Your reinstall disk contains a full copy of Windows XP. If you were unable to run a repair reinstall it is possible that your installation of XP was so badly damaged that it could not be recovered. You can do a clean install of XP using your Dell recovery CD with the procedures
here and in the included links.
If you are still under warranty, you could've gotten bad media, especially if loading the windows directory crashes the system, or does not complete the loading process.
Dell has a 30 day software policy, so you should inquire to their tech support, as well as their customer serivces phone numbers. Dunedin, you are correct that it may change the boot and system partitions with WIndows 2000 Profesisonal, but it does not matter which you install first, as 2000 pro sill recognize a dual boot setup, and include XP and will boot it up!
Message Edited by Pterminiator on 01-11-2006 12:08 PM
Have you just installed Win 2000? If so that`s the problem.
Win2000 will have replaced Ntdetect.com and Ntldr with it's older versions, which can't recognise WinXP.
Hope you have an XP installation CD
Copy those 2 files from the WinXP CD into the root folder of the C:\ drive, then boot up with the WinXP CD in the drive and go to the Recovery Console. Type "Fixboot" at the command prompt. That'll get you back in to XP.
Is "looking for prior" the exact wording of the message you receive? If not, what is? How far into the installation process did you get before the error message?
Message Edited by Denny Denham on 01-11-2006 10:55 AM
It would find a previous installation (if it were going to) within seconds. That particular message is not a normal part of a clean install, and I suspect you may not have booted from the XP CD to begin the process. See the procedures
here and in the included links.
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
Your reinstall disk contains a full copy of Windows XP. If you were unable to run a repair reinstall it is possible that your installation of XP was so badly damaged that it could not be recovered. You can do a clean install of XP using your Dell recovery CD with the procedures here and in the included links.
gregar60
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
gregar60
16 Posts
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
Pterminiator
141 Posts
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
Message Edited by Pterminiator on 01-11-2006 12:08 PM
dunedin
2.7K Posts
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
Win2000 will have replaced Ntdetect.com and Ntldr with it's older versions, which can't recognise WinXP.
Copy those 2 files from the WinXP CD into the root folder of the C:\ drive, then boot up with the WinXP CD in the drive and go to the Recovery Console. Type "Fixboot" at the command prompt. That'll get you back in to XP.
gregar60
16 Posts
0
January 11th, 2006 16:00
I installed win2000 after the problem to see if it was the HD or windows.
Win2000 installed and is running correctly.
in fact, when I boot the computer, it ask me to choose between win xp and win 2000, and winxp will not load
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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January 11th, 2006 16:00
Is "looking for prior" the exact wording of the message you receive? If not, what is? How far into the installation process did you get before the error message?
Message Edited by Denny Denham on 01-11-2006 10:55 AM
gregar60
16 Posts
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January 11th, 2006 17:00
i will get the exact wording and update tomorrow
gregar60
16 Posts
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January 12th, 2006 00:00
is the message, it runs for a good 20 minutes so I think nothing is happening..
should i let it run longer or is it stuck
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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January 12th, 2006 01:00
It would find a previous installation (if it were going to) within seconds. That particular message is not a normal part of a clean install, and I suspect you may not have booted from the XP CD to begin the process. See the procedures here and in the included links.
gregar60
16 Posts
0
January 12th, 2006 12:00
GreyMack
2.2K Posts
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January 12th, 2006 13:00
GM
gregar60
16 Posts
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January 12th, 2006 14:00