computer/windows question.....help?

NGT · Jul 12, 2005

Let me first say....I don't know much about PC's period! So....here goes....

I have windows xp on my computer, it's going to lock up I guess in 28 days because well, it was my brothers and I can't register it. I just wanted to try it out. I had 98. Anyways, now xp is stuck on there and I can't get it out. I purchased windows pro 2000, but I can't install it because the computer says it's older software. Anyways, I need to wipe out EVERYTHING on the entire computer and start from scratch with Windows pro 2000. HOW CAN I DO THIS???? Nortons Utilities or something?

any help would be greatly appreciated!! Also, it won't let my format the drive because stuff on the computer is using stuff on the drive. Do I have to format it in safe mode? If so, how do I get into that again?...been a while since I troubleshooted,lol....

anyways...that about suims up where I am now....any help would be appreciated!!

thanks!

dogtoy · Jul 12, 2005

What makes you think that your computer will cease functioning in 28 days? I have never heard of a full featured 30 day trial of windows xp.

Does it actually say that the computer will no longer function in 28 days, or is that a guess or something someone told you?

Why would you prefer Win 2K pro? It was just recently labled as legacy software by microsoft and will now only receive patches and updates on a very slooooooow schedule.

Hope I can help you out here.

cheers,
-DT

Kickin' Wing · Jul 13, 2005

Consumer XP's give you 30 days to "Activate" it over the interent, so unless you have a legit CD-Key it will go down.

Windows 2000 is pretty decent, so it should do well. I haven't tried installing 2000 OVER XP, but you might try booting w/ the 2000 disc inserted and running the install then -- that would be the easiest way.

The only problem I can see with that is XP has messed with the Master Boot Record and doesn't want you to install 2000 over it. If that's the case, you'll need an old Win98 Startup Floppy -- you can grab one here and burn it with one of the programs also linked to on that page.

Startup the comp w/ that disk inserted and when you get a DOS Prompt type:

fdisk /mbr

Then Restart your PC (ctrl+alt+delete) with the Windows 2000 CD Inserted and hopefully it will run the install program.

You should also check that your comp boots the CD before the HD in the BIOS if you're having any trouble. Usually hit DELETE or F1 right when the computer is starting up and it's doing that RAM check and there will be an option in one of the sub-menus to decide the boot order.

Also, during the 2000 install.. it's probably best if you tell it to format your drive Completely with NTFS.

Think that's about it.. good luck ^_^

-Kickin' Wing

stuffmonger · Jul 13, 2005

Kickin|wiNg said:
Consumer XP's give you 30 days to "Activate" it over the interent, so unless you have a legit CD-Key it will go down.

Windows 2000 is pretty decent, so it should do well. I haven't tried installing 2000 OVER XP, but you might try booting w/ the 2000 disc inserted and running the install then -- that would be the easiest way.

The only problem I can see with that is XP has messed with the Master Boot Record and doesn't want you to install 2000 over it. If that's the case, you'll need an old Win98 Startup Floppy -- you can grab one here and burn it with one of the programs also linked to on that page.

Startup the comp w/ that disk inserted and when you get a DOS Prompt type:

fdisk /mbr

Then Restart your PC (ctrl+alt+delete) with the Windows 2000 CD Inserted and hopefully it will run the install program.

You should also check that your comp boots the CD before the HD in the BIOS if you're having any trouble. Usually hit DELETE or F1 right when the computer is starting up and it's doing that RAM check and there will be an option in one of the sub-menus to decide the boot order.

Also, during the 2000 install.. it's probably best if you tell it to format your drive Completely with NTFS.

Think that's about it.. good luck ^_^

-Kickin' Wing

Thats almost right. First off... what you need to do is PRINT THE INSTRUCTIONS OUT ON PAPER!!! You won't be able to get back online once you've started the process until you're done. Secondly, download any antivirus updates/ spyware/ adware/ firewalls that you will use once you're up and running ( I suggest zone alarm [basic free version], spybot s&d, adaware, and firefox) After you download your programs (all freeware btw

