Topic: help w/ xp pro???

[F.O.Bean]

ive never upgraded OS or anything, and for some reason, i cannot gewt my serial ##'s to work right......any help would be great!!!

is it always this hard to "upgrade"

thanks guyz,
  bean

[dmonterisi]

bean- is this a "demo" version of xp?

[F.O.Bean]

bean- is this a "demo" version of xp?

unfortunately :Pit loads righgt up, i just cannot get to the "regular" version for the life of me......

thanks for any help damon

FWIW, i tried about 10 "serials" and none wroked, does it usually take a bunch of tries???

[RRobar]

bean- is this a "demo" version of xp?

unfortunately :Pit loads righgt up, i just cannot get to the "regular" version for the life of me......

thanks for any help damon

Bean, you need the corporate version with no activation I suspect. To keep it clean here PM and I may be able to lead you in the direction.


FWIW, i tried about 10 "serials" and none wroked, does it usually take a bunch of tries???

[F.O.Bean]

gotcha, i think i9 know what to do, ill delete these posts as soon as i get it figured out, thanks rob!!!

[Phil]

Bean, here is a great little program for fixing pesky serial problems with Microsoft.  http://www.magicaljellybean.com/

[Diggin]

I used that at my job this summer since we had corp. keys and I forgot the key when making a new image, it is a very nice product

[F.O.Bean]

guyz, whats different on the corporate version???

i installed the corporate and everything installed fine, but when i went to get online, its like my dial-up connection died and was gone....... ???i couldnt connect for the life of me, it wouldnt ever bring up my connection box!!!

did the corporate version make it where you have to be on a "network" or high speed access? ???thats the conclusion i came to!!!!

then i had to do a system restore from the factory, i now have xp home and all my factory setting(except the ones used for recording, ie: hibernation, screen saver, etc...), but now i cannot get norton systemworks to work, it says that there already another anti-virus on there......i erased the mcAfee it came w/ and also any remnants of systemworks, i dunno why it wont werk, it wouldnt pop up when i did the system restore!!!

i think thats my longest post ever!!!

thanks for any help in advance!!!and thanks thus far

[thoman8r]

guyz, whats different on the corporate version???

Nothing, just the install process is slightly different.  The "corporate" version doesn't require activation.  And the MSDN version doesn't require a key at all.

i installed the corporate and everything installed fine, but when i went to get online, its like my dial-up connection died and was gone....... ???i couldnt connect for the life of me, it wouldnt ever bring up my connection box!!!

did the corporate version make it where you have to be on a "network" or high speed access? ???thats the conclusion i came to!!!!

That doesn't have anything to do with it being the corporate version.  Functionally, it is exactly the same as any other version of XP Pro.  It should handle dial up fine.  Sounds like there's something else going on.

then i had to do a system restore from the factory, i now have xp home and all my factory setting(except the ones used for recording, ie: hibernation, screen saver, etc...), but now i cannot get norton systemworks to work, it says that there already another anti-virus on there......i erased the mcAfee it came w/ and also any remnants of systemworks, i dunno why it wont werk, it wouldnt pop up when i did the system restore!!!

Did you delete it or *uninstall* it.  There's a big difference.  You can't just delete the files themselves.  Doing that leaves the registry entries and tricks the OS into thinking the program is still there.  You have to run the uninstall utility from add/remove programs under the Control Panel.

[F.O.Bean]

guyz, whats different on the corporate version???

Nothing, just the install process is slightly different.  The "corporate" version doesn't require activation.  And the MSDN version doesn't require a key at all.

i installed the corporate and everything installed fine, but when i went to get online, its like my dial-up connection died and was gone....... ???i couldnt connect for the life of me, it wouldnt ever bring up my connection box!!!

did the corporate version make it where you have to be on a "network" or high speed access? ???thats the conclusion i came to!!!!

