Re: Failure to Reinstall Windows XP



1. The I386 folder (which contains the Setup files) is not normally copied
to the hard disk during a standard WinXP installation. The files are used
directly from the CD. Dell put that folder onto the HD to make things
easier. You putting it on your HD won't help much unless you locate all the
pointers in the Registry from the {CD}:\I386 folder to C:\I386

2. You keep saying "downloaded". Files are copied from the CD to the HD, not
downloaded. And your reasoning is simplistic. I doubt very much that IE
isn't working because the files weren't copied from the CD. If that
happened, or if the files were corrupted during the copy operation (or on
the original CD) you would have received an error message.

3. It makes sense that Help can't access the internet, since it uses IE to
do so.

4. Same as above.

I don't understand what is going on, but that long delay isn't a good sign.
Usually, I'd blame hardware, but that might not be the case here. Since this
is a Dell, I presume you've contacted Dell Support? You should continue that
support incident until the thing is fixed. Have you tried a new Repair
install?

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Tom _Hyde" <anonymous@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eHFYTz$4HHA.1148@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Since my original posting seems to have disappeared I am sending another
copy with the subsequent contribution.

21/08/07

To date, the reinstall of XP on my Inspiron has only been partially
successful, that is, I can still use it but the programs which needed to
be repaired do not function. These are the problems:

1. The Autorun feature on the system disk failed to download the C:I386
folder. (I have since installed I386 manually).
2. Internet Explorer was only partially downloaded and cannot be used.
3 The Help and Support routine cannot access the internet.
4. The Automatic Update fails to work correctly and about 75 KB's fail to
install.

I have inspected some of the log files and these list an astronomical
number of non-functioning items.I have also searched elsewhere for advice,
e.g. Microsoft Support websites and Dell User Forums here,
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&thread.id=194367To
date none of the advice given has solved my problems. If you look at the
contributions on the Forum page you will see that, initially, I raised the
problems last year when they occurred on my Dimension desktop, but they
have proved to be much more difficult to solve on the Inspiron.

I would be pleased to receive your comments.

T.Hyde



As reported below, I have finally downloaded Windows XP from disk but it
is
still faulty. I have compared the systems files between the faulty
computer (Dell Inspiron laptop) with a fully-working desktop (Dimension
4500) and there are considerable differences. For example, there is no
C:/I386 folder on the laptop and Internet Explorer does not work.
Also
the automatic update which was required after the repair/reinstall of
Windows XP fails to download a large number of updates.

If/when I make any progress I will report back.

T.Hyde

"Tom _Hyde" <anonymous@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e8TzWBc1HHA.3768@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have recently tried to use the Windows XP SP2 system disk in order to
reinstall Windows on my laptop.. The first time I used the telephone
assisted support method which required me to type in nine six-digit
numbers
dictated over the telephone in order to authenticate my disk. I managed
to do that and the process insisted on a complete download and warned me
that after installation the first boot-up of Windows would take much
longer
than normal. In fact, after two hours of looking at the black Windows
XP
opening screen, carrying the message "Please wait...", I switched-off the
computer then switched it on again. The computer booted-up and I was
able to use it normally, except for IE6 and AVG Antivirus. I have used
it
in that condition for several days but I always receive the message that
there are Windows Updates available for download but the computer is
unable
to download them. Not only that, the hard disk continually clicked,
indicating that it was being read or written to.

This morning I decided to try a Repair/Reinstall of Windows but the
program did not offer the option and I followed the procedure for a
complete reinstall. This is continuing now and all of the downloads
are complete and the computer has re-booted. However, after waiting
for about 30 minutes I am still looking at a black screen carrying the
message "Please wait....."

Has anybody got any idea how long I should wait before the booting-up
will
be complete, or should I close down the computer and re-start manually as
I did last time?

p.s. I am sending this message from my desktop.

T.Hyde





.



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