XP Pro installation - problems

Hi, I have a couple of issues with a recent install of XP Pro that I hope you can help with.

Firstly, I have installed over an existing installation, and formatted the C: drive during the installation, leaving D: and E: partitions intact. It's a 500GB Western Digital SATA drive.

I did have an issue when I ran the install through the first time, in that the C: partition seemed to be indicating more space than actually exists. When I checked it seemed to indicate that the whole drive was being formatted. No problem, as I had backed up the data on the D: partition - there is nothing on the E: partition yet.

But after the files were copied over and the system rebooted, I mistakenly pressed a key to boot again from the CD. Of course the whole file copying and installation started again! On this occasion I wasn't given the option to format the drive, as it had already been done, presumably, but this time the C: partition was showing the correct amount of space free. I proceeded to install, but part way through the setting up screens, there was an error regarding the update facility not being installed, and then another regarding Outlook Express. Indeed, Outlook Express will not launch, and there is no Automatic Update tab in System Properties.

This 'double install' process has also left me with a Windows and a Windows.0 folder under my C: drive. I presume this is what's causing me to have to choose an operating system at startup? One has the recent drivers I've installed but the other has just the system files. Would it be OK to delete one of these, so that I don't get the choice to make on boot up?

Another issue is that I cannot change the visual styles of the windows and buttons - it's defaulting to the classic style and will not retain the tick in the performance settings to use visual styles. I've gone through all the advice to start the themes under services, added an entry in the Registry, etc. but the setting will not remain.

I am installing XP Pro with SP3, which I ordered some time ago and this is the first use. It's a volume license version.

I have not installed any programs yet, as I am beginning to wonder whether to format and start again with this!

 

A quick update:

I have now managed to change the visual styles, by copying the luna.msstyles file from the other Windows installation folder. The tick is now remaining in the visual styles settings and I am back to the nice toolbars of my previous installation.

Can I get rid of the extra Windows folder, or is there some special way I have to uninstall the files? I don't want to have to perform the choice when I start up each time. And I don't think one will boot up anyway, as I obviously byassed that installation by booting from the CD a second time instead of leaving it to continue with the rest of the set up procedure. Unless it's set itself up as a dual-boot - both being XP.

 

Hiya, wet up North today, is it?

I'd wipe the drive and reformat; if the original formatting had been done from an early version of XP, there might be a disaster waiting to happen with the current partition. The first versions were only safe to 127GB.

 

Hi satrow,

Was a little wet earlier (well a lot, actually), but dry and bright now.

It is a fairly recent XP CD, just that I've only just got round to installing it. It is recognising the whole drive, it's just that I appear to have run two installations, although the first one didn't get set up - only the files were transferred and then I hit 'any key to boot from CD' and it went round again.

I am leaning towards reinstalling, but just wondered if there was a quick way to get rid of the other Windows folder.

Then if there's a way to get back Outlook Express and the Windows Update facility I would be set.

I'm also wondering if the disc is OK - as I said, it's a volume license CD, but I've since read reports that the seller, now gone, should not have sold the CDs in this manner, having breached the MS agreements.

 

Which version of XP and what SP level was it originally formatted from?

If the new XP is a real VLK, no way should it have been sold on and it might not validate or pass WGA now anyway, MSFT runs several checks including location, if it doesn't tie with the data they hold on the correct VLK license holder, you're likely to run into problems (and it's violating several MSFT licensing agreements).

Can you give me the full details of what's printed on the CD please? Does it have the correct holograms?

 

The disc is XP Pro version 2002 with SP3. It is not a holographic disc - seems to have been printed on a Lightscribe drive.

After I bought it I read on a forum that it may not be valid, but someone had installed it and it did perform the updates OK and worked fine, he reported. There were some concerns that this had violated the MS licensing agreements.

The letter that came with it states that it is a Volume License authorised for use under the MS Open Licensing Program. It goes on to say: "Under this program, a MS Gold Partner manufactures the installation disc and MS provides the license keys. It is fully updateable and will pass all Genuine Advantage checks without any problems." There is a yello sticky label with a bar code on the reverse of the paper CD sleeve. There looks to be an official Microsoft logo, but I cannot tell if this has been forged or not.