That doesn't have anything to do with it being the corporate version.  Functionally, it is exactly the same as any other version of XP Pro.  It should handle dial up fine.  Sounds like there's something else going on.

then i had to do a system restore from the factory, i now have xp home and all my factory setting(except the ones used for recording, ie: hibernation, screen saver, etc...), but now i cannot get norton systemworks to work, it says that there already another anti-virus on there......i erased the mcAfee it came w/ and also any remnants of systemworks, i dunno why it wont werk, it wouldnt pop up when i did the system restore!!!

Did you delete it or *uninstall* it.  There's a big difference.  You can't just delete the files themselves.  Doing that leaves the registry entries and tricks the OS into thinking the program is still there.  You have to run the uninstall utility from add/remove programs under the Control Panel.

thanks bro, ill try that out, +T

[RRobar]

Bean did you reformat the HD when installing XP Pro? I've never had good luck upgrading. If you clean it off and start new I don't think you'll have these issues.

[F.O.Bean]

Bean did you reformat the HD when installing XP Pro? I've never had good luck upgrading. If you clean it off and start new I don't think you'll have these issues.

yeah, i just upgraded, i guess ill start fresh!!!

thanks rob!!!

how long does a reformat take???

and how do i do it!!!

[RRobar]

When your PC boots. Hit delete or f10 to enter setup. You'll be looking to enter the bios screen. There are different setups but mine is the 2nd one on the list. You want to set the primary boot device to goto the cdrom drive. Then save the changes and exit, The PC will start from the disc. Through that setup there should be an option to install on a partion or delete the partition. Delete the partition and then select to reformat the partition. It so get it all should be easy enough to follow. You will probably have to get some drivers once to download some new drivers for any devices you may have. I had probalems with my nvidia video card after upgrading to win xp pro. but have that figured now.

I'm sure others will chome in here as well, but that's how I did it not to long ago.

[RRobar]

oh yeah about 45 min for the whole thing. but that may be dependant on the processor you are running.

[F.O.Bean]

thanks rob, so \once i got to "format", should i check make ms-dos boot disk!!!

how does one get a boot disk???

[F.O.Bean]

also, how does one get the latest drivers??

[nic]

no need to make a boot disk.
XP should recognize most hardware except for stuff like higher-end sound cards, just go to the manufacturers website and usually under support you can find the latest drivers.

[F.O.Bean]

no need to make a boot disk.
XP should recognize most hardware except for stuff like higher-end sound cards, just go to the manufacturers website and usually under support you can find the latest drivers.

thanks bro, +T , im gonna try it, ill be back asap!!!

[F.O.Bean]

ok, i went under my c drive, right clicked the format function, and it says that something is using my c drive and it cant access it, also to close any windows that may be open.......

well, this is after i restarted so im clueless

[nic]

ok, i went under my c drive, right clicked the format function, and it says that something is using my c drive and it cant access it, also to close any windows that may be open.......

well, this is after i restarted so im clueless

huh?

boot from the XP cd(not your hard drive) and follow the prompts you should have no problems

[F.O.Bean]

ok, i went under my c drive, right clicked the format function, and it says that something is using my c drive and it cant access it, also to close any windows that may be open.......

well, this is after i restarted so im clueless

huh?

boot from the XP cd(not your hard drive) and follow the prompts you should have no problems

DOH! thanks again bro, like i said, im clueless at all of this comp stuff......

another +T in 12 bro!!!

[thoman8r]

ok, i went under my c drive, right clicked the format function, and it says that something is using my c drive and it cant access it, also to close any windows that may be open.......

well, this is after i restarted so im clueless

huh?

boot from the XP cd(not your hard drive) and follow the prompts you should have no problems

DOH! thanks again bro, like i said, im clueless at all of this comp stuff......

another +T in 12 bro!!!

Just make sure you know you will lose EVERYTHING on your C drive when you reformat.

