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XP sp2 Reinstall problems?

  • 27-02-2011 11:29pm
    #1
    Diamond7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56 ✭✭


    Hi Guys! Hope you can help.
    I'm trying to fix a laptop for a friend. Its a dell inspiron/1300 with a celeron M cpu which came with Win XP Home sp2. A few years back, after a virus, another guy "fixed" her machine and installed Win XP Pro sp1 which is unregestered. Due to having no antivirus gear installed she picked up another virus over the weekend (system tool. A rogue antivirus malware thingy) which I managed to get rid of after trying 3 different fixes.

    Problem is; AVG wont run on XP sp1 and I tried MSE aswell which vanished while I tryed to install it, possably due to unregestered XP version. So I have the original Dell Win XP backup CD with Key to reinstall XP Home sp2 but it doesn't seem to let me Install it. At one stage it said XP setup cannot upgrade from Pro to Home and on other attempts it told me I would have problems installing 2 OS's on the one partition (there is only one drive-(C)).

    If I could get a clean install of the original OS I think this would be the best solution. There's not much apps on the machine and all files are backed up so wiping it is not a problem. After a quick look at 4 or 5 (free)antivirus programs I have yet to find something suitable for XP Pro sp1 and I don't think I can easily upgrade to sp2 as the thing is unregestered.

    I have spent quite a few hours now reading up on it and trying to go through the XP setup from the CD and I dont want to risk allowing it to install two OS's on the one partition. Any solutions or ideas would be Great.


Comments

  • #2
    JonathanAnon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,718 ✭✭✭✭JonathanAnon


    Diamond7 wrote: »
    If I could get a clean install of the original OS I think this would be the best solution. There's not much apps on the machine and all files are backed up so wiping it is not a problem. After a quick look at 4 or 5 (free)antivirus programs I have yet to find something suitable for XP Pro sp1 and I don't think I can easily upgrade to sp2 as the thing is unregestered.

    okay well if you are being prompted to "upgrade", it is giving you the option of upgrading from the present version of windows to the version on the disk, which is NOT what you want to do... There should be a sticker on the side of the PC which should match the number on the CD... does it?

    If it does, you can then boot to that CD, partition and format the drive, then install Windows from scratch.. Connecting to the internet will take down automatically any Service Packs you need..

    But before you do anything, be ABSOLUTELY sure that you have the CD that matches the sticker on the side of the PC..


  • #3
    Diamond7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56 ✭✭Diamond7


    Thanks for the reply Jonathan.

    After a few hours of research last night I went ahead and had to delete the (c) partition and repartition it, all through the XP setup on the CD. Everything worked. Was up and running till I found about 6 drivers missing, mostly network drivers. So I could'nt connect to the net. Tried using the second CD given to me, Dell backup CD with device drivers' diag etc. When this did not work I descovered it was not for that machine at all but for someone elses. After more arseing around I managed to download the drivers needed onto a usb and run them on the dell and it seems to have worked.[ Note: Anyone reading this, planning to download stuff from dell for the first time- Do not use Dell Download Manager, choose 'download from your internet browser' (second option) instead and save yourself a bucket full of arse ache!]

    So I have got connected to our home network and the internet. After reading your post Jonathan I checked the first CD and it turns out it is not the one that came with the machine.?. I had updated windows straight away and there was a few updates including .NET framework 1.1, Windows Installer and a few Windows XP software updates. All seem to have worked. Tried installing AVG but could not until Windows Installer was actavated. Turning off and on the machine did this and I have just as we speak got AVG up and running:).

    So my problem is I now have a clean Install of XP sp2 which appears to be working fine but is not certified for this machine. There is a long list of Windows updates queing up right now Including SP3. What should I do? How important are Windows updates? Will I have problems with Microsoft if I try Installing them. If updating is possable should I go for SP3, will it improve things and install without much effort?
    Most importantly: Is there anything else I might have missed? Will I meet other issues due to running someone elses backup CD on that machine?

    Thanks again for the help...


  • #4
    JonathanAnon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,718 ✭✭✭✭JonathanAnon


    have you activated Windows on the computer.?. If it was not the right CD, then it is unlikely that it will activate.. (it will shut down after 30 days)


  • #5
    Diamond7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56 ✭✭Diamond7


    JonathanAnon wrote: »
    have you activated Windows on the computer.?. If it was not the right CD, then it is unlikely that it will activate.. (it will shut down after 30 days)

    I couldn't tell you if I activated it or not. There is no Windows Activation icon in the notification area and there is no start-All programs-system tools-activate windows, option. I got this info at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307890. There is no bubble poping up telling me I have x amount of days left to activate.

    Could it be activated? and if so is it ok to update? Should I move to SP3 or do I really need to?

    Thanks again...


  • #6
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Diamond7 wrote: »
    [ Note: Anyone reading this, planning to download stuff from dell for the first time- Do not use Dell Download Manager, choose 'download from your internet browser' (second option) instead and save yourself a bucket full of arse ache!]
    Love the way the the little remember box ticked so if you make the wrong choice you could be snookered especially if you use a different browser.


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  • #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 93,604 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Diamond7 wrote: »
    Could it be activated? and if so is it ok to update? Should I move to SP3 or do I really need to?

    Thanks again...
    XP SP3 had lots of security updates and stuff so should do it if you can


  • #8
    Diamond7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 56 ✭✭Diamond7


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    Love the way the the little remember box ticked so if you make the wrong choice you could be snookered especially if you use a different browser.

    Does Dell realise that "end users" are actual people, who just want an easy life?
    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    XP SP3 had lots of security updates and stuff so should do it if you can

    Just started downloading 17,000 Windows updates. Fingers crossed. I'll keep ye posted (tomorrow probably at the rate its coming down).


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