problems re-installing xp?

Question

hi, wonder if anyone can help. im having problems re-installing xp using the mfr's master disc. i selected the option to 'erase all data and restore pc to when it left the factory'

i then get an error message which says:

'invalid media type reading drive c, abort, retry, fail?'

fail & retry dont work so i press abort. i am then directed to a screen which says 'copying files to hard drive' but it seems the processor is not doing any work as the indicator is not flashing, but the fan is working hard. nearly 40 minutes have passed without any change or progress, so something is wrong.

what will be my next step? do i need another recovery disk? i have tried re-booting the pc without the disc but the OS is missing now.

any advice is appreciated

Answer 1

You stopped the disk while it was formatting, therefore losing all your information on your hard drive. You need to reinsert the disk and boot from it and do a clean install, if that option is available. If not you will need to get a copy of your OS and do a clean install.

Answer 2

I have no idea what an MFR master disk is, but I would assume that there was a problem with the disc and it either had corrupted data, or wasn't actually an XP install disc. If you were going to reformat anyway, why do it with anything but an actual copy of the OS. Restoration to factory specs is a terrible idea, because any machine should be formatted once it leaves the box immediately.



Screw recovery discs, you deleted the OS. Get a new copy of XP and install it fresh, that is the only option you have left.

Answer 3

Do you have the product key label on your computer? if you have, then you need to borrow a full XP install disk, change your boot device in the BIOS settings to boot from your DVD/CD drive and boot from the XP disk, when you get to the stage where it asks for the product key or code, type in the number on your computer, it will install from the borrowed disk but it will record your product key and when you come to activate it, it will be accepted as a genuine copy, which of course it is.

Of course, if you do not have the product key, or cannot borrow a copy of XP, you will either have to buy a copy of XP, or if it was me, I would get Windows 7, XP is only supported by Microsoft for another two years.

If you need any more info, ask as an addition to this question, good luck.

ADD.

NTFS, not FAT 32, it is the old format.

Answer 4

ive been installing microsoft windows XP professional and home Edition since it came out and ive had this problem twice in the past either you have onknowingly broke the link as you where installing which his hard to guess when or it would screw your head up thinking or the installation disc was just faulty...your only option now is to refformat and install a new raw fresh installation of windows XP,good luck.

Answer 5

Get linux.

http://www.ubuntu.com/

Answer 6

I think your hard disk crashed. Try with a new hard disk. Thanks