help installing windows please

plastichead

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

I recently got a new computer but it didn't come with an OS. I had tried to use my old copy of xp home but it froze when it said "setup is starting windows" (this is before I can even pick a drive to format and stuff). ended up using my friends copy of xp pro but I can't activate it. I would really like to just use my copy. Any Thoughts, Ideas and/or Links?

I also installed the hard drive from my old machine i believe its an IDE drive (ribbon connector. i connected next to the where the cddrive is connected, it works so far)

To be more clear on my intentions, i want to install my legit copy of xp home on my IDE drive (D: at present) in case i can't get into the xp pro when activation time runs out.


my system:

Cpu: 2.67 gigahertz Intel Core2 Quad Q6700
Board: ASUS P5N-E SLI
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT (x2)

or a link to the exact computer i purchased :
http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Quad-Core-...QQcmdZViewItem

eggrolls

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Have you tried borrowing a XP Home CD from someone? You can try burning a copy of your XP Home CD and installing with the burned copy, but that may not work if your CD is screwed up.

Riot Narita

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by eggrolls
Have you tried borrowing a XP Home CD from someone? You can try burning a copy of your XP Home CD and installing with the burned copy, but that may not work if your CD is screwed up.
What he said. Any XP Home disk should do, then use your own key to activate. However, if you have an OEM version of XP Home, chances are it's tied to your old PC and won't activate on your new one.

Bront

Bront

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Honored Order of Light

W/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hissy
What he said. Any XP Home disk should do.
Not true

It needs to be the same type (OEM of Full, and initial SP install) in order for the key to work.

However, you should be able to install an OEM version on a new PC, but it won't necessarily allow you to register the OS (which means you have 30 days till it dies). However, you can always try calling Microsoft, sometimes they'll authenticate it anyway.

Beyond that, try using F8 to boot into safe mode (if you can), sometimes that can help. I believe you can also install drivers during the initial install, but I don't remember how (I haven't installed an OS in 2 years).

Aera

Aera

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm]

E/

XP Home doesn't support Quad Core processors I believe. Try to get XP Pro or better even, Vista.

eggrolls

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aera
XP Home doesn't support Quad Core processors I believe. Try to get XP Pro or better even, Vista.
Nope. I'm using XP Home with a quad core right now

Tachyon

Tachyon

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Stoke, England

The Godless [GOD]

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aera
XP Home doesn't support Quad Core processors I believe. Try to get XP Pro or better even, Vista.
Of course it does! It just doesn't support multi-CPU based systems.

The Way Out

The Way Out

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2007

In my peanut brain

Zomg Zombies [OMG]

Mo/E

Is the XP disk you are using from a manufacturer or from Microsoft?

If it is from Dell or HP it will not work. If it is from Microsoft, you should be able to install everything correctly. I would still get a copy of XP Pro over Home. You are losing out on a lot with Home.

Aera

Aera

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by eggrolls
Nope. I'm using XP Home with a quad core right now
In that case, your harddrive may be damaged. I've had the same, it'd just stop installing, tried it on another harddrive and it worked. Try that.

plastichead

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

My disc was store bought, I have the folder and everything.

Asking around about the Quad Core issue too.

According to a techsupportforum guy, my disc is XP Home SP1 and SP1 doesn't recognize SATA harddrives without additional drivers being added during windows install. SP2 has the drivers. Just have to locate a copy of XP Home SP2 and should be good to go.

Stockholm

Stockholm

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2006

Censored

Censored

R/

Or get the Sata drivers and install them when asked for external drivers. (put them on a disket)

eggrolls

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Or slipstream it using nLite...

http://www.nliteos.com/

Basically you need your original CD, SP2 downloaded from Microsoft's website, a blank CD, and a burner. The files on your original CD are copied to some folder on your computer, nLite will add the SP2 files to to the CD and make a bootable image, and then you burn the image onto a blank CD. There's probably a more comprehensive guide on their website or on Google.

Bluefeather

Bluefeather

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Dec 2005

Philippines

[PNOY]

W/R

So, you failed to install Windows XP Home. You successfully installed Windows XP Pro but your CD Key is limited (to 30 days?).

I think we are in the same situation with minor difference.

I have an old pc (4 years i think) and I am using Windows XP Pro. Recently, I bought a new PC with Windows XP Pro SP 2 installer. So, I installed it. After installing, the computer told me that my Windows XP Pro SP 2 (one that came with the new computer, Gold color) is only limited to 30 days.

So, what I did is i reinstalled Windows XP Pro SP 2 (one that came with the new computer) and used my OLD CD-KEY (my old Windows XP Pro without SP 2). The CD was accepted, I verified with MS for Genuine Software check, it passed.

So, maybe you can install windows xp pro and use windows xp home key instead.

im not sure if it will work with you.

eggrolls

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluefeather
So, maybe you can install windows xp pro and use windows xp home key instead.
That just simply won't work

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

nLite loves to strip out things (services, needed files, etc) and totally screw up installations. It's more trouble and headaches than it's worth.

For plasticheads needs, all he (or she) really needs it to download Service Pack 2 and then use Autostreamer and there is a guide for how to do it all.

plastichead

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2005

Thanks for all the help! I got a copy of XP home with SP2 so, I will be installing it soon.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

If you have any issues installing, post with the exact error so it can get resolved quickly.

Quaker

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

Quote:
Originally Posted by plastichead
I recently got a new computer but it didn't come with an OS. I had tried to use my old copy of xp home but it froze when it said "setup is starting windows" (this is before I can even pick a drive to format and stuff). ended up using my friends copy of xp pro but I can't activate it. I would really like to just use my copy. Any Thoughts, Ideas and/or Links?
Since Xp pro works, it's not a problem with you hardware (but there could be incompatibilities). Have you tried installing Home, now that Pro works? Boot off the Home CD and tell it to do a new installation of XP Home right over the Pro.

Sometimes, these sort of installation problems can be overcome by clearing the CMOS data before you install. If you have a manual for the computer/motherboard, it should show you where the jumper is to do that.

Tarun

Tarun

Technician's Corner Moderator

Join Date: Jan 2006

The TARDIS

http://www.lunarsoft.net/ http://forums.lunarsoft.net/

Quaker, he's already stated what the issue was. He had SP1a on his CD and needed SP2 which has SATA driver support.