[F.O.Bean]

rob, i see no bios screen???is the second option you are talking about the install new(not the upgrade) option???

also, i see no option to set the primary boot device to the cdrom...

and you mentioned saving changes, what changes are you talking about......

when i put my key in, it says its doing a dynamic update, do i have to go past that page to see all of this???

also, im AN IDIOT ::)BTW, IM AN IDIOT!!!

im seriously clueless, and thanks guyz!!!

[thoman8r]

Bean,
put the XP cd in first and then reboot the pc.  First, see if it allows you to boot to the cd already.  Then you don't need to go in BIOS.  When the pc reboots, a screen should come up before windows loads that says

"Press any key to boot from the cd"

or something to that effect.  Press any key (not the any key   ) and it should take you to the XP Install.

If you don't see that screen and it boots right to windows, you'll have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS settings.  Reboot the pc again and when the first screen pops up, hit delete.  IF that doesn't work, try F2.  This should take you into BIOS setup.  Every BIOS setup is different but look around for something called Boot Sequence.  Make sure that CD-ROM is in the sequence BEFORE Hard Disk Drive.  I.E. it will probably look something like this:

Primary Boot Device: IDE CD-ROM
Secondary Boot Device: Floppy Disk Drive
Tertiary Boot Device: Hard Disk Drive

Save the settings and your pc will reboot.  Now you should be able to boot to the xp cd.  

If this STILL doesn't work, then either you have a cd-rom that isn't bootable or the cd itself is not bootable.  In this case, microsoft has a boot disk for XP that actually consists of 6 separate boot disks.

Hope this helped.

[F.O.Bean]

Bean,
put the XP cd in first and then reboot the pc.  First, see if it allows you to boot to the cd already.  Then you don't need to go in BIOS.  When the pc reboots, a screen should come up before windows loads that says

"Press any key to boot from the cd"

or something to that effect.  Press any key (not the any key   ) and it should take you to the XP Install.

If you don't see that screen and it boots right to windows, you'll have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS settings.  Reboot the pc again and when the first screen pops up, hit delete.  IF that doesn't work, try F2.  This should take you into BIOS setup.  Every BIOS setup is different but look around for something called Boot Sequence.  Make sure that CD-ROM is in the sequence BEFORE Hard Disk Drive.  I.E. it will probably look something like this:

Primary Boot Device: IDE CD-ROM
Secondary Boot Device: Floppy Disk Drive
Tertiary Boot Device: Hard Disk Drive

Save the settings and your pc will reboot.  Now you should be able to boot to the xp cd.  

If this STILL doesn't work, then either you have a cd-rom that isn't bootable or the cd itself is not bootable.  In this case, microsoft has a boot disk for XP that actually consists of 6 separate boot disks.

Hope this helped.

my first window was the xp home window

what does the 6 disk boot do and how do i do it???

wtf, bill gates??? whys this shit SOOOOOO damn complicated, or am i that st00pid

[nic]

"wtf, bill gates??? whys this shit SOOOOOO damn complicated, or am i that st00pid "

a little from column A, a little from column B...moreso from column A

[dmonterisi]

Bean,
put the XP cd in first and then reboot the pc.  First, see if it allows you to boot to the cd already.  Then you don't need to go in BIOS.  When the pc reboots, a screen should come up before windows loads that says

"Press any key to boot from the cd"

or something to that effect.  Press any key (not the any key   ) and it should take you to the XP Install.

If you don't see that screen and it boots right to windows, you'll have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS settings.  Reboot the pc again and when the first screen pops up, hit delete.  IF that doesn't work, try F2.  This should take you into BIOS setup.  Every BIOS setup is different but look around for something called Boot Sequence.  Make sure that CD-ROM is in the sequence BEFORE Hard Disk Drive.  I.E. it will probably look something like this:

Primary Boot Device: IDE CD-ROM
Secondary Boot Device: Floppy Disk Drive
Tertiary Boot Device: Hard Disk Drive

Save the settings and your pc will reboot.  Now you should be able to boot to the xp cd.  

