XP hangs on 25 mins to go on Repair Install?

[CraigHappy]

Hi Guys

I have a friends machine that I'm trying to fix, it's running windows xp home with a P4 CPU.
When it was given to me it would start up to the point just before the login screen, it would just hang and the cursor would hour glass which I could move with the mouse, the background was just the xp blue, NOT the blue screen of death, it wouldn't continue any further.
Booting to safe mode did a similar thing, but it would hand on the windows is starting screen.

So I ran a RAM test, that was fine, ran a harddrive quick utility test, that was fine and booted to command prompt and ran chkdsk /r, that said it found some error and fixed them. It wouldn't let me run chkdsk /f, said it didn't recognise the parameter of something! But that made no difference.

So I thought I'd do a repair install, now it just gets to 25 mins to go 'completing installation' and it hangs, tried a number of times and hangs in the same place every time.
Even used Ghost to copy the data to a second drive and tried using that to complete the install, does the same as the first drive!

Any ideas anyone, I really don't won't to have to reformat the drive and start from a fresh install of XP.

Many thanks

Craig.

 

[paparazi]

I guess you could try stripping to bare essentials, remove all addon cards and plugged in devices, just leave the CPU/cooler/one stick of ram/PSU/CDrom/graphics card and hard drive, revert back to a basic wired Keyboard and mouse.
Try a different CDrom
Try a different copy of XP

If you still have no joy you may need to back up data (piggy back to another machine)and low level with free utilities from the HDD manufacturers website, try again.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[CraigHappy]

Hi, thanks for the suggestions, I stripped right down to bare essentials, tried several different copies of XP and different drives. But no good, sadly! :-(

But...by trying to install an older service pack one version of xp it has allowed me to access the administrator login in Safe Mode. There are two other accounts on there, but when you click on the it says the accounts is corrupt.

The other problem I have is that the xp license code for the machine wouldn't be accepted by this older SP1 install disk and I had to use a different code, but I assume this will cause problems with the activation of xp?

Is there any likely hood getting this system back or is it time to call it a day and go for the re-format and new install, I've spent over 8 hours on it now!

Cheers, Craig.

 

[cdogg]

Yeah, I would use the second drive and run a fresh install of XP. Make sure you can get that to boot up OK. If not, then there might be a bad device in the system. If it works, then it might be best to scrap the original and start pulling over documents and settings.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

It's starting to very much look like that being the best option!

Anyone got any ideas what could have caused the problem in the first place, she said the thing she was doing, was surfing the web, no new programs had been installed recently and on the next reboot, it just hung before the login screen?

 

[BadBigBen]

Virus... Malware... etc. can do that easily...

mostlikely the REGISTRY got bombed, or a Driver...

best option, like mentioned, NEW INSTALL....

other, Repair install with the XP CD that your client has... due to Liscence variation, ie. OEM or VLK, etc...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[CraigHappy]

Thanks guys, I've now gone down the re-format and re-installation route.
But now having problems getting the legit license key to activate, as we don't have the original installation disk, they can't find it!
I installed an OEM version and the code when in ok during install, but it won't activate.
I have spoken with Microsoft and they say they can't activate it as I used an OEM disk and not a RETAIL one.
I tried it with a RETAIL version, but the code on the sicker on the side of the machine will not be accepted during the installation?

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers, Craig.

PS. I have emailed ACER (system brand) to see if they can provide a new install disk.

 

[cdogg]

The "legit license key" will only work for OEM installations, as you've discovered. Microsoft may not have gotten the full story. It needs to be explained that all the components in the PC are the same (unless you are using a different hard drive), and that you had to reformat and reinstall the OEM version that was on the PC before.

I hate dealing with activation issues myself, but you've got reason to go through MS at this point.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

I explained to the nice lady twice, in detail what the situation was, but she wasn't having any of it, she even went away to check, so she said!

I had told her that I had barrowed the OEM disk from a friend, silly move on my part, now I look at it! But told her it was just the disk not the key code, as my key code was on the side of the machine. She also wanted to know if the machine was mine, where I brought it, make and model number.

I suppose from her point of view, not my machine, didn't know where it was brought and barrowing the OEM disk, it all looked a bit dodgy!

I'll keep you posted how I get on.

 

[cdogg]

Since the PC is probably less than 4 years old, I would strongly suggest you contact the manufacturer to possibly obtain a replacement OEM disk. Dell, for example, ties their OEM disks directly to the serial number in the BIOS. That way, activation is not necessary.

Good luck!


~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[CraigHappy]

Thanks again cdogg

I did contact Acer and they want £50.00 for a replacement disk!

Having search the web I have found a small little program to allow the activation and furture security updates. I know this isn't ideal, but as I have a legal system key, it seems to be the only way forward without a lot of expense for a replacement disk or hassle trying to get Microsoft to activate the key!

On my searching the web, I didn't find many other people out there, that were having a number of problems getting legit keys to be activated! So it isn't only me! lol

Thanks for everyones inputs and advice.

Cheers, Craig.

 

[CraigHappy]

Hi again

Just read the above back and saw that I had put didn't istead of did!

Should read as -
I did find many other people out there, that were having a number of problems getting legit keys to be activated! So it isn't only me! lol

 

[dglienna]

In the shop, we format customers machines, and use an OEM disk to reinstall. The key never works, so we have to call MS at least twice a week. They have never given us a problem. A couple of times, I didn't even have to speak to anyone. I just used the IVR to punch in the numbers.

Try again. You might want to try a different number. They have many people answering the phone.

-David
2006 Microsoft Valueable Professional (MVP)
2006 Dell Certified System Professional (CSP)