XP / NT Conflict ?

message from =?Utf-8?B?Z291YWY=?= on 4 Jun 2004

Hello,

I just bought a Dell Laptop with Windows 2000 NT on it-- a couple of days later I installed Windows XP on the same computer; it worked fine for about three days, then it stopped.

Each time I start it, it renders the "file missing or corrupt: System32\DRIVERS\pci.sys" error. It then suggests I should try new setup with the original CD-ROM, but when I do, nothing new happens.

At this point all I want is delete all OS so I can install XP anew--unless you have a better idea. Anyone can help???

Thanks,
Gouaf

Bruce Chambers replied to =?Utf-8?B?Z291YWY=?= on 5 Jun 2004

Greetings --

There's no such thing as "Windows 2000 NT," so I'm not sure how
the original OS, whatever it was, could have affected an upgrade to
WinXP. Both Win2K and WinNT can normally be easily upgraded to WinXP
Pro (but most definitely _not_ WinXP Home).

Anyway, to start over, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD.
You'll be offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format
partitions as part of the installation process. (You may need to
re-arrange the order of boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the
CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Bruce Chambers

=?Utf-8?B?Z291YWY=?= replied to Bruce Chambers on 5 Jun 2004

Hello and thanks for your quick response.

I tried to reboot from the CD, but it just gets nowhere. Each time it stops at "Kernel Debugging DLL" then says some file is missing and shuts down.

(Another thing I tried was to put another hard drive (containing only XP Home) from an identical laptop, but there again, the same thing happened!)

Really, is there a way I may just erase all data from the hard drive?

Thanks,
Gouaf

Bruce Chambers replied to =?Utf-8?B?Z291YWY=?= on 5 Jun 2004

Greetings --

Have you made sure that your PC's hardware components are capable
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx Additionally, run
Microsoft WinXP Upgrade Advisor to see if you have any incompatible
hardware components or applications.

You should, before proceeding, take a few minutes to ensure that
there are WinXP device drivers available for all of the machine's
components. There may not be, if the PC was specifically designed for
Win98/Me/2K. Further, laptops often require very specific proprietary
device drivers that would be available, if at all, only from the
laptop's manufacturer. Also bear in mind that PCs designed for, sold
and run fine with Win9x/Me very often do not meet WinXP's much more
stringent hardware quality requirements. This is particularly true of
many models in Compaq's consumer-class Presario product line or HP's
consumer-class Pavilion product line. WinXP, like WinNT and Win2K
before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or substandard
hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives) that will
still support Win9x.

Bruce Chambers

Archived message: XP / NT Conflict ? (Microsoft XP)