Win XP (Error) Cant Use PC

JediMaster · 11-04-2004, 18:39

A PC (PC Worlds E Machine) with Windows XP Home...

Today after a Re-Boot it says...
Windows/System32/Config/System/ has caused a error.. Or is Corupt...

Insert CD & select R in the Windows XP CD...

-------

But the E Machine never came with a Windows XP CD. (Most come with a Restore CD) as this did...

Inserted the CD & it gives 2 Options...

Restore Windows
Dos Prompt

But will the Restore set the PC back to Factory Default??

Any ideas???
PLEASE

Xaccers · 11-04-2004, 18:40

Yes, restore will totally wipe your hard drive with a default image. Everything will be lost.
Are you able to get the XP logo screen?

Defiant · 11-04-2004, 18:46

Can you get it to safe mode ?

Shaun · 11-04-2004, 18:54

Am I right in believing if he "borrows" a copy of XP and uses that he is still working within the terms of the license agreement as he has a license key??

Xaccers · 11-04-2004, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellwear

Am I right in believing if he "borrows" a copy of XP and uses that he is still working within the terms of the license agreement as he has a license key??

Yes that is correct.
It's the licence to run XP on your processor that you've paid for.
As long as the version of XP he installs is covered by his licence

Shaun · 11-04-2004, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Yes that is correct.
It's the licence to run XP on your processor that you've paid for.
As long as the version of XP he installs is covered by his licence

Out of interest, if you have a license for an upgrade version of XP will the key allow you to install a full version??

dilli-theclaw · 11-04-2004, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by JediMaster

A PC (PC Worlds E Machine) with Windows XP Home...

Today after a Re-Boot it says...
Windows/System32/Config/System/ has caused a error.. Or is Corupt...

Insert CD & select R in the Windows XP CD...

-------

But the E Machine never came with a Windows XP CD. (Most come with a Restore CD) as this did...

Inserted the CD & it gives 2 Options...

Restore Windows
Dos Prompt

But will the Restore set the PC back to Factory Default??

Any ideas???
PLEASE

Just out of interest I had exactly the same thing happen to me on my laptop the first time I restarted it.

I popped my XP cd in and did - um 'fixmbr' from the repair facility....

Maybe you can borrow a proper windows XP cd and boot off that?

Xaccers · 11-04-2004, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellwear

Out of interest, if you have a license for an upgrade version of XP will the key allow you to install a full version??

nope, that's different
but then, what crazy fool would buy an upgrade version of MS software?

(oh yeah, my dad did, twice

)

And there's no guarentee that your mate's XP home key will work with your XP home CD either.

Shaun · 11-04-2004, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

nope, that's different
but then, what crazy fool would buy an upgrade version of MS software?

(oh yeah, my dad did, twice

)

My nan had ME on her pc (yuck) and I saw a copy of XP upgrade in Dixons for 98p so I got it and installed it, but she didn't get an original copy of ME only a reset disk.

So if I need to do a reinstall at any point I need to use the reset disk to install ME and then do an upgrade rather than just install XP and show the install program an original ME disk, I just wondered if there was a way around it :o

Defiant · 11-04-2004, 21:27

You can install a fresh copy of windows me (upgrade) from scratch. Just use a boot disk to get a dos prompt, format c: and then type setup.

I haven't tried xp (upgrade) but I'd imagine you can do it with that too but you would need to go into the i386 directory of the cd and then type winnt

Bifta · 11-04-2004, 22:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaccers

nope, that's different
but then, what crazy fool would buy an upgrade version of MS software?

(oh yeah, my dad did, twice

)

And there's no guarentee that your mate's XP home key will work with your XP home CD either.

I did, and there is no reason not to, during the fresh install you only have to insert either a windows 95, NT, 98, ME or 2K CD for a second or two, it's a lot cheaper than buying the full version if you have a previous OS on CD and it's still a full install, the foolish people are the ones that buy a full version instead of an upgrade when they have the previous OS's media.

Bifta · 11-04-2004, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defiant

You can install a fresh copy of windows me (upgrade) from scratch. Just use a boot disk to get a dos prompt, format c: and then type setup.

I haven't tried xp (upgrade) but I'd imagine you can do it with that too but you would need to go into the i386 directory of the cd and then type winnt

you cannot run setup.exe in DOS mode from the windows XP CD.

Defiant · 11-04-2004, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bifta

you cannot run setup.exe in DOS mode from the windows XP CD.

I didn't say setup though. I said winnt and in the i386 directory

JediMaster · 12-04-2004, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by dellwear

Am I right in believing if he "borrows" a copy of XP and uses that he is still working within the terms of the license agreement as he has a license key??

OK
Thanks for all the Help guys...

I have 3 PC's & not one XP CD.. 2x Dell Restore CD's & 1 Crappy PC Restore...

Not many have a REAL CD. Must go on the Hunt. lol
Anyone here in Swansea with a CD?? :pp

Shaun · 12-04-2004, 14:59

If you're Dell one says:

"Operating System,
Re-installation CD Microsoft XP Hone Edition"

then it is a full copy of XP, you should be able to use that