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Post by Q on Jul 28, 2006 17:29:40 GMT
Hope you're reading this Kev, As per my post in 'chit chat' I formatted the partition that the 'non bootable' XP was on. I then had to do 'something' with Vista. As it is impossible to downgrade, I tried loading XP64 over the top, all went well until the 2nd re-boot when I got a message saying 'disk error' (booting from hard drive). Then tried booting from XP64 cd, then XP32 cd, then Win2k cd, and finally win98, I get the same response every time. [missing or corrupt <windows root>\system32\hal.dll]
How can I clean install something if I cant even boot from cd?
Is there any 3rd party freeware that I can use to re-format my (NTFS)C: drive?
Do you think it could be BCDedit causing the problem, cos its only in Vista? actually that cant be because I've since tried booting from the Vista cd and still get the same error.
In case you're wondering, I'm currently logged on with my wife's Pc.
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Post by Q on Jul 28, 2006 19:20:46 GMT
Poxy pc..... the reason it wouldn't boot from cd..... ..... ..... ..... I stupidly hadn't enabled a USB keyboard!!!!!
I HAVEN'T GOT A USB KEYBOARD????
How stupid of me.... Anyhow I am currently loading XP32 (given up with the rest), I've got my fingers, toes and all other appendages crossed.
Bernie
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Post by Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.) on Jul 28, 2006 19:25:13 GMT
This maybe a bit beyond me so guessing a bit here Bernie, firstly read the section on here to do with the hal.dll errror it may provide a fix. pcsupport.about.com/od/pcrepair/a/missinghal_dll.htmSecondly there maybe a repair software for your hardrive if you know the make of it, may mean going inside and looking at labels. Then use Google and look for the hardrive manufacturer and look for repair software in their downloads or use Google with search terms to suit.
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Post by Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.) on Jul 28, 2006 19:25:46 GMT
Sorry we cross posted.
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Post by Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.) on Jul 29, 2006 8:54:27 GMT
Are you back with the living again Bernie ?
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Post by Sparky on Jul 29, 2006 8:59:58 GMT
Are you back with the living again Bernie ? Don't tempt me ;D
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2006 9:53:47 GMT
"I am just going outside and may be some time", he said.
Oates had reached a pinnacle of suffering by the time suicide beckoned. He could barely walk, his feet blackened and swollen by a merciless combination of frostbite and gangrene. He was starving and incoherent from the cold. The side effects of scurvy had re-opened his old war wound as a festering mess.
Not sure if he's quite made it to the Pole yet, but hope he hasn't resorted to eating one of his ponies... :o
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Post by Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.) on Jul 29, 2006 12:05:33 GMT
The question I often ask is if Windoze is so clever, how come it doesnt a) Know you haven't got the correct parts and tell you how far to the shop to get one. and (b) know we are stupid too.... One of lifes mysteries. Still surprised you bought this case Bernie ;)
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Post by Richard Stowe R.I.P. on Jul 29, 2006 19:58:57 GMT
Q, you don't say if you have solved this problem yet, if not see if the following helps. If you still have windoze 98 se fire the computer up on the floppy install disk for windoze 98se, at the command prompt type fdisk /mbr this will reinstate the hard drives original master boot record, this takes no time at all and will be over in less than 2 seconds, then you will have to reboot from the floppy, again, at the command prompt type format c: this will take some time depending on the size of your hard drive. Your hard drive will now be formatted in fat 32. Now put whatever disk you want to install in your cd/dvd drive and run from the drive, it will probably tell you you have the wrong format on the drive and prompt you to format again, choose yes, and at this point it should reformat the drive, and then start the installation and it should be successful, hope this alleviates your problem.
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Post by Q on Aug 3, 2006 19:35:16 GMT
Well I'm back..... sort of!!! Having now loaded Xp32 (gave up with 64) a total of 4 times, I've now got a system that has stayed up long enough for me to check this forum and read the posts!!! I'm waiting to re-boot again to finalise some of the applications but I'm enjoying having a Pc that works for now (last time I did all this and all it would do was reboot to a blank (grey) screen, console recovery didnt want to know, so it had another format (the 5th this week). Still cant get the sound to work, Gigabytes drivers seem to have a problem with my Pc, so I downloaded the 28Mb driver file from their website, which when you try to run it (its an .exe file) opens a Winrar box with the message '?? [??] '????????' '???? [??] '??????????????????;???????????????' '??????????,????????????????? and 2 options "???" or "???" Needless to say I closed the box without accepting either option. The graphics (both graphics & sound are onboard) state that there is a problem with the Nvidea Gforce 6100 and it wont start, but I cant find the problem or how to resolve it. I'm slowwwly losing the will to live
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Post by Q on Aug 3, 2006 19:38:11 GMT
I've just noticed the picture you put on Kev, doesnt look a million miles away from me about 15 years ago.... love the case, but mines got a blue glowing fan on the side.
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Post by Kevin Pringle (R.I.P.) on Aug 3, 2006 20:34:00 GMT
Can you list the spec of the machine parts, ie mobo number etc whatever you know!
I did warn you never install new op-systems until they have released SP1 at least, never and I mean 'never' install beta software unless you like doing reformats and installs :D
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