purchase another copy
of Windows XP, can I then just insert the disc and start to install it, or
will that hard drive have to be re-formatted? Because I've no clue as to how
to go about that.

 

[Leroy]

See:
http://support.dell.com/support/top...ackupcd_form?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&redirect=1

 

[Cryptic_rain]

While I very much appreciate the response, this does not help me in the
slightest. My warranty has expired, and being as such, Dell will not send me
the OS discs, even though they were not with my computer when I received it.

I've read several posts on several forums about this type of error, and have
tried a few things. I've checked the cables that connect the HD, I've tested
the RAM as well. And in the BIOS, the 250 GB HD is listed.

And that's about the extent of what I'm capable of doing, with my limited
computer knowledge.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>

While I very much appreciate the response, this does not help me in
the slightest. My warranty has expired, and being as such, Dell
will not send me the OS discs, even though they were not with my
computer when I received it.

I've read several posts on several forums about this type of error,
and have tried a few things. I've checked the cables that connect
the HD, I've tested the RAM as well. And in the BIOS, the 250 GB
HD is listed.

And that's about the extent of what I'm capable of doing, with my
limited computer knowledge.

Call Dell - ask. You will likely be surprised. Might cost you a few bucks.
[ Warranty doesn't really matter - especially since they charge you. ]

Or you can find someone else with a Dell CD (or generic OEM) of the same
flavor as what you have ( Home, Professional, Media Center, etc.) I'd make
sure you have your product key safe and sound, at least.

 

[Cryptic_rain]

I've called Dell, after 15 minutes of navigating through the computer's
questions, I was told my warranty had expired and that I could talk to a
tech, for a price.

I have found another way to get the Dell reinstillation CD, however, you
mentioned knowing my product key, I'm assuming you mean the key for Windows
XP. I have no idea what that could be. My computer did not come with that
information, nor with copy/backup discs for Windows XP.

My boyfriend has used his backup discs for Vista on his machine, and was
never asked for the product key. Is there a chance that the same would be
true for me?

<snipped>

While I very much appreciate the response, this does not help me in
the slightest. My warranty has expired, and being as such, Dell
will not send me the OS discs, even though they were not with my
computer when I received it.

I've read several posts on several forums about this type of error,
and have tried a few things. I've checked the cables that connect
the HD, I've tested the RAM as well. And in the BIOS, the 250 GB
HD is listed.

And that's about the extent of what I'm capable of doing, with my
limited computer knowledge.

Call Dell - ask. You will likely be surprised. Might cost you a few bucks.
[ Warranty doesn't really matter - especially since they charge you. ]

Or you can find someone else with a Dell CD (or generic OEM) of the same
flavor as what you have ( Home, Professional, Media Center, etc.) I'd make
sure you have your product key safe and sound, at least.

 

[David B.]

Than I would suggest taking your PC to a competent repair shop, your issue
is with the Dell recovery procedure, not with Windows XP.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I've called Dell, after 15 minutes of navigating through the
computer's questions, I was told my warranty had expired and that I
could talk to a tech, for a price.

I have found another way to get the Dell reinstillation CD,
however, you mentioned knowing my product key, I'm assuming you
mean the key for Windows XP. I have no idea what that could be.
My computer did not come with that information, nor with
copy/backup discs for Windows XP.

My boyfriend has used his backup discs for Vista on his machine,
and was never asked for the product key. Is there a chance that
the same would be true for me?

If this is a Dell that came with Windows XP - there *is* a sticker on it
with your product key *unless* someone (you, the last owner, a 'friend' of
yours, etc) peeled it off.

Is it possible that a reinstallation set would not ask you for a product
key? Yes.

However - it's also possible that if you use someone elses set that acts
like that - both of your copies might start complaining that neither is
legitimate until you change the product key to the one on your sticker.

My fear at this point - you have damaged hardware (hard disk drive or
memory.)

