Trying to download WindowsXP Home Edition

I have been trying to get the windowsxp home edition downloaded on to my sisters computer. We have taken it to a computer guy who works on them twice now. Upon trying to get it to download, a message comes on the screen stating that the CD can not be located... This is a brand new CD Version 2002, if that is of any importance. At his shop, it seems to work okay but to have him download it will cost $30-$40 which may not seem like alot but it is when we have the CD, just can't get it to work.. Any help will be greatly appreciated by both of us... Thanks so much...Missy91660

 

Are you trying to install XP Home on an empty drive, or is there something already on it?

Try a CD-ROM lens cleaner, too.

 

We had everything taken completely off of her computer and are trying to put XP back on it. There is absolutely nothing on it at this time. The guy who does the work for her said that her software had gone bad that is why he took everything off. The XP disk we are trying to use is new, but is Version 2002. We can not figure out why it won't let us download it...Like I said, it gets to a screen where it says it can't read the CD. Any idea what we can do to get it going???
Thanks
Joan

 

Could we use a CD cleaner to clean the CD-ROM????? We are new at trying to do this stuff. Don't see why it would hurt anything...
Missy91660

 

The XP CD is brand new, bought out of a store...There has got to be some simple reason why the CD Rom can't read it, we just don't know what it coul be. It sure does have us stumped... We just don't know what else to do.
Missy91660

 

Did the cd rom work before you took Windows off of the computer? Did you change the BIOS to boot from cd first?

Johanna

 

The computer worked up until I think Wednesday. When my sister went to get on-line, all she got was a black screen. We took it to this guy who works on them an he said her soft ware was bad so he took everything off. said to download XP back in to it and she should be fine. Can't get it to go past the screen that says Can't read CD... I will ask her in the morning if she knows if he changed the BIOS to boot from the cd first.. But, tell me what that means??? Please and thanks...
Joan

 

Okay...first of all, you don't "download" XP from a cd, you "install" it. Software (which is XP and all the additional programs on the computer) doesn't just "go bad" leaving you with a black screen (uh...well....most of the time! )

If the computer wouldn't boot to a desktop, the repair guy should have tried to access safe mode, or cleared CMOS, or something...not wiped the hard drive clean. In fact, with XP, you have the option of doing a "repair" install, if you go into the BIOS settings and can boot from the cd. He could have done that in less time than wiping the drive- if he even did that. Did he open the case??? Did she leave the computer unattended with him? If she did not, it would be helpful to know exactly what he did do, because I'm getting suspicious that he did something to "make" her have to come back for help.

What kind of computer is it exactly? How old is it? Are you comfortable taking the case apart and checking to be sure the wires and connections are where they should be? He may have disabled the cd-rom (on purpose or accidently) or any number of things. The first problem (black screen) may still be the issue, or he may have compounded the problem further. I am speculating because it doesn't sound like he followed customary diagnostic procedures. Something smells fishy. See if you can get more info from your sister, and post back.

Johanna

 

Missy
few things to try
1. Put the XP CD Rom into another computer and see if it loads, (this does not meen you have to put XP onto this computer just see if it reads the disk)
2. If the XP did start on another computer and your sisters did work normaly before with xp on it then there is nothing wrong with the disk.

If it didnt start then the disk is faulty. (how did you get it onto the computer in the first place)

3. try opening the case (no power) check to see if all cables are connected. those at the back of the case too. (make sure you dont touch too much and make sure you are grounded to avoid damaging anything)

4. when booting up the computer go into the bios and see which drive is set to boot first put it onto the cd if not there already.

5. reboot with the XP cd in and reformat and install XP.

hope your sister has backed up her files.

if that doesnt work im not sure what will and i would be inclind to be suspisious like johanna. try someone else to look at it next time.
Stich

 

I just spoke to my sister...Her husband installed Windows ME on to their computer because when the screen appeared saying the XP Cd could not be read, it stated to install Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 and a few others. Well, after he did the ME, the XP started to install. Now it states that Windows couldnot start because the following file is missing or corrupt(the computer guy deleted everything out of the computer)
\windows/inf/biosinfo.inf
Attempt to repair this file by starting Windows setup using the original setup CDRom.. Her computer is about 4-5 years old and has been worked on by three different guys so far. She is going to try to check the BIOS herself... What do you think that message means??? Thanks so much for all the help and advice..
Joa

 

Missy
Is the XP disk an upgrade disk or the full program.
If its an upgrade you will have to go back to the very first disk that came with the computer or the first full program disk and reformat and reinstall. When that is done you should then be able to install XP upgrade.
If the XP is a full program then again i sugest a reformat and reinstall just using the XP disk.
Again I hope your sister has backed up her files.

One more sugestion not sure if it would work but someone else here on the board will be able to tell you if it can be done. Find another computer, look for the file you are missing, save it to disk, note down where you found it, put the saved file onto your sisters computer, then reboot.

Anyone think that could work?????????

Stitch

 

Hi,
For what it's worth.
I had a brand new NSW 2004 Pro CD that couldn't be read on my DVD-ROM drive. When I would insert it, it kept noting to install CD in drive.

We did get a replacement CD that could be read from the DVD-ROM drive, but the first CD still cannot be read on our DVD-ROM drive.

I tried the first CD in my CD-RW drive and it read it.

 

To all who gave advice, thank you so much...They finally got the XP to install, but now they need to find out how to get their modem back.. My brother-in-law & I thought that we had made them a CD today to do it, but it won't work for some reason. I know this is a place for questions about the XP, but if someone could tell me where to go to try an fix this problem, we would appreciate it so much.. The modem numbers that he found are 56HP92-PCT BDP but tonight he called an asked me to look for 56000BPS modem an US Robotics 3095 driver... Again, any help in this matter would be appreciated an again, thanks to all who gave advice on the XP issue...

 

We are looking for 56000 BPS modem &
US Robotics 3095 driver
I found something about them last night and he is coming down this morning to see if it is what he needs..We have been over a week trying to get the things back in the modem that the computer guy took out of it that I think he shouldn't have. We are sure learning alot in the process. Hopefully if what I found is what he needs then they will soon be up and running again. If you can possibly give me any more info on this, please do. I am at my wits end trying to figure it out..
Thanks so much,
Missy91660

 

Sorry but how do you tell if it is an external or internal modem???

 

Driverguide.com is usually a good place to look for drivers. Username is drivers, password all.