UNSOLVED
Totally Bamboozled
I am trying to reinstall Windows XP but cannot.When I insert the disk and click 'reinstall Windows' nothing happens.I also tried booting from the cd drive but again nothing.
The reason I have to reinstall is also strange.A couple of months ago all the icons on my desktop changed from the normal depictions of the programs to the little white images that look like 3 fruit on a slot machine.I am able to do most ordinary functions but cannot install any software and I cannot open a program by double clicking.When I double click to open a program I get a dialog box saying basically not recognized and then I have to drill down to find the program every time after which it works.My optical drives have also stopped recognizing blank disks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
The reason I have to reinstall is also strange.A couple of months ago all the icons on my desktop changed from the normal depictions of the programs to the little white images that look like 3 fruit on a slot machine.I am able to do most ordinary functions but cannot install any software and I cannot open a program by double clicking.When I double click to open a program I get a dialog box saying basically not recognized and then I have to drill down to find the program every time after which it works.My optical drives have also stopped recognizing blank disks.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
589
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Posted August 16th, 2006 19:00
This is a great guide for reinstalling on a Dell: http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm589
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Posted August 16th, 2006 19:00
Thanks for the reply.No it will not boot and yes I did the f12 thing and get no message.When I reboot I just go into the normal windows start up routine589
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Posted August 16th, 2006 23:00
Back up your personal files to CD. Then, assuming system was shipped after July 14-2004, press Ctrl-F11 before XP starts to load and follow the prompts. That will reset the system to exactly the with way Dell shipped it. All personal files, any software you installed, and all XP updates will have to be reinstalled.
Ron
589
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Posted August 17th, 2006 00:00
Thank you all for your replies but I have been there589
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Posted August 17th, 2006 14:00
Thanks for that,I've been there589
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Posted August 17th, 2006 14:00
"When I insert the disk and click 'reinstall Windows' nothing happens.I also tried booting from the cd drive but again nothing."
You have to bboot from the installation cd . . Once you set your BIOS to boot first from cd, if you do not get the "Press any key to boot from CD" message, and you have another optical drive, try the XP CD in the other drive.
589
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Posted August 17th, 2006 17:00
Back up your personal files to CD. Then, assuming system was shipped after July 14-2004, press Ctrl-F11 before XP starts to load and follow the prompts. That will reset the system to exactly the with way Dell shipped it. All personal files, any software you installed, and all XP updates will have to be reinstalled.
>Sadly I bought my computer a few months before that feature was included589
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Posted August 17th, 2006 17:00
I did change the bios.I do not get the message to 'hit any key to boot from cd' I have had the installation cd inserted.
Thanks for the suggestion435
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Posted August 17th, 2006 18:00
Your DVD/RW may be set as master . . have you tried with the cd in that one?
PETER345
1 Rookie
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5796 Posts
589
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Posted August 16th, 2006 18:00
Did you press F12 and select the CD as the boot device?
If it tries to boot and fails what message (if any) do you get?
Peter