If this STILL doesn't work, then either you have a cd-rom that isn't bootable or the cd itself is not bootable.  In this case, microsoft has a boot disk for XP that actually consists of 6 separate boot disks.

Hope this helped.

my first window was the xp home window

what does the 6 disk boot do and how do i do it???

wtf, bill gates??? whys this shit SOOOOOO damn complicated, or am i that st00pid

i didn't read back through the entire thread to see if this has been discussed, but restart and hit the F[whatever it is] button to go into setup.  Arrange the order of the boot devices so that the cd drive is ahead of the hard drive.  otherwise, it won't attempt to boot from the cd, i don't think.

[thoman8r]

my first window was the xp home window

what does the 6 disk boot do and how do i do it???

wtf, bill gates??? whys this shit SOOOOOO damn complicated, or am i that st00pid

bean, there's got to be something before the xp home splash screen, even if it's just a Dell/Gateway/whatever manufacturer splash screen.  Try hitting ESC right after you reboot (before the xp home screen) and see if anything comes up.  If not, you can download the boot disk setup program here.  Just reboot with the first boot disk in your floppy drive and it will lead you through the boot/install process.  It's pretty straightfoward.

XP Boot Disk

[F.O.Bean]

huge +}T to all, and THANKS....i get it, at my blue splash HP screen, i hit that, buit it pops up in about a second

[F.O.Bean]

alright, just got off of werk,a nd heres the deal, i went and rebooted, the screen came up, i hit esc, it took me to the boot sequence page, i chose cd-rom and hit enter....

well, then i should reboot again, right??? which i did, and i cant even get back into the booot sequence page while hitting esc.

and now i have no clue how to do a boot thing

the disc was in my cd-rom drive, not my cd writer drive, i checked all of that, and im clueless.......

should i make a floppy disk for boot up???

sorry guyz, im FUCKIN ST00PID

[thoman8r]

After you set the boot sequence, you're done with the BIOS settings.  Just reboot with the cd in the drive and don't hit anything.  After the HP splash screen but before the XP home splash screen, you should see a message that says. "Press any key to boot from cd".  Press any key and it will boot from the cd and take you to the xp install.

[F.O.Bean]

After you set the boot sequence, you're done with the BIOS settings.  Just reboot with the cd in the drive and don't hit anything.  After the HP splash screen but before the XP home splash screen, you should see a message that says. "Press any key to boot from cd".  Press any key and it will boot from the cd and take you to the xp install.

+T thoman, youve def been my DAWG on this lil project, and thanks for the quick reply, im itching to do this....

[F.O.Bean]

alright, i tried to check and make sure that the cd-rom was the primary boot drive, and it wont let me in my BIOS anymore, wtf???

also, i thought i did the cd-rom primary device thing, and it wont boot, so should i get on that XP link a page back?and if so i ONLY have to load the first fl,oppy right???

geesh, that'll take another walkthru...

why is it SOOO fuckin hard to reformat and wipe it clean

[thoman8r]

alright, i tried to check and make sure that the cd-rom was the primary boot drive, and it wont let me in my BIOS anymore, wtf???

also, i thought i did the cd-rom primary device thing, and it wont boot, so should i get on that XP link a page back?and if so i ONLY have to load the first fl,oppy right???

geesh, that'll take another walkthru...

why is it SOOO fuckin hard to reformat and wipe it clean

bean it might be easier if you IM me and I step you through this

[F.O.Bean]

alright, i tried to check and make sure that the cd-rom was the primary boot drive, and it wont let me in my BIOS anymore, wtf???

also, i thought i did the cd-rom primary device thing, and it wont boot, so should i get on that XP link a page back?and if so i ONLY have to load the first fl,oppy right???

geesh, that'll take another walkthru...

why is it SOOO fuckin hard to reformat and wipe it clean

bean it might be easier if you IM me and I step you through this

thanks bro!!!

