[beeps]

Ok, done.

Reinstalled home edition fully, with drive formatted. (it was automatic for the full reinstall, I didn't see any option for factory settings )Only installation is firefox again.

Yes, its just as before. My video card and sound card and whatnot aren't being recognised it seems, and the refresh on internet browsers is choppy. Basically, I guess I don't know how to set up the OS.

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Push and hold the Windows key on keyboard. This is the one with the Microsft windows logo on it.
While holding Win key down click on the Pause\Break key

This should open the System properties window
On this window it will show
System info:

Microsoft Windows: type and version
Service Pack number

Registered Name
Register Number

Computer:
CPU type
Memory
I need all the above info in your next reply Except for Register name and number.
This is private and we don't need to know this information

Please take a Screenshot:
To do a screenshot please have click on your Print Screen on your keyboard. It is normally the key above your number pad between the F12 key and the Scroll Lock key
Now go to Start and then to All Programs
Scroll to Accessories and then click on Paint
In the Empty White Area click and hold the CTRL key and then click the V
Go to the File option at the top and click on Save as
Save as file type JPEG and save it to your Desktop


Attach it to your next reply

[rshaffer61]

Push and hold the Windows key on keyboard. This is the one with the Microsft windows logo on it.
While holding Win key down click on the Pause\Break key

This should open the System properties window
On this window it will show
System info:

Microsoft Windows: type and version
Service Pack number

Registered Name
Register Number

Computer:
CPU type
Memory
I need all the above info in your next reply Except for Register name and number.
This is private and we don't need to know this information

Please take a Screenshot:
To do a screenshot please have click on your Print Screen on your keyboard. It is normally the key above your number pad between the F12 key and the Scroll Lock key
Now go to Start and then to All Programs
Scroll to Accessories and then click on Paint
In the Empty White Area click and hold the CTRL key and then click the V
Go to the File option at the top and click on Save as
Save as file type JPEG and save it to your Desktop


Attach it to your next reply

[rshaffer61]

Please Go to
1: STARTand the click on RUN
2: Type in devmgmt.msc
3: Click Enter
4. Look for any entries with Yellow Exclamation ! marks or Red X's

In your next reply please include those results

Please try IE and see if it works correctly.

[beeps]

Ok, done.

I took a screenshot of the only entries with what looks like yellow question marks/exclamations. It is attached along with the other JPEG.

Oh, IE has the same problem as Firefox.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by beeps, 10 September 2009 - 07:00 AM.

[rshaffer61]

OK did you use the laptop recovery cd to load this?
I see entries in the Device Manager which would be there only if this was a laptop.

[beeps]

Yep, I used the laptop recovery cd we were talking about. The only one I have. ( apart from an ancient Windows ME disk that probably isn't much use )

[rshaffer61]

OK correct me if I'm wrong.
You do have a sticker on the side of your system that says
Microsoft XP Home Edition and it does have a Registration Key on it correct?

[beeps]

I do yes. I remember I posted about it before.

A windows home edition sticker with a code which we established was a registration key.

[rshaffer61]

OK this is the options we have to work with.

• Laptop Recovery Disk will not work on your desktop system
• I don't remember if this is a name brand system or not
• If name brand you can contact manufacturer and purchase a recovery disk from them for less then 50.00 dollars
• If clone system you can beg, borrow or purchase a new XP Home Edition

This will allow you to have a new OS with a new Registration number and thus be a completely fresh install.
You can use any retail version of XP Home Edition full version from a friend.
You are only using it to install the OS. Your Registration number will work on it unless it says OEM on the sticker.
This Laptop version WILL NOT work correctly no matter what we do and it is also illegal to use it except for the system it was originally sold with.

[beeps]

Ok.

The system is a medion system. It all came packages and preinstalled.
It does not say OEM on the sticker.
I guess I will have to bite the bullet and find or buy a desktop windows.

One thing I'd like to run by you please.
I see beside C: Drive a D: Drive. Even though I did a full reinstall, this drive still has everything it had, and has 45 GB free out of 107 GB.
What is this drive, is this a partition of my HD?

In which case:
why was it not also wiped, and could it be used with E: Recover Drive to put things back together?

How would I wipe this too, if I chose to fully clear out the system while I was reinstalling the final working version of windows that I will have to now find?

[rshaffer61]

Please go to
Start and then Run
Type in compmgmt.msc and click Enter
On the right side please click on Disk management
Now make sure the full drives can be seen on the left side.
Take a screenshot and attach to your next reply.
If all these partitions are on one drive you may have a recovery partition already on your system and we can fix this finally.

[beeps]

Ok, here we go.
I noticed they were all on "drive 0" when I clicked on their properties, so was vaguely hoping something like this.

*Crosses fingers*

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[rshaffer61]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Houston we have lift off.
E drive is your recovery partition
This will reload your XP just as it was when the system was brand new.
I am going to ask another Tech Staff member to join us to assist me with this because I am not familiar with the recovery partitions as much as I should be. Please be patient and I will return ASAP

[beeps]

WOOHOOOO!

This is wondrous!

No worries, I'll chill back while you get a hold of that guy.

Thanks!

[rshaffer61]

Just a thought while we wait on other TECH to join us.
Try this and let me know what you see.

On some systems you can access the Recovery Partition through the Advanced Boot Menu. Please try this by doing the following.
Reboot the system and at the second post screen start tapping F8
This should get you to the menu.
Now please see if there is a line in there that says something about
System Recovery
System Restore
Recovery Partition
Anything like this there?