Windows XP won't boot up?

R

roversforever

New Member
Hi,
Please forgive a novice question.
After a hardware problem on my son's pc, I had to buy a replacement motherboard. I got one from ebay and it seems to be fine (runs POST and finds all the hardware).
BUT.....
It takes me to a black screen with a "Windows has failed to load" message and several options to load it........none of the options work, and i keep ending up back at the "failed to load...." screen again. The HDD seems to be OK, but it is an OEM version of Windows XP Home Edition, so I don't have a installation disc.
I'd be really grateful for any tips or assistance that anyone could give me to get my son's pc up and running again.
Thanks in advance.
 
when installing a new mobo its almost a given you have to reformatt the hdd to match the new board if you need the info off of the hdd and have a way to hook it as a slave to another computer or can get an enclosure to hook it up usb then try that or even try safe mode but if you dont need the data simply reformatt it with a clean fresh copy of xp and you shoudl be good to go bad thing is you dont have an xp cd does anyone you know have one since you have an oem you should still be able to boot and install from their cd and then call microsoft and give them your oem info and still legally install it on your computer
 
Hi,
Thanks for the advice, I can get my hands on another XP installation disc. I can also connect the HDD to another PC as a slave. Are you saying I should do this in order to copy/paste all the contents onto my other PC before reformatting the HDD through the new MOBO, or are you saying I should reformat it on my working PC? If I need to reformat the HDD through the new MOBO how do I do that if I can't boot up XP through the new MOBO? Finally, what will Microsoft ask me and what will I need to tell them in order to legally re-intall XP?
I know I'm asking a lot of questions but I am new to this degree of maintenance.
Thanks in advance.
Roversforever.
 
Hi again,
Got my hands on a friend's genuine XP installation disc to help re-install my OEM version. All was going OK until I reached a screen asking me to enter my validation code. I entered the 25 digit code from the OEM sticker on my PC but it was not accepted. I tried to phone Microsoft validation freephone number, but it is clearly a helpdesk in India or somewhere like that and I was not able to explain to the operator what I was trying to achieve. He asked for a installation ID (not validation key), which baffled me.....and he ended up ringing off. Can I get a valid 25 digit code without trying to speak to Microsoft again, or do I persevere? If I do try Microsoft again, is there any issue with me having used a friend's XP disc to help me get booted up again?
Thanks from a novice.
Roversforever.
 
roversforever said:
Hi again,
Got my hands on a friend's genuine XP installation disc to help re-install my OEM version. All was going OK until I reached a screen asking me to enter my validation code. I entered the 25 digit code from the OEM sticker on my PC but it was not accepted. I tried to phone Microsoft validation freephone number, but it is clearly a helpdesk in India or somewhere like that and I was not able to explain to the operator what I was trying to achieve. He asked for a installation ID (not validation key), which baffled me.....and he ended up ringing off. Can I get a valid 25 digit code without trying to speak to Microsoft again, or do I persevere? If I do try Microsoft again, is there any issue with me having used a friend's XP disc to help me get booted up again?
Thanks from a novice.
Roversforever.
Click to expand...


They wanted the code that should have been on the screen with the wizzard that comes up usually if you tell them that and tell t hem you had to reformat and its only on the one pc then they will just give you the number since you do have a legal copy and have paid for it and do have an oem sticker on your pc!
 
Yeah, there won't be a code. It's a modified installer because it's an OEM disk (that's assuming your friend didn't upgraded to XP or build his own comp). If it worked, then he must have a comp from the same manufacturer...
Maybe you should contact you computer manufacturer. I contacted Dell about that and they sent me some 6 CDs for reinstalling Windows. For free, too.
I know you can also get support from HP. They can send you recovery DVDs for about $5 (US).
I'm sure Gateway and Toshiba do things like this.
 
My friend's cd is the full XP Home CD. But as I said, it doesn't show any code on the wizard.
Though your advice is good about trying the PC manufacturer. I will try to contact eMachines.
Thanks.
 
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