Sure it's free of malware?

Try running windows system file checker:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok

Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done.

Did you run sfc?

Some malware may not show up. You could get (free) HijackThis and post the log on Dell's HijackThis forum for the experts to check for hidden malware.

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_hijack

Essential to click the red link at the top of the HJT forum home page and read all the FAQs before running HJT and posting your log file. You should find a link to download HJT there too.

If sfc and HJT don't fix the problem, you may need to do a Repair/Reinstall of XP. Personal files and software will be ok, but you'll have to reinstall ALL microsoft updates again.

Ron

my system is free of all detectable malware/viruses/adware/spyware. i have probably run about 5 different programs each at least twice in the last 4 days. i hope i dont have any malware still because that would mean it is undetectable. the scan didnt pick up anything but the problem(s) continue.

yeah, i was wondering about that, because i have many other problems right now besides just the windows installer. i was wondering if there is a site/forum topic/whatever that could explain the whole thing better. i tried to just put the Re-installation CD into the drive when the computer was booted up but it said that "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on your computer is newer than the version on the CD". If i start the computer with the CD in the drive and tap F12 and boot from the CD and reinstall will it not delete anything? It says that deleting the newer version of Windows will make it impossible to recover the files and settings. Is that just talking about the Windows files and settings? Thats what i deduced from that message. I would gladly re-update Windows because it seems a lot more black and white than what i am dealing with now. It will not allow me to install after i boot up and log in the "Continue" button is grayed out when the warning pops up.

thanks a lot. i have a dell dimension 8300 that unfortunately was shipped in late May 2004. i will check out the combo CD and see if i can figure it out. on my dell reinstall CD it says Microsoft Windows XP Professional Including Service Pack 1a if that makes any difference.

Message Edited by swimspaz14 on 04-12-2007 07:00 PM

The error message means that the version of XP on the hard drive is newer than the version on the CD. For example, the CD may have XP SP1 and you updated XP on the the hard drive to SP2.

If you reformat the hard drive and install Windows from the CD, you'll lose everything. All your personal files, any software you added, including whichever updates to Windows you did and all the settings you changed so it looks and works the way you want.

You also can't run either windows file checker (sfc) or do a repair/reinstall with the CD as it is now. You can make a "slipstreamed" CD which contains XP from your CD plus SP2 (free download from Microsoft) which should allow you to run sfc or do the repair reinstall. Neither sfc or repair reinstall will damage your personal files or software, but the Repair will require you to install all the microsoft updates issued after SP2 was released.

Here's a good reference for making the slipstreammed CD. You need a working PC with CD burner to do it, your Dell XP CD and SP2 which you can download for free from Microsoft.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

You can read this for info on doing a reinstallaiton of XP:
http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm#Install

If your system was shipped after July 14-2004, you should have Dell's PC Restore on the hard drive. It resets the system to exactly the way Dell shipped it. All personal files, any software and all XP updates and fixes you installed will be lost, so it's essential to back up your personal files on external media (CD) before running PC Restore. It is the fastest way to get back to 'normal' as long as your personal stuff is backed up. After running PC Restore, you will have to install SP2 and then all of the microsoft updates again, and then any additional software you want.

BTW: Always include the model PC and the version of windows in your posts. Makes it easier to troubleshoot.

Ron

No difference. Here's another link where they actually slipstreamed a Dell XPpro SP1 CD with the SP2 download, exactly what you need to do. You can probably follow the instructions in whichever of the 2 links makes the most sense to you.

http://vbdotnet.home.comcast.net/XP_SP2.htm

Ron

yeah, i think i am going to do a repair/in-place installation of windows and hope it takes care of it. But if it doesn't it isn't that bad, i will reformat and my computer will be "new" again. The only problem with the latter is my brother will be furious. He has 3020 (a little more than 14 GB) songs on this computer most from CDs that took a long time to convert from WMA format to MP3. It would take a long time to redo that.