12 replies
by wcp
Back up your data and follow the steps below.
1. Reinstall Windows on top of the current one. Boot the computer with the Windows XP Home CD and choose Repair after the Microsoft license agreement.
2. If this fails, clean install Windows.
Either way, you have to reactivate.
by kmerrillt
Poster rated this answer.
by boli
The answer is this:
When you install any version of windows, it configures the installation of windows to be exactly compatible with the hardware that is connected. Only plug and play things are able to work on any installation but they still come with DRIVERS. You need to install the INF files for your M/B and all the drivers for everything after windows installation finnishes, thats why when you boot up windows for the first time after you installed Windows (not including brand name computers)it looks all wierd and nothing works quite right.
by kmerrillt
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by dmiles
by kmerrillt
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by csmith
There is nothing wrong with your hardware.
This is a Windows XP problem.
Large hardware changes under XP are not allowed, because that is how XP determines that you are a "Pirate".
I know you are not a pirate, and you know you are not a pirate, but WinXP builds a hardware profile, and any major changes cause the OS to not boot.
Since you are doing serious rebuilding/upgrading, new installs of XP will be necessary each time.
Keep your copy of Win98SE, so you can find out if your new hardware configuration works, before you try to install WinXP.
Regards, Chris
by csmith
Hi Lee,
By what you have said, all of the boot failures are hardware conflicts.
I am going to have to look into that.
Reason:
If you do a typical upgrade, of changing the tape backup unit, adding another disk array, and changing the video card, there is only about a 15% chance that the PC will boot under XP.
If you skip the video card change, the chances of a successful boot rise to about 25%.
This is using hardware that works under XP.
An upgrade of adding a DVD-RAM recorder, CD burner, and a scanner will produce the same 15% chance of successful boot.
But.
Adding another processor, in a low cost system, means changing the motherboard, and fixing the no boot problem. (IDE controller problem)
(Makes you appreciate Servers like the old COMPAQ Proliant, where you just have to change the CPU card, to add a processor.)
I am beginning to think that I am wrong in blaming the anti-piracy settings in XP, and rather it may be a software bug in XP, that causes these no boots, after a multiple upgrade.
But. The theory, that these are mostly hardware conflicts, does have merit, judging by the number of PCs we get, that were trashed when the owner tried to upgrade from Win98SE or Win2K to WinXP.
The problem is, finding the time to do documented tests.
I definitely do agree with you on the IDE controller problem.
The problem of the no default IDE driver, that you mentioned, is an unacceptable failure, in error handling, by Microsoft.
I wonder if they are going to fix it in SP2.
Regards, Chris
by kmerrillt
Poster rated this answer.
by wlbowers
You did not say if you are getting error messages during the boot.
If it will boot to floppy. Your problem could be associated with resource drivers.
First while it is true that XP monitors severe changes in system components,it will not keep a system from booting. It might require you to reregister either through the internet or through a call to moma microsoft.
The call is usually (I repeat usually) not required until three or four online reregisterations have been performed.
Here is what I have found in a motherboard change with Windows XP or Windows 2000.
The chipsets that are used by different motherboard manuafacturers are a critical issue in xp and 2000. The os does not leave generic drivers in place after the OS install is complete.
This will usually result in an error message during startup. Boot_Device_Inacessable.
The motherboard is not at fault. Windows has drivers installed for a specific chipset and these need to be changed. You need to do an inplace upgrade.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341&Product=winxp
This is the url for Q315341 in the Microsoft knowledgebase. Remove any spaces that happen during copy/paste.
You can also access this information by going to microsoft.com. On the left of the page under Resources select support and Knowledge Base. Enter the Q number is the search for window and click on Go.
This should get you back up and running.
FYI: Q292175 is the inplace upgrade knowledge base doc for Win2000.
Good Luck Lee
by kmerrillt
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by kmerrillt
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