), you'll have to burn them on a cd with any other information that you might want to keep. Now that the prep work is all done, you need to go into your system bios. Go into bios by pressing the hotkey right on the initial logo "splash" on startup (usually is the delete key). in the bios, either in the top menu or the seccond from the top menu should be some options something like "first boot device <device>" device would be either hdd, cdrom, or floppy. Change the first boot device to floppy. Change the seccond boot device to cdrom, and have the third boot device the hdd. go back by pushing escape, then go to "save changes and exit". Your computer will automatically restart, so you might as well have the floppy with win98 in the drive, and let it load up from the floppy into DOS. It could take awhile, but just as long as the floppy is working, it is fine. When you get the function "A:\ " everything is done loading, and that's the last prompt you'll get. From that type "fdisk". press "y" for large disk support when it asks. and follow to "delete primary or logical drive" after that's finished, you have to "create primary logical DOS partition". when you're done with that, restart (ctrl alt del). then let the computer boot up from the floppy again. At A:\, type "Format C:" This will erase ALL data from your system. After that's done, remove the floppy from the drive, and insert the windows 2k cd, and try to bootup from it. If it's a legit copy (or a bootable pirated version), it should work, and then you can follow the installation instructions from their prompts. after installing windows and BEFORE you connect to the net, install any and all antivirus programs that you backed up on the cd in prepwork. that's pretty much it... If I think of anything else, I'll post again, but I've got to go to work now.

dogtoy · Jul 13, 2005

Stuffmonger's directions would be the correct way to do this. Also if you have any install cd's for linux distributions laying around (or a live cd distro) you can do all the reformatting and MBR manipulation via nice easy graphical menus, but dos fdisk is also very simple to use.

You are aware of ...ahem... other means of activating your xp license, yes? (Just saying it...)

I havn't really used Win2k Pro since the beta release(still have the beta cd :glee:

), but I am pretty sure some discs may be non-bootable. Specifically "Upgrade" disks probably are not bootable, at least this is the case with 95, NT 4, 98(SE), ME, and XP.

If the CD won't boot, let me know and I'll write up some instructions.

Cheers and good luck,
-DT

Kickin' Wing · Jul 13, 2005

You shouldn't have to delete and recreate the Primary Partition with fdisk and doing that will add a few hours to your setup if you have a large hard-drive. Clearing the MBR should be enough to run the install from boot.

With a new Partition you can't use Quick Format on that Win98 Startup Disk and the Windows 2000 installation has a place where you can format your drive -- which you will have to use anyway to get rid of FAT32 and put on NTFS (faster and more dependable).

Also, just to note Windows XP Keys are supposed work on 3 different computers.

-Kickin' Wing

NGT · Jul 13, 2005

thanks guys! I printed out the whole thread and am getting the disc in the link...

off to the spt. to give it a try.

Thanks to all for the info!

wish me luck,lol....

neo_X7 · Jul 13, 2005

stuffmonger said:
Thats almost right. First off... what you need to do is PRINT THE INSTRUCTIONS OUT ON PAPER!!! You won't be able to get back online once you've started the process until you're done. Secondly, download any antivirus updates/ spyware/ adware/ firewalls that you will use once you're up and running ( I suggest zone alarm [basic free version], spybot s&d, adaware, and firefox) After you download your programs (all freeware btw ), you'll have to burn them on a cd with any other information that you might want to keep. Now that the prep work is all done, you need to go into your system bios. Go into bios by pressing the hotkey right on the initial logo "splash" on startup (usually is the delete key). in the bios, either in the top menu or the seccond from the top menu should be some options something like "first boot device <device>" device would be either hdd, cdrom, or floppy. Change the first boot device to floppy. Change the seccond boot device to cdrom, and have the third boot device the hdd. go back by pushing escape, then go to "save changes and exit". Your computer will automatically restart, so you might as well have the floppy with win98 in the drive, and let it load up from the floppy into DOS. It could take awhile, but just as long as the floppy is working, it is fine. When you get the function "A:\ " everything is done loading, and that's the last prompt you'll get. From that type "fdisk". press "y" for large disk support when it asks. and follow to "delete primary or logical drive" after that's finished, you have to "create primary logical DOS partition". when you're done with that, restart (ctrl alt del). then let the computer boot up from the floppy again. At A:\, type "Format C:" This will erase ALL data from your system. After that's done, remove the floppy from the drive, and insert the windows 2k cd, and try to bootup from it. If it's a legit copy (or a bootable pirated version), it should work, and then you can follow the installation instructions from their prompts. after installing windows and BEFORE you connect to the net, install any and all antivirus programs that you backed up on the cd in prepwork. that's pretty much it... If I think of anything else, I'll post again, but I've got to go to work now.

Is the free version of Zone Alarm good enough protection for a DSL or Cable connection?

stuffmonger · Jul 13, 2005

neo_X7 said:
Is the free version of Zone Alarm good enough protection for a DSL or Cable connection?

I use it for verizon dsl. I personally use all the programs I listed, and a copy of norton corporate that a friend let me use (but I only scan with norton on a VERY rare occasion) My system has been running stable for about three months, without any flaws, and I scan for adware/spyware maybe once per month... I get one or two hits (which are almost always just a couple of tracking cookies).

computer/windows question.....help?

NGT

J. M Club, ,

dogtoy

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Kickin' Wing

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stuffmonger

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