XP Pro repair help needed

[tunaep]

I have re-loaded xp on a friends laptop HDD by attaching to my tower pc using special ide cable. It has got as far as displying Winxp logo but on re-boot halts with message missing files , start setup and select `R' for repair.
trouble is I don't know how to proceed as I am unfamilir with xp
It offers me `enter' to exit or `esc' to exit and only accepts one character of type? is there anything I can do? should I just fdisk,format and start again

 

[wolluf]

Can you clarify what you've done please? Did you connect the laptop's hard drive to the the PC (ie, special IDE cable was laptop drive adapter), and then install XP on the PC. And if so, did this work, or are you having problem here? If so, and it did work, did you put drive back in laptop - and then got the problem?

Also - what's stopping you installing direct to laptop (no CD ROM drive?). If laptop has a floppy drive, you might be better copying install files to its hard drive (using adapter), then booting from win98 boot floppy and starting XP install from there -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307848

 

[tunaep]

thanks for the replies
The laptop was switching off as soon as it started to boot. I have no way of knowing what previous owner had mucked about with but couldn't even get to bios or use boot disc.
Laptop has both CD and FDD
I used a IDE solid disk cable to connect to my PC (its the type of cable you use for compactflash ide hard drives)
booted from CD XP loaded fine from CD except seems to have missed /lost some files. It won't reach xp logo now but requests I use repair feature. If you can advise how I can repair fine if not I'll try fdisk format and re-load. then switch it back into laptop to load drivers etc

 

[wolluf]

Only good reason for using fdisk with XP is if you need a FAT32 partition bigger than 32GB. An install done on the desktop machine may not even boot when put back in laptop. I would not attempt any repair on what you've got - you need to address the laptop's problems (eg, if its switching off when starting to boot, is this an XP or hardware issue? Won't it just happen when you replace drive anyway?)

You said 'couldn't even get to bios or use boot disc' - do you mean boot floppy? What happens when you boot laptop (with for example win98 boot floppy in drive)? And what did you try to access the bios?

 

[tunaep]

The HDD is a 40Gb
The reason I used the PC to install is that it wouldn't install from the CD in the laptop
I don't know what is wrong with the laptop but if you have ever taken one to to pieces you will know why I am seeking an easier solution first rather than spend 2-3 hours dismantling someones laptop when I have no hardqare to substitute
The laptop would not boot off a floppy disk
Yes it was in the FDD ?
Yes I am aware it may not boot when put back in the laptop but what simpler option would you suggest as an alternative? if you don't try something you'll never know I guess!

 

[tunaep]

update
HDD back in laptop now posts.
warns of SMART failure imminant.
Won't allow setup of XP
Have fdisked and am formatting to try load win98 but its stuck trying to recover allocation unit so not looking hopeful HDD probably dying/dead.

 

[linney]

These are about "SMART failure imminent" for your information.

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1037793811

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22SMART+failure+imminent%22

 

[tunaep]

Thanks Linney
interesting reading though the flaming later is such a bore! Paul obviously has `attention deficit syndrome '