Re: Can't get WinXP working again

From: Carey Frisch [MVP] (mrxp2004_at_nospamyahoo.com)
Date: 07/12/04 

Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2004 15:30:53 -0500

One of the shortcomings of an OEM version of Windows XP
is the lack of free Microsoft support. That is one reason OEM
versions cost less.

Apparently, your system is infected with malware. I would suggest
backing up your critical files to a CD and perform a "clean install"
using your current OEM Windows XP CD. Afterward, install a
good internet security program, such as Norton Internet Security 2004.
For details, visit: http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/nis_pe/

Use the following procedure for a "clean install" of Windows XP:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
              devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
              EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
              hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
              After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

       ===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
       ===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
       Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
       partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
        http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

        [Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
       ==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
        and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
       of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
       available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
       and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

       How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
       http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

       Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
       http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

       [Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot] 

-- 
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Be Smart!  Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Coleah" <coleah@pacifier.com> wrote in message:
 news:2b41301c4684d$9974b6b0$a501280a@phx.gbl...
|I suspect a virus caused umpteen popups and windows would 
| hang, or reboot spontaneously.  Then got problems logging 
| in, got random messages about hardware changes that made 
| no sense, or messages that others were logged onto the 
| computer when I tried to reboot.  Even though I couldn't 
| log in, once I got a popup screen that said something 
| about Toronto and disappeared.
| 
| 1)  I got messages to re-register/re-install/re-activate.  
| So I tried that several, several times.  I could login 
| after install, but on reboot I would get the same 're-
| install, etc' message.
| 2)  I guess I re-registered too many times and I got a 
| screen saying I had zero registrations left.
| 3)  Then I tried the re-activate and it also allowed me 
| one session and then kicked me out and did a 'memory dump'.
| 4)  Further attempts to reboot/login give error messages 
| like, "Value creation failed at line 422", Some files are 
| missing or damaged and you can't log on.  Use the 
| installation CD to reinstall or repair" with the ERROR 
| CODE 0x80040507.
| 5)  That screen leads to another screen that asks about 
| license status and re activation (again).
| 
| I CALLED MICROSOFT SUPPORT
| 1)  Spoke with an oriental named Danny who wea obviously 
| reading from a script, couldn't understand English or what 
| I was saying.  I told him I had XP Pro and he'd refer to 
| XP Home Edition.  I told him I could not even login.... 
| and he directed me to click on start and go somewhere to 
| get the Product ID....GRrrrrrr.
| 2)  Danny finally got my Product Key # (he didn't repeat 
| it back to me (but I assumed with all the trouble he had 
| getting my name and phone number correct that the Product 
| Key must have matched.)
| 3)  I told him a dozen times that my HP computer came with 
| Win98 and that I bought WinXP on Ebay later and installed 
| it myself.  He said I had an OEM copy and would have to 
| contact the manufacturer who put it on my computer !!!!
| 4)  I finally asked Danny if it would be easier for me to 
| buy another WinXP program and he gleefully responded 'yes' 
| that it would solve all my problems.  Except I'm not 
| wanting to spend more $$$$ on something I don't even know 
| would work any better than what it is now.
| 5)  Danny said it would cost $35 for paid support (which I 
| took to mean someone who spoke English and might 
| understand the problem at all).  Or Danny said I could do 
| an online email request for product support.  So I said, 
| okay I'll go to my hubby's computer and go online.
| 6)  Well the online email support request system wants you 
| to put in your Product ID (which of course is different 
| from the product "key" written on the disc cover).  I just 
| sat there and thought...."oh here we go again, the want me 
| to go to 'Start' when I can't even log in!"
| 7)  So here I am whining to you all.  (Hubby went to take 
| a nap from all the cussing about Microsoft support!)
| 
| Does anyone know how to fix this?  
| Who to contact?  
| Can they add back in retry counts?  
| Can I reinstall or should I reformat first? 
| Should I breakdown and buy another WinXP program?
| 
| I'm thinking of putting Win98SE back on, I'm so frustrated.
| Any ideas for direction will be gratefully appreciated.
| 
| Thanks,
| 
| Coleah

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