 

Everthing about it reads like it's in breach of MSFT licensing agreements and as such, we will not help you with the install or maintenance of this here at Majorgeeks.

Which version of XP and what SP level was it originally formatted from? <- the current installation - I need to know if the partition can be trusted or not.

 

The partition originally had XP Pro on, which was SP2. I don't have the original XP disc for this computer, as it was pre-installed on the computer when we purchased it from a computer fair about four years ago and they did not provide any recovery or original CDs with the computer. I did not question this, as I fully intended to get a new copy eventually, which is why I ordered this one, obviously not aware that it was not valid.

 

I don't understand why it was installed with 3 partitions if it was formatted from an SP2 CD; to me, it reads like the partitions could have been created as a workaround to the 127GB limit inherent with the early versions. I really do not know how safe any data might on that drive with the current partitioning.

 

I realise I must have installed another hooky version at some time, as I installed the current hard drive a couple of years ago, which was larger than the one that came installed with the computer. A friend had a copy of XP Corporate Edition and let me use that. I then installed SP2 some time later from a CD sent from a reputable source. Updates have been downloading with no problem.

I partitioned it to three partitions as I wanted one partition for the OS and programs and the others for data, which was what was advised when I did some computer training some years ago. My other data partitions were preserved when I formatted the C: partition in order to install this version of XP this morning.

I wasn't having any trouble with the computer - I simply wanted to have a clear out of defunct programs and files and start again from scratch.

 

Understood; I think you need to decide whether to continue with the working version of Windows and keep the second installation until you are sure that you don't need anything from it, or go with a format/reinstall. Either way, I think you'll probably end up with a solid installation.

If it's only OE standing in your way, there are plenty of more recent alternatives to it. The Auto update problem can probably be resolved fairly easily.

Have you checked the contents of the setuperr.log in your working Windows directory? All errors during install will be logged there, you may be able to fix any problems listed there by copying over any missing files from the other Windows folder.

 

I currently don't have a working OS or second installation. I used this new XP CD to format and reinstall completely - not to dual boot. The two choices I had on startup were due to me running this installation twice by mistake.

Anyway, I am currently formatting and starting again. Hopefully there will be no errors and all components will install. Then I will definitely look into getting a proper version, or even venture to Windows 7.

Thanks for your input.

 

Well, just a quick update.

I ran the format and installation again. First time through it hung at 69% installing the files. Then second go it hung on formatting, but then eventually completed and told me it couldn't format as there were errors on the disk. Third time it went through, although very slowly and I thought it had hung a few times, and this time the installation completed and I now have the task of reinstalling all the drivers and programs and setting up the display and other preferences, etc. What fun!

 

I would not trust any drive that showed even 1 error during install.

You really need to download and create the WD DOS diags CD so you can boot the computer with it and scan the drive for errors. If it passes, schedule Chkdsk to test all drives (partitions) fully.

Tutorials for Chkdsk, burning an ISO to CD and others at Caliban's site.

 

Thanks for the links. I will get that sorted as soon as possible and run a check.

So far, it looks as if things are setting up nicely.

 

I created the bootable CD as per the instructions, but there was a fault and it would not run - I searched on this and it appears it is a fault with the files on the WD website when used with certain optical drives, as reported by a number of people. So I am now running the Windows version drive diagnostic, which is going to take some time, looking at the estimated time remaining.

Things are running quite slow at times, which is strange for a newly installed OS with not many programs, so I do think you could be correct about the drive's condition. The hard drive light occasionally stays on quite a long time.

 

Not looking good! The WD drive test was going to take 48hrs, so I stopped it part way (after leaving it running overnight the first night), after which it did indicate there were errors on the drive. I have therefore done nothing else, other than back everything up and order a new PC. I know I could have had just a new drive, but this is a two-year old machine, which is old technology now, and I did need something a bit more powerful anyway, as I edit a lot of photographs and this machine is seriously lacking in that department. Even the recent backups took far longer than they have in the past, and the drive does occasionally 'click' so I think it's time to say farewell to it.