reinstalling XP

Question

Hello,    I'm trying to reinstall windows xp on my Dell XPS 410 after a less than satisfactory experience with Windows vista.  I've got a lot of info I want to spell out, so please bare with me.   There are to system restore disks that come with the computer, right?  Windows operating system(orange) and drivers/applications(blue)?   Can CTRL+F11 work on the XPS 410?  First I tried using the ctrl + F11, but my manual said to do it when there was a blue bar and 'Dell' on the screen.  I have no blue bar on the screen at all, just a grey one as the BIOS is booting up.  Is that the same thing?    Then I tried to repair the operating system with the CD.  It was working ok, but then it asked me for an administrator password.  Not having one (or at least not thinking I had one) I pressed enter, but then all that showed up was the command prompt.  I could type help for a list of DOS commands but thats it.   Next, I tried a clean install.  It wiped clean the partition that I was going to be installing windows XP to, but then as it was copying over files, I kept getting a message saying that it was unable to copy over certain files (I think ipconfig was one of them)  I clicked on continue, and it finished copying what it could.  The PC then restarted, and it brought up the XP installation screen, but then it asked me for the Windows service pack 2 cd.  Now, I don't have that cd, and I'm pretty sure that I didn't recieve this with my PC, so what gives?  How can I fix this?  Thanks

dunedin · Answer

Have a look at your installation CD. Does it say XPSP2? I think it will. That message is probably happening because all of the files were not copied at setup.

I think the first thing you should do is test your RAM. You may have a faulty stick.

You can put either of these free programs on a floppy and test the RAM

memtest86 http://www.memtest86.com/

Windows Memory Diagnostic http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

OR

You are going to have to reinstall anyway. If you have more than one stick of RAM take one out and try reinstalling again. If you get an error immediately you will know that stick of RAM is bad. Swap the sticks and try again. This will identify if you have a bad stick.

As long as you have one good stick you should be able to reinstall XP successfully.

thermal grease · Answer

use the xp reinstallation cd to reinstall windows.  i suggest u delete partition c and do a long format. delete all the partitions if theres more that 1. then reinstall all the drivers.  insert xp reinstallation cd, a window will appear, close it, restart from start menu, press F12 repeatedly when windows logo appears and choose to boor from cr-rom.  follow the on screen instructions.

Windows General

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