Windows won't load - can't get to C: Stuck!

I think I've really screwed up. I was cleaning up a computer from my business to give to my mom to use. I deleted everything that was not windows or program related to what she would need. A lot of the programs (or exe files) had been kept on an external disk (not available now). When I tried to uninstall them, I got the message that it could not find whatever it needed and could not complete the uninstall. So I went to each folder and deleted the individual files. Then I used CCleaner to clean up what was left over.

Undoubtedly, I did something to the internet connection - it could not - it would not find anything to get the connection so I did a restore to the last restore point of about 3 months ago (which was the last time I used this computer) Restore locked up and I don't remember what it said. I shut the machine down and brought back home to try to figure out.

I keep getting the message: "The Logon User interface DLL nwgina.DLL failed to load"...."Restart". I can't use any of the repair programs available on the internet because I can't get to the internet or even on windows to run them! I can't find the BIOS to reset the defaults (which I don't know if it would help or not).

I can't get into safe mode. Whe I press the F key I get the following message:
"Primary hard disd drive 1 not found, Secondary had disk drive 1 not found, Strike the F1 ket to continue, F2 to run the setup utilitiy"

In Set Up I have:
Primary Drive 0......Hard Drive
Primary Drive 1....(Auto) Unknown Device,
Secondary Drive 0.....(Auto) CD-ROM Reader
Secondary Drive 1...(Auto) Unknown Device

I am trying to reinstall XP but it won't boot up from the CD drive. I've gone into set up and the boot menu. I disabled the Hard Drive and got the CD to run, but it then said "there is no hard drive installed". When I re-enable the HD then the CD drive will not boot. I have set the boot sequence to 1. CD 2. Hard Disk. But it still doesn't boot from the CD.

Oh yeah, the key board - it doesn't work during the start up. I have the Microsoft Recovery Program install and have the option to go to Recovery - but the keyboard won't arrow up to the Recovery program. AND when the message: "Pres any key to boot from the CD" appears, I can hit every key on the board and still get nothing!

I can't get into anything to fix anything! I can't even reinstall windows. What in the **** do I do now!

I do have another Dell desktop - is there any way to connect to it and transfer what I need? Just asking!

Thanks for any help!

 

Yes remove the hard drive and connect it as a secondary in your dell then copy any files you wish to keep.

Once you have your recovered files you can go ahead delete all the partitions and format the drive while your in windows then replace the drive in the other computer and try to install windows again.

 

Thanks for the simple reply! Looks like it would work. Now....(being almost completely ignorant of hardware) if I can just figure out how to hook up the secondary drive. I'll google it and if I have problems, I will repost. Sincerely, thanks again.

 

This is the easy bit, drives either have a SATA or IDE data connector and you can't mix them up, sata connector is half an inch long IDE is 2 inches and usually has a flat ribbon cable, you can't connect either the wrong way round.

If you don't have a power connector that fits the secondary drive you can buy a converter cable for a few bucks.

Now look at the cables from your power supply, your new drive will need either a 4 pin molex power connector or a sata power connector, again you can't connect the wrong connector or force them in the wrong way round so if it fits it's good.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?safe....0...0.0.0..1ac.1.17.img.Njk-VDXRIJw#imgdii=_

You don't need to fully install the drive or put the case side back just connect the cables and leave the drive on a flat surface on the outside of the case.

Start the computer and enter bios either F2 or Del, make sure the drive is visible in bios, if it isn't something isn't connected right.

Now see of the drive is visible in 'My computer' if it is you can now browse the files on the drive if not go to control panel,admin tools, computer management, disk management find the drive, right click it and 'initialise disk' the drive should now be visible in my computer and you should be able to view the files on the disk.

It's no problem

 

OK! Got XP installed on the HD. I just left it in other computer as a secondary drive and installed XP directly to the secondary. I now have the drive installed in the original computer and windows is up and running.

HOWEVER - I can't connect to the internet. The modem appears to have all the drivers installed. I ran the new connection wizard for a broadband connection and it says "Your broadband connection should already be configured and ready to use". I am connected directly to the internet with a cable. I know the cable is working because I connected my laptop with it. I know this has to be something so simple, I just can't find it.....

Would the fact that I installed XP while it was in the other computer have anything to do with this?

The only XP CD I have is XP Pro with SP1. So I have to upgrade to SP3 once I get online.

 

Go to control panel,system,device manager and look for any yellow exclamation marks, if you find some your most likely missing drivers,the one thing I always have on a thumb drive when installing windows is a copy of the lan driver and a firewall, once these are installed everything else can be done online, once your online run windows update and let everything update then fnd your 'other' missing drivers and install the software you want.

If you know the dell model or you know the model of your motherboard go to the manufacturers site and download the LAN driver if it's missing, if the modem is USB you may need to install a modem driver so again download from the manufacturers site or look for a disk that came with it.

You don't need to run the wizard if your are connected via lan cable, you only need open your browser and it should work. Install the latest google chrome or firefox, IE that comes with xp is outdated so it's best to rule it out rather than fix it.

Yes it can cause problems, if you have windows up and running in the other computer reinstall windows :-D Installing it on another computer then transferring the drive isn't recommended and can cause problems even if it appears to work on the face of it, problems such as the lan not working.Now the drive is formatted and has a working copy on you should try running windows setup again.

 

Rikky,

Thanks for all of the help. I reformatted the disk in the original computer, got all of the drivers updated and everything is working fine. Quite a learning experience. It took quite a while to find the appropriate drivers and some very frustrating experiences with driver down load programs that wanted me to buy tech support, but I got through it. My mom's computer is now up and running.

 

Awesome! Hope I helped a little