XP Reinstall issues

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peachymint wrote:
i have an Inspiron 600m laptop.
i got in back in '04
and it only started giving me problems
this past november

i'm trying to reinstall windows XP,
and i have the original disc that came with
my laptop

but the partition won't format
for some reason, the computer
just can't format the partition
or install windows.

the last time i ran a diagnostic
it made beeping noises and
it somehow booted
in windows 95,
and i've been scared
to run one again since D:

The diagnostics boot into older Windows...  You need to run it again, reboot and hit F12. 

 

If it passes, likely your problems are due to you trying to install XP while running XP, you need to boot to the XP CD.

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peachymint wrote:
i don't think that's the problem...
when i try to boot it from the HD
it says it can't find the OS

the last time i ran the diagnostic
something failed before it went to 95...

thanks for your help anyways

 

Run the diagnostics.  If it failed on the hard disk, you're wasting your time trying to reinstall the OS.  Note WHAT COMPONENT it's testing when it fails and the EXACT ERROR MESSAGE.