[F.O.Bean]

well guyz, thanks to yall, i finally figured out how to reformat

one q tho, i went to click on my second partition(which is for data), it said it wasnt formatted, then sasid all data would be wiped(which i wanted anyway)......

i was just wondering if that was normal since the c drive didnt do it (what windows is on), and the d drive did (where ill keep all my t00nes)!!!

thanks again guyz, now if i could only activate it right

[thoman8r]

well guyz, thanks to yall, i finally figured out how to reformat

one q tho, i went to click on my second partition(which is for data), it said it wasnt formatted, then sasid all data would be wiped(which i wanted anyway)......

i was just wondering if that was normal since the c drive didnt do it (what windows is on), and the d drive did (where ill keep all my t00nes)!!!

thanks again guyz, now if i could only activate it right

Glad it worked out for you.  You should be able to format the D: in windows.  As you were saying, just click on it and it will ask you if you want to format.  Glad that you have a separate data partition.  I was going to suggest that but figured it was best to concentrate getting the OS on there first!  Let me know if you have any other problems.

[F.O.Bean]

seems it wont reformat the d drive, and thats where i wanna keep all my data

and a huge +T thoman, youve been a great help!!!

[thoman8r]

seems it wont reformat the d drive, and thats where i wanna keep all my data

Try this - right click the mouse on the My Computer icon and select Manage from the drop down list.  Find the tab for Disk Maintenance and click on it.  This should show you all your partition.  Try right clicking on the partition that needs to be formatted and selecting format.

If that doesn't work, try deleting the D: partition.  Then go back in and make, 1.) an extended partition in the free space and 2.) a logical drive in that extended partition.  Then format.  Hopefully this should do it

and a huge +T thoman, youve been a great help!!!

anytime

[F.O.Bean]

seems it wont reformat the d drive, and thats where i wanna keep all my data

Try this - right click the mouse on the My Computer icon and select Manage from the drop down list.  Find the tab for Disk Maintenance and click on it.  This should show you all your partition.  Try right clicking on the partition that needs to be formatted and selecting format.

If that doesn't work, try deleting the D: partition.  Then go back in and make, 1.) an extended partition in the free space and 2.) a logical drive in that extended partition.  Then format.  Hopefully this should do it

and a huge +T thoman, youve been a great help!!!

anytime

its reformatted now, thanks bro!!!

one more q tho, i have to activate my windows....is this possible??

i thought i put the corporate version key on, actually, im sure i did, so whats the dilly???i thought i didnt have to activate w/ the corporate version???

any help is greatly apppreciated

[F.O.Bean]

seems it wont reformat the d drive, and thats where i wanna keep all my data

Try this - right click the mouse on the My Computer icon and select Manage from the drop down list.  Find the tab for Disk Maintenance and click on it.  This should show you all your partition.  Try right clicking on the partition that needs to be formatted and selecting format.

If that doesn't work, try deleting the D: partition.  Then go back in and make, 1.) an extended partition in the free space and 2.) a logical drive in that extended partition.  Then format.  Hopefully this should do it

and a huge +T thoman, youve been a great help!!!

anytime

its reformatted now, thanks bro!!!

one more q tho, i have to activate my windows....is this possible??

i thought i put the corporate version key on, actually, im sure i did, so whats the dilly???i thought i didnt have to activate w/ the corporate version???

any help is greatly apppreciated

i think i got it, thanks everyone, ill let ya know

[F.O.Bean]

activation, what activation

[F.O.Bean]

update!!!

i tried the reset2.exe function so i never had to activate, it just starts the 14 day trial period over and over again each time i reboot.....

my question is, at first, windows said i had a 30 day trial period, so thats all cool, i loaded the reset2.exe thing in(which says i NEVER have to load it again), and now its counting down to 28 days left!!!!

so what im asking is, does the reset2.exe function ONLY kick in when it gets to 14 days, or should it be werking at the 30 day trial period???

thanks guyz,
   bean