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Ok,here's the deal.I have an old windows ME machine that I have done a quick format with the intent of putting XP back on it.It will be used as a server to play avi files on a flatscreen.The problem is apparently it won't boot from the cd first,something I should have checked first,and I can't get the cd drive to run to install XP.So I'm fucked as it stands....so how do I get around this dilemma? :D
I guess the obvious questions to ask being an old IT support guy:
- it doesn't run? Describe more please! does it sit there trying to load, does it give an error, what?
- BIOS is set to boot from CD, right?
- the disk isn't FUBAR'd?
- the HDD isn't FUBAR'd?
I would try the bios and change the boot order over so it boots from the cd,had to do that the other day when i wanted to run the xp repair tool.
There in lies the problem,how do I access the bios after doing a quick format of the harddrive?I am starting the computer from a boot floppy.It apparently is not set to boot from cd.It will start and drop me in ms dos.:D
What type of machine is it?
You probably have to hold one of these keys down relative shortly after you turn the power on
ESC
F1
F12
DEL
before it starts accessing any drives...
If you are lucky the key or key-combination will stand shortly of the first screen you'll see..
Now thats something i havnt done for years,removed mine when i built this one.
Well i think the principle is still the same,click delete or the button you usually use to enter your bios,then change the startup order,put your disc into your pc and startup the pc again,you could try pressing the letter R as the pc starts up too,this will activate the recovery part of the xp cd and you can then format the pc from there.
Hope this hepls mate.
It's an old HP with windows ME,I don't have the recovery disk for XP,but ,we have one from another XP machine in the house,also an HP.I have a full install disc of XP I am trying to use.I might have the ME recovery disc as my girlfriend saves everything soooo,maybe I could recover ME and then change the bios......I needed a challenge anyway.:D
Allrighty...
HP usually use these early in the boot (start-up) sequence:
ESC = Boot Menu
Here you can choose between floppy, harddisc, or CD (on time chose).
F1 = BIOS Setup Menu
Change top menu to "Boot" and the it should be possible to change boot-sequence to be the same every time.
F10 = Recovery Menu
Have not tried this one, but guess that it starts on a small partition and asks for a specific CD (probably Windows ME CD).
Ok,if I hit esc I end up in bios and go to boot ,move the CD drive to the top of the list ,save and escape.It will boot up to invalid disc,if I use the ME boot up floppy it will go to ME startup and then to a command prompt screen,I can change the prompt to the CD drive but what command do I type to make the install disk run? It is not a recovery disc but a full install disc,do I need to do a full format instead of the quick format I did? If so ,how?:D
I forgot all of this years ago.:eek:
Does the full XP CD fail, when you have it in the CD drive on boot???
yes,but it's not a ..ahem...factory copy.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by greyhound
I have to go to work (fuck me) so I will be back later,thanks for all of the help so far.
I guess that the CD is not boot-able :(
I have 3 different ones to try when I get back home.Will it make any difference that I only did a quick format and not a full format? Because it will only boot on the ME boot floppy.:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by greyhound
Nope - the full XP install CD has options to delete/create/format partitions on discs.Quote:
Originally Posted by safn1949
So what am I doing wrong? And I know I am,I forgot how to do this years ago.:D
After a quick format you only removed some diskinfo in the disk content table. With a full format all files are removed. For an installation there is no different.
XP boot disks you can find here : support.microsoft.com/kb/310994
Did your PC boot from CD or not? If it boot from CD you don't need no boot disks.
If you have changed the BIOS correctly and saved your changes, it should work with booting on the CD - a little weird :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by safn1949
The boot discs from MS is an alternative when you can't get the CD-boot to work.
I can't get it to boot from the CD I have,I changed the bios and moved the CD drive to the top,but no luck.If I try to boot with just the CD I get the invalid disc message and have to boot from the ME boot floppy which puts me in a command prompt window.Can I type a command to run the CD and if so,what.
I have 2 other CD's I can try when I get home ,but none of them are factory.
May be try on the command prompt D:\setup.exe (assuming your CD-drive is the D-drive)Quote:
Originally Posted by safn1949
On the cd in the root there is a file called SETUP.EXE. So just type after the prompt setup and hit enter. The setup will start and hopefully it works.Quote:
Originally Posted by safn1949
I did try it once, to start setup after booting to ME and that don't work for me. I had to start the setup with the 4 XP-disks.
Groovy,I will try that....when I get back in a few weeks.Thanks.:D
Got it handled,like a dumbass,I didn't burn the iso image correctly.When I went to look for the setup.exe,of course nothing there but the image.Reburn and setup,first copy failed,different copy worked fine.I removed the 64 MB's of ram and put in 256 MB's,XP SP 2 update and the update to make XP see EX Fat format and we are in business.The only thing I really need to add is a USB 2.0 controller.I am hoping that is fairly simple to do as it tends to lag a bit.Thanks for all the help.:D
Glad you made it !
There are many things what can go wrong you add a USB 2.0 controller:rolleyes:.
Glad you finally got it sorted.:)
Its crazy how a little glitch can cause so many problems,my pc played up a few weeks ago,this type is the one with the xp disc built into the hard drive.
Didnt want to re install xp on it as i had material on there i needed,ended up putting it in my other pc as a slave,then moved all my data onto an external hard disc.
Strange thing is after i put it back into my pc the recovery disc kicked in and deleted 4 kbts of bad data and repaired the drive,i am now using it without re installing anything.:)
Happy to know, that you sorted things out :DQuote:
Originally Posted by safn1949
Re. USB 2 controller: Do you need the hardware USB 2 controller or the driver/software to the USB 2 controller?
The driver/software comes with XP Service Pack 2/3...
I had to install a USB 2.0 pci card,I got it installed and software going but it still stutters.The sound will continue but the video will pause and jump.The machine has a 850 mhz Athlon,256 MB's of ram.It shows the processor is running 70-100% playing the avi files with media player classic and WMP both.I am guessing a new video card with some cache would help.I have a grand total of $22.50 invested in this,if I load the video on a flash drive it will play it a lot better then from the external hard drive.I should defrag the external also.The machine has the media players and C Cleaner installed and that's it,I have been thru the services and turned off the things I am not using.All it does is play videos to the flatscreen,I think the external hard drive is slowing things down a bit but I was wondering if a new video card with at least 64 MB of ram would help.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by greyhound