Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Validation failed :( thought it might .......... back to the drawing board or other boards *cough/splutter/choke ;)

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

OK, update time.

I had a brain wave :dozey: I put my HD in the pc and fired it up, of course Windows detected a different setup and wanted validation and what not, I phoned the hotline and explained, I got a new validation key and everything was fine.
1) I managed to load to desktop
2) I thought I'd try a restore to an ealier date.... big mistake, now it wont boot at all past the initial post, all I can get to is the F8 options window, you know the one with
start windows normally / safe mode / blah blah.

I have a system restore disk for that version of windows and it won't even detect it .................. so help again please.
TIA

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Can you get it into safe mode and check to make sure you have the right drivers loaded for the totally different hardware that it now is running on? Also try dropping your graphics card settings to bog standard VGA mode, with 800x600 resolution and 60hz refresh.
Sometimes booting into safe mode and then restarting normally helps to repair files/ settings that are fubared.
If that fails boot from your XP CD (copy if necessary) do a repair install and remove the windows folder option.

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Thanks Paul, I can't get into anything, no matter what option I choose it just reboots back to the F8 screen.

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Sounds like a repair install (remove windows folder) is the best bet then :( Will clean out all settings, start with fresh drivers etc but won't delete documents and files that are stored outside of the windows folder itself.

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

And how would I do that ?? I have a restore disk only so a format is out, I did manage to boot to the disk once or twice but before I could click on anything I got an error screen, I can't remember what it said and at the mo can't get it back. I'll change the boot order to see if that helps.

BRB .... thanks
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Changed the order and with the restore disk in this is what happens.
Boots to dik as said before then the error page reads
Unable to determine BIOS lock, please contact system manufacturer

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Can you not acquire a copy of XP from somewhere?
Did you do a system restore on the PC with the hard-drive that you had taken from another computer? That's a good way to screw the registry up lol.
Can you get into a DOS prompt at all? You might be able to work around some of the problems that way. What is the restore CD for? Is it the PC that is currently buggered?

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Have done / am doing ;)

I tried to do a restore but that is when these problems started, I think I see where your coming from, system has tried to restore back to old settings that it can't find anymore :dozey:

I think I can get a dos prompt up :tu:

All it does is restore back to factory settings, wipes all installs / data etc etc and your left with a virgin install of XP home .... or should be.

I don't understand your question :shrug: The HD is / was ok, the pc should be ok, but now the 2 have been put together, they don't like each other .lol

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Sounds like the Restore CD is expecting to see certain hardware for it to work and since it isn't seeing the hardware it is designed to restore it's failling to startup.
Sorry was trying to ask if that Restore CD was for the PC you are trying to load it onto ;)
Have you got a Product Key for XP, if so you should just need a copy of the correct XP for the key :)

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

I see what you mean, the restore cd is for the pc that the hd came out of, so by what your saying it needs to see all the hardware as was to restore, makes sense now.
I have a product code yes, how would I match that up with the right version when I cant load windows :shrug:

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

You would need to get the same version of XP that was installed on the PC fresh from factory. Therefor if it came with XP Home installed then you need a copy of XP Home. If it was XP Home Sp2 then you need XP Home SP2 :)

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

I see, check pm's mate, thanks for trying to help this :dunce: :D

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Already read the PMs, should work without a hitch as long as you make sure you have the drivers you need :)

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Just formatted an old HD, I'll let you know .... BRB
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Formatted and am installing Win '98, not ideal but it gets the pc outta my dinning room and into their house, the XP side I'll sort at a later date, thanks to all that have posted in this ongoing nightmare :tu:

Re: Kids pc .....................again :(
 

Should be fine when you get hold of a proper XP CD, the only thing causing the problem at the moment is the fact that you only have a restore CD that no doubt has been butchered by the manufacturer to make sure it can only be used on a specified sytem.