Hi WombatEd,

If you are using a Dell OEM Windows XP disc then the product key will not be prompted. Do let me know what kind of disc you are using to reinstall the computer.

Why are you installing XP on it, if you are donating it to charity?

It will be useless to them since Microsoft is stopping all support of Windows XP in less than 6 months on April 8, 2014. http:/windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle

Install Vista. Microsoft is supporting that until April 11, 2017. http:/support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Vista" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Vistahttp:/support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Vista" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">

If it has a Vista COA, then XP CAN be installed as part of its "downgrade rights", however, YOU must source the activation for XP (Dell installation disc, retail/VL/MSDN key, etc.).

As stated ... you (and the charity) are much better off skipping XP and installing Vista.

Kiran,

Thank you for your response, but in my case it doesn't apply.

I am using the Dell OEM Windows XP disc, and the product key is being prompted.

Any other ideas?

Thanks, Flash, for your response, but unfortunately, I'm not sure I understand your terminology:

• I don't know what a "Vista COA" is - there's a sticker on the chassis with a Vista product key, but it doesn't work with the XP reinstall disk.
• I'm not sure what you mean by "source the activation".  I boot the machine from Dell's XP Reinstallation disk, but it demands a product key, and the only one I have is for Vista (which doesn't work for XP).
• By "downgrade rights", do you mean I can install Vista, and then somehow downgrade to XP?

Vista COA = Certificate of Authenticity - this is the Vista sticker with the Product Key on it used for activation; yes, it can only be used to activate Vista.

Source the Activation = meaning simply that Vista is eligible - as part of the licensing - to downgrade to XP, HOWEVER, the USER must obtain a valid XP Product Key to activate the XP install with.  Normally, a Dell installation disc will not ask, as OEM media is usually designed to activate automatically, but it may if the disc does not recognize a "valid" Dell system (too new/old, wrong line of system - business/consumer) and/or is damaged is some way.

Downgrade Rights = this is simply the term Microsoft uses to reference the "right" you have to run XP instead of certain Vista versions as part of the Vista license (meaning you don't have to buy a separate license if you need to run XP).  The process is complicated by the fact above, that you must "source  your own activation", but this is very easy for MOST organizations who have access to volume license or other media and licensing that can be used to activate Windows.  There is no way to "downgrade" the Vista software to XP like you would "upgrade" XP to Vista using the Windows installer.

Your XP media may be bad.  I'd suggest installing Vista.  Browse this for instructions on obtaining "retail" Vista installation media, then activate over the phone (with Microsoft, not Dell) using the Vista Product Key:

http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/

Or you can request Vista media from Dell (being out of warranty, you'll need to call Support):

https://www.dell.com/support/diagnostics/us/en/19/nondiagnostichome?c=us&l=en&s=dhs

 

IEEE,

This is not my decision - the charity does not want to support a different OS on every donated computer.

I think they're planning on migrating all their computers to Windows 8.1 when that comes out, but in any case, they don't want to support Vista.  (Nor do I.)

Installing by booting to the XP CD is going to be the best method here.

If I try to boot from my XP reinstall disk I get a blue screen that says:   A problem has been detected and windows had been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

Make sure there are no cards installed in the system.
What SP (Service Pack) is on your installation CD(s)?
In the BIOS Setup (F2), do you have SATA Operation set to AHCI or ATA?
Is there anything else unusual about the system's configuration?  Multiple drives?  How much RAM?  Etc.?

Once again, thanks to all of you for trying to help.

I've now managed to destroy the existing installation.

Here's a more detailed version of what I've been trying, just in case any of you spot a clue:

USING THE DELL WIN-XP REINSTALLATION DISK:

If I try to boot from my XP reinstall disk I get a blue screen that says:

A problem has been detected and windows had been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If I boot the machine into Safe Mode, and then select "Microsoft Windows XP Professional Setup" from the "Which OS" menu, I get the same thing.

If I boot the machine into Safe Mode, then select "Microsoft Windows XP Professional Setup" from the "Which OS" menu, and then try to go into System Restore, I get the same thing.

If I boot the machine into Safe Mode, and then select "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" (the non-Setup option) from the "Which OS" menu, and then run Setup.exe from within the Windows Explorer, I get the following:

• An error message says "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD".
• But I can dismiss this, and setup appears to proceed normally, despite the error message.
• The Setup wizard proceeds through several preliminary steps and then demands a Product Key.

If I boot the machine normally, and then run Setup.exe from within the Windows Explorer, I get the same thing.

USING A SITE-LICENSED INSTALL DISK

I then switched to trying a site-licensed installation disk, for which I have the product key (and can legally use on this computer ;-).

In Safe Mode, starting Setup.exe in the Windows Explorer, and skipping the "Dynamic Update" (which gets latest install files online), Setup proceeds normally for a while, then reboots and lands on the blue screen with "A problem has been detected...".

CRASH & BURN!

Finally, I try to reboot into normal (non-Safe) mode, and I get:

Windows Could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\System32\hal.dll

And that's where I now stand.