 

[Cryptic_rain]

Honestly, at this point, all I'm trying to find out is if the Dell
Reinstillation CD will work or not. Because taking it to a shop, I'm going
to pay, for the one in our area, $100 an hour for labor, and pay for them to
more than likely put in a new hard-drive with a new copy of windows, when I
really don't believe that it's the hard drive.

If it's just a problem with the Dell PC Restore, and the re-install disc
pulls up an image of Windows that is on the hard-drive, and restores it, then
shouldn't it, in theory, fix the problem?

 

[Cryptic_rain]

Okay, found the sticker, waaaay in the back, with the product key on it. So,
the key is secure.

As I've said before, I've checked the hard-drive cables, they're fine. And
in the BIOS my 250 GB hard-drive is still shown.

If you mean memory, as in RAM, I've tested all three sticks in my
boyfriend's computer, and his machine will load just fine with them in.

So, I've got my windows product key, if I can find someone with the
reinstall disc, for my OS, there's a chance that will work. That's all I was
really trying to find out, hehe.

And if it does turn out that that doesn't work, and it's the hard-drive, a
hard drive off of Tigerdirect is much cheaper than letting a computer
repairman in the area do it for $100+.

Thank you all for the responses.

 

[David B.]

If you get your hands on a Dell branded reinstallation disk you can
reinstall with that, and you won't need the product key on the COA sticker,
it will be preactivated.

 

[Cryptic_rain]

Thanks so much for all of the responses. *crosses fingers* Here's hoping
that it isn't the hard-drive.

 

[MassiveResponse]

Heres something else you can try.

Use your boyfriends computer to download a torrent of the windows version
for which you have the product key. Then burn it onto a CD.

Take the hard drive out, take it to your boyfriends place.

Hook it up as a slave drive, start the computer. Access the drive through My
computer > and then select the correct drive letter (should be the last one)

If there is any information on the drive, look through it, you might want to
copy and save it if you need any of it.

You can skip the previous step if you want.

Next you should formatt your hard drive, to do this left click on it and
click format, this will erase all data on it.

When finished, enter the burned disc into the cd drive, make sure everything
is there. Dont install windows yet. Turn the computer off. Unhook all hard
drives, and hook up the one you want to install windows on as the master
drive. Then boot from the CD and install a fresh version of windows on your
empty drive.

I did this for my friend after (ironically) antivirus software killed his
computer.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

As I've said before, I've checked the hard-drive cables, they're fine. And
in the BIOS my 250 GB hard-drive is still shown.

That's not good enough. Even a fairly dead drive will usually show up there.
It's not a test that checks to see if the drive works--the BIOS only cares
that the drive showed up when queried.

Dell's restore process failed for a reason, and if you checked out the RAM
in another working computer, it's likely that you have a bad hard drive. Not
100% certain, but likely.

Get the reinstallation disc for your OS, make sure it's Dell branded.

And if it does turn out that that doesn't work, and it's the hard-drive, a
hard drive off of Tigerdirect is much cheaper than letting a computer
repairman in the area do it for $100+.

It's cheaper if you know what you're doing and not if you don't. And you
might always be able to find someone who you know and trust that would know
how to do it and might not ask much (if anything) in return. (Although you
have to be careful. It's funny how many friends and such "know computers"
because they can turn one on.)

William

 

[SherryFL]

I have a Dell XPS. I recently tried to re-install Windows by using the built
in program. Dell PC Restore. The program started, got half way through, and
I got the message that the program was NOT successful. And to click FINISH,
not to reboot. And that is what I did. After clicking finish, my computer
restarted, and after seeing the Dell logo, I get this message....

Loading PBR for descriptor 2...done.

A disk read error occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.

Now, if I do Ctrl+Alt+Del, nothing happens except that the computer
restarts, and I get the exact same message again. There's nothing in the
cd-rom, nor the floppy drive.

I'm guessing, guessing, that something happened whent he PC Restore was
running to wipe out my OS. My question is this, if I purchase another copy
of Windows XP, can I then just insert the disc and start to install it, or
will that hard drive have to be re-formatted? Because I've no clue as to how
to go about that.