Hello Nuno,
Well after days of searching for answers to "fix" my PC I finally find you guys
and reading your answer to BlackTulipgirl, I dare to ask for help ... (post=42325.... don't worry about asking questions as it would probably be worse to live with doubts)....
Probably a frustrated techy at heart, I am trying to learn on my own, but really just slowly turning from using the applications, to "having fun" tinkering with the appl, hardware, peripherals,... sometimes with success, other with a disaster in my hands
.
So pretty please bear with me (also sorry about my English).
Hello Marieta, welcome to the community.
Probably, most people you find here may have started learning in the similar way as you are doing so don't worry.
I think that what matters is that every day a bit more of experience can be gathered and these forums are important because you can ask these sort of questions before risking yourself to wreck something.
My reply to your questions got a bit bigger than expected so I recommend that you print it out to paper and cross with a pencil each step as you reinstall your windows to help following and understand these instructions in detail without confusions.
My basic question would be:
Can I use your project to reinstall my XP OS?
Yes, it can be used to reinstall XP.
If so...
Should I reformat the hard drive? Erase it tottaly before reinstalling?
You should reformat the drive to ensure that any traces of viruses hidden inside the disk are be purged completely.
One important detail should be taken into account: Do a backup of all your documents, photos, files, etc to an external drive, preferably a large sized USB HDD so that you don't lose anything.
All data inside the HDD will be removed so a backup is indispensable.
Do I have to delete partitions by hand?
Yes, you should delete them yourself but I explain how.
When the XP install Setup starts
(text mode), you will be presented with a few text screens where you are asked to either repair the existent OS
(that you ignore on this case) and one of the last steps is the partioning of your HDD.
On the bottom of the text screen of the setup you find quick instructions regarding how you can delete or create a new partition.
Use the arrow keys and press "D" to delete the currently selected partition, repeat the same action until all partitions are removed.
Then you will create back the partitions that you need.
For this task you press the "C" key
(create) In most cases I use two partitions, one for installing windows and another where my documents will be placed.
20Gb is more than enough to accommodate windows XP but if you have a much bigger sized disk then you should use another value you see more fit. The remaining space can be used to create the other partition that will be used to keep all your personal files and even the backups to your windows install (will write later about this).
The second partition should preferably be bigger sized than the windows partitions.
After creating both partitions, select the first partition and click Enter to start installing windows
(it will ask to format the newly created partition and you can select the quick NTFS disk format)I recommend two partitions because the next time your windows needs to be reinstalled or crashes, all your documents will
(hopefully) be safe.
--------------
Do I just try to install your program from the C: prompt? (I can not get XP to run.. can only get some ms dos screens.
This program should be run from a working windows. Once it finished you should get a bootable DVD that can be used to install widnows.
If the reinstallation can be done, will I end with a fully operational PC? or...
Yes.
What are the differences between obtaining (if my prayers are answered) a full XP original installation disk and installing your project? (I do have DVDs with the capacity to copy it)
- UXP adds a live XP OS inside the DVD. A sort of windows that will run straight from the DVD that is portable and has no need to be installed that you can use to rescue your files in case of emergency.
- Adds DriverPacks, a huge collection of drivers that make most of your hardware be recognized by windows
- Adds WUD (windows updates) that you can download and integrate on your windows install
- Adds nLite (a windows customizing tool) and programs that are also automatically installed with your windows setup.
In conclusion, it creates a huge DVD filled with all sort of goodies for those who seek a customized windows install DVD.
If I can use your project is there anywhere a download and install for dummies, tech challenge like me (step by step)?
Even thought a lot of features are included, it's very, very easy to use and I'm not joking.
- Download
- Unpack files to an empty folder like c:\UXP
- Run Winbuilder.exe and click on the Play button
- Select the folder where your windows install files are placed
- See the results.
Once the project is finished you see the new DVD image being run on the PC emulator so that you can check if everything is good.
Read the first topic on this discussion to see the complete tutorial with screenshots included to help you in case of doubt.
Should I start from the C: prompt on the recovery console? The BIOS is set to boot from the CDROM now, will that be enough?
etc, etc .. more basic questions......
Once you get the DVD created all you need to do is boot from CD-ROM, no need for recovery console.
Problem Background (in case this helps you):
My PC stopped working, it would say file system32..... missing or corrupt. I tried using the recover disks that came with the machine with no luck. It seemed to solve that file problem but then it came up with other errors. Diagnostic says the harddrive is not corrupted but apparently files/system is/are. Running the dir told me that a lot of stuff was at zero like empty among them autoexec, msdos.....???
I looked around but most friends seem to only have Recover disk that came with the computer not the original XP installation disks.
I have to admit I went kind of crazy, tried about three different recovery disk sets, even some not for this computer (an Emachine) sometimes it would start xp set up but in the end nothing seemed to work. I went into the recovery console, not much luck. The listsvc gives me the enable and disable and I do not know what the default should be, anyway with when doing chkdsk and dir in the C: an D:(this one says it has XP SP2 or part of it) drives it gives me lots of files many of them at zero also.
Let's do things from scratch to keep them as simple as possible.
First, you can create your new Windows install DVD from a machine where windows is running well.
Then you can partition your disk and install windows as mentioned above.
Last but not least, once you completed these steps we can talk about optimizations and how to reinforce the safety of your computer. I would also like to teach you how to backup your windows partition to later restore using the UXP DVD whenever you need to get your windows back into shape without having all these troubles.
Thanks a millions in advance for your help and for your contributions
PS: Nuno, even if this can not work for me, I know that a lot of people that are a little bit ahead of me, (and perhaps me in the future) are beneftitting of your knowledge and hard work. I been to so many sites and this is the only one that seems to address in a real way the pc user's boot problems.
----------------
I'll never forget the day when a teacher of mine
(that taught for many years in the US) told me that when any given person is trying to learn or solve something seamlessly difficult, then one should always try to divide an conquer the problem into smaller sections so that step by step we overcome any given difficulty as time passes.
On this case I think the same rule applies.
It may seem too difficult at start but we can focus and progressively get all the issues you've mentioned solved.