How to install Windows XP SP3 over Ubuntu 12.4?

HI chinchillas,

Welcome to the Community.

I understand that you want to reinstall the Windows XP Sp3 on the Dell Mini 10v where in Ubuntu 12.4 was installed.

You can go ahead and do it.But you will loss all the data on the Harddrive as windows uses different File system and it has to be formatted.

Please let me know if you have the Windows USB key to reinstall the Operating system.

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Ravi_Chandra

Dell Social Media Responder

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Hi, I tried installing Windows SP3, copying the Recovery CD that came with the netbook onto a USB, this didn't work. Then I downloaded the iso from MS site and it didin't work either. Instead I installed ubuntu 12.4 just to prove that there was nothing wrong with the hardware or the usb drive (kingston 4gb), and it DID work. Do you think I should try to install XPSP2 instead? After the 1st part of installing XP, I get the hal.dll message, or "There's a problem with hardware". I do't know what's wrong with this. I'm fine with clear installations as I've already backed up my data. I just want the XP installation to work :) P.S. I have a Dell Inspiron Mini 10v with XP SP3 pre-installed (and that's not functioning anymore).

HI chinchillas,

Welcome back to the Community.

I  understand the concern you are having with your computer.I see that you are copying the recovery CD onto the USB which will not work.So you may have to convert the recovery cd to ISO image and then burn the iso image to bootable USB

Secondly wanted to know from where are you downloading the Windows XP ISO image.To install the windows Xp on the computer you can install the OEM version which comes with dell or you need to buy a retail version of the Windows and install it.

You may have use external CD drive to resolve your issue.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Ravi_Chandra

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

Hi, yes I converted the CD to ISO image, it didn't work. I can't install from a CD drive because it's a netbook and it doesn't have one. I'm downloading XPS3 from the main windows download site, the US. I've already bought Windows with my computer and I have a license #, which is supposed to work, isn't it?

HI chinchillas,

Welcome back to the Community.

I see that you had problems installing using the recovery cd.Please let me know the error you get when you try to install from the Recovery cd.and when does ther error come up while installing.

The Windows XP S3 you are downloading from the microsoft site is it with the product key or not.If you are trying to use the product key which is there on the computer.it will not work since it is a OEM key.

Please let me know for any help.

Thanks & Regards

Dell_Ravi_Chandra

Dell Social Media Responder

https://twitter.com/DellCares

http://www.facebook.com/Dell

Microsoft do not provide a full XP SP3 .iso on their website it is just the update. This is unless you are a technet subscriber.

To create an XP SP3 .iso from your XP SP2 CD follow the instructions here (unless it is MCE).

Use this to reinstall on your netbook. It may be best for you to purchase a USB to CD/DVD drive for reinstallation purposes.

NovaCorp WinToFlash can be used to create a bootable USB drive but in my experience I have never got the XP bootable USB to work properly.

Hi, let me explain myself better and from the beginning.

1. I have a Dell Inspiron Mini10 that came with XP SP3 preinstalled. (No CD drive, only USB)

2. I installed Ubuntu in a partition.

3. I didn't like Ubuntu and found no way to uninstall and get rid of the partition, so accidentally (impulsively) I deleted the partition where I thought Ubuntu was, but instead I deleted Windows!

4. On another computer I tried to make a bootable usb from the "CD reinstallation with XP SP3" but only from this CD, which I think was my mistake.

5. While installing (the HD got 100% formatted in ntfs), I got two errors, from "missing hal.dll", to "no computer system and hardware error".

6. With no OS, I installed a newer version of Ubuntu (12) and now formatted with fat, just to see if there was any hardware failure, but the installation went ok.

7. However, I still don't want Ubuntu and instead want a full and clean installation of my original system. I have my 3 CDs that came with the computer: "Operating System XP SP3", "DELL drivers and utilities" and "Dell Application".  I have my Windows OS key sticker.

So my question is:

a) Can I make a bootable USB from this 3 CDs and HOW?

Thanks a lot for your time. I have no money right now to send this to a repair shop, so I have to do it myself.

I have messed around with this and this is by no means an ideal solution:

Using another computer follow the instructions here and slipstream service pack 3. Then create the bootable USB as later instruced.

With the bootable USB follow the instructions here. You will need to keep booting from the USB to get to the desktop.

Next copy the installation files from the nlite folder on the desktop of the other PC over to a second USB stick (using Windows Explorer).

Remove the 1st USB (when on the XP desktop) and insert the 2nd.

Run the setup.exe from this USB and reinstall Windows XP. Note you will need the product key on the COA and will have to activate. As I said its not the greatest method and I will look for other ones but it does work and will get you up and running.

This seems so painful. I'll try it over the weekend and will post news asap. Thanks for your help.

Hi, when you say

Do not Slipstream any Service Pack, Internet Explorer 8 or Windows Media Player 11 if you have XP Media Centre Edition - it will break the installation.

What do you mean slipstream. I already have the recovery Dell cd with XP sp2. It-s from 2009, so it still had IE6 or 7 and I cant remember the version of Media Centre. How do I remove these two from my CD if you say they break the installation. Or do you suggest I download sp2 from the link provided and then manually install IE8.

Thanks again.

I was trying to write a guide to install Windows XP from a USB using NovaCorp WinToFlash but I tried it on another system and it didn't work at all.

You shouldn't use nlite for the Media Centre Edition CD. The MCE has SP2, WMP10 and IE6. Any attempt to slipstream SP3 ruins the installation of the MCE features.

I found this guide here it worked perfectly on my system, give it a try.

Ohh, I've tried that guide many times and it doesn't work for me. Yours was my last suggestion. I'm just going to either send it to a repair shop or throw it away. Ahh, Windows...

Thanks for your help :(

XP is quite difficult to install via USB I was trying to make an easy guide but it seems to work on systems and not others...

It may just be easier to use a USB CD/DVD drive.

if a factory reset is possible, do that then install ubuntu carefully, otherwise, HAVE windows XP SP3 CD, (by any means) then install it. (afterwards, you MUST reinstall GRUB 2 bootloader again. to  do so, see this: ubuntuguide.net/how-to-restore-grub-2-after-reinstalling-windows-xpvistawin7

Yes. download it from internet (an .ISO fie) then burn it to cd in ubuntu.

I have successfully attempted 2 installs of Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition and one of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition using the guide I mentioned earlier as a basis. It worked fine so long as a good USB stick is used.

I have also attempted 1 install of Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition, this failed It gets stuck at installing the Media Centre Edition features.

I have wrote some new guides saying exactly what I done:

Upgrade Your XP CD/DVD to a XP SP3, IE8, WMP11 CD/DVD/USB.

A Clean Install of Windows XP using a USB Stick

Can you retry and let me know if it works for you?