New XP Pro won't boot up

  • Thread starter Thread starter Oz
  • Start date Start date
O

Oz

I just installed a fresh copy of XP Pro over XP Home on a
compaq presario but now it won't go past the boot up
screen. I had to install it by putting the HDD on another
pc then putting it back on the compaq.

Why can't I boot it up?

Any ideas?

Thanx
 
Well to begin with all the hardware is wrong. Drivers have been installed
for the motherboard on the machine that you put the hdd on to install xp.
Why couldn't you install it on the origianl machine - the compaq?
You say it won't boot up. What error messages are you getting?
Is the XP Pro version an upgrade version or full retail version. If it is a
full retail version why didn't you reformat the drive to clear xp home and
then install xp pro? I appreciate that if you have a lot of data on the
compaq that you didn't want to loose or backup then this may have been the
reason.
 
thanx for replying John
well the compaq had various viruses & would let me do
anything in cluding format or reinstall xp so i put it on
my other machine to format it but during this operation i
damaged my xp pro disc so had to install it from folder
on hdd.
when i put the compaq presario hdd back on the compaq it
checks the memory etc then stops on a black screen with
the cursor flashing about 5 lines down. then stays there
 
I'm assuming that the folder on the hdd you used to install windows xp was
on the hdd from the compaq? This would be a restore data file supplied by
compaq in case you had to reinstall xp.
Silly question but is the power and data cable connected correctly to the
hdd? I assume that your system goes through the standar POST sequence when
you boot up, i.e., checks memory and then brings up a list of hardware
available for the pc. In other words xxxxx MB Memory: First boot device
xxxxx Western Digital caviar (or whatever hard drive you have): Second Boot
device: CD-ROM: Floppy Drive?
After the memory has been checked is the hard drive accessed? Are you
getting any error messages like 'invalid boot ini' To be honest my new
machine, which is not compaq, came with a set of restore disks. I'm not
really familiar with the procedure for accessing the restore partition on a
hdd. You obviously know more about that than i do. Is it possible to access
the restore partition and attempt another install?
What i think is more likely the problem, especially if you are not getting
any error messages, is that there is a problem with one of four things: The
master boot record; the partition table; the boot sector, or the NTLDR file.
The problem is you don't have a windows xp cd to restore or fix any files. I
don't know what damage you have done to your xp cd or whether it would
qualify for replacement (you will need a proof of purchase, anyway) So i can
only really direct you to the following. First log on to
http://support.microsoft.com and click the knowledge base option. You need
tot ake a look at knowledge base article number 314502 'computer stops
responding with a black screen when you start windows'
As for your damaged cd take a look at How to Replace Lost, Broken, or
Missing Microsoft Software or Hardware
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;326246

I only hope this is all helpful
 
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