Operating system reinstall issue

I had a retail copy of windows xp pro but I am trying to use the original dell reinstall tigon cd that came with the PC now, but the other one keeps showing up.

Jlviola68

Are you trying to use a Dell OEM XP professional reinstallation disk, or a retail copy of XP Professional with it's own COA?

Bev.

I don't remember if I deleted the partitions or not.  I can't seem to get it to read the original reinstallation cd now.  It keeps trying to finish the windows Xperia one

If you have a second system to hand or can borrow a friends that has an optical drive follow these instructions to convert your Windows XP Reinstallation DVD into a Reinstallation USB:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/legacy-windows-xp-reinstallation-guide/windows-xp-service-pack-3-standalone-updates/slipstreaming-service-pack-3-windows-media-player-11-and-sata-drivers-into-your-windows-xp-reinstallation-media/

Do not slipstream anything as this is a Media Centre Edition install.

At the same time I advise creating a DBAN bootable USB and securely wiping your Dimension E510:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/securely-wipe-your-hard-drive-with-dariks-boot-and-nuke-dban/

To Reinstall Windows XP see here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/legacy-windows-xp-reinstallation-guide/

Ensure that you get the unofficial XP Service Pack 4 Update and apply the registry edit to continue receiving updates.

Jlviola68

 For a clean reinstall of XP, while installing did you first delete all partitions and then recreate them when prompted?

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxpclean1.htm

Also, regards to XP setup stalling, see if the following can help:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828267

Bev.

I don't remember if I deleted the partitions or not.  I can't seem to get it to read the original reinstallation cd now.  It keeps trying to finish the windows Xperia one

The advice given above, I apologize but it's too technical, I'm afraid I don't understand it.  I thought there was a way for me to go in and change something in the bios or something.  Maybe I didn't make it clear.  When I turn the computer on, it doesn't go to the desktop, it goes right to the middle of the Windows XP Pro installation, no matter what CD I put in.  How do I fix it?

I only have the desktop, not another computer, and as for the DBAN, I can download that from someone else's computer and burn it on a CD, but, when I put the CD in, the computer goes directly to the middle of the installation from when I put the Windows XP Professional CD in, and it shows 37 minutes left. I can't figure out any other way to explain it. 

The system will do that as its no boot record and hence will try to proceed with the install. You will of course not enter the Windows XP desktop till this completes.

Power down your computer and wait 10 seconds.

Hold F12 while powering up your computer (at the Dell BIOs screen).

Select boot from CD/DVD or from USB respectively.

I did that and selected boot from cd and it did the same thing

I am trying to reinstall Windows XP on a Dell Inspiron 1150 and I keep getting error messages saying that "The Windows XP Media may be damaged"  How do I get a replacement CD for Windows XP or a newer system that will run on a Dell Inspiron 1150?  I upgraded the RAM to 1 GB.

The 1150 has other issues including a motherboard issue with the cover for the wifi port.

XP is End of Life End of Support.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs

 Ubuntu 14.04 – Trusty Tahr

Knoppix 7 would work fine.

 Since the optical drive may have problems I would recommend making a bootable USB flash drive of at least 8 Gigs

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/

Given the age of the machine the hard drive is likely near dead.

You should have been able to Boot the Linux Live without installing.

If you can't then there are more issues than just the hard drive.

I tried to load Ubuntu 14.04 but it kept hanging up and never completely installed.  I tried to re-install XP and ended with 3 copies of Windows and a partial install of Ubuntu.  So I had the drive wiped and now I am trying to install a clean copy of Windows XP and it keeps hanging and restarting, sometimes saying that the copy of XP might be damaged, or it can't authenticate the copy of Windows, or a file can't be found.