So I got this crappy lappy (laptop) and WinXp won't load past the logo screen. It has no CD Drive or Floppy, I ruled out network boot as it looks too complicated.
My question:
Would I be able to put the crappy lappy hdd in a new laptop and install through it's dvd drive winxp OR should I buy a 99p cable off ebay and do the same but in my desktop computer?
Hope that's clear?
Thanks!!
Quote: Leevil @ July 24 2008, 9:13 PM BSTSo I got this crappy lappy (laptop) and WinXp won't load past the logo screen. It has no CD Drive or Floppy, I ruled out network boot as it looks too complicated.
My question:
Would I be able to put the crappy lappy hdd in a new laptop and install through it's dvd drive winxp OR should I buy a 99p cable off ebay and do the same but in my desktop computer?
Hope that's clear?
Thanks!!
Have you tried booting in safe mode?
Yeah, nothing works. Just get a blue screen after the WinXP logo.
I had the same problem a couple of years ago and it turned out to be one of my banks of RAM. Don't know why? If you have spare RAM (or anything) try swapping it out systematically, you never know. Other than that, I've no idea (as usual). Hope you sort it. 
Quote: Leevil @ July 24 2008, 9:13 PM BSTMy question:
Would I be able to put the crappy lappy hdd in a new laptop and install through it's dvd drive winxp OR should I buy a 99p cable off ebay and do the same but in my desktop computer?
No because XP would install all the drivers for the hardware featured in the new laptop and when you put it back in the old one you are more than likely to have a load of unnecessary drivers load and required drivers sadly lacking.
A laptop without a DVD drive and floppy disk is bin fodder - laptops are so cheap these days, invest in a £299 jobbie from Tesco?
Quote: Leevil @ July 24 2008, 9:49 PM BSTYeah, nothing works. Just get a blue screen after the WinXP logo.
Thats dead. Re-install windows, dont format hd just give dir name Windows1
Why did I even think about looking into this thread?
Quote: Gavin @ July 24 2008, 10:05 PM BSTThats dead. Re-install windows, dont format hd just give dir name Windows1
How will he do that without a Cd/dvd drive?
Bin it and get a new one then just stick your back up onto your new one.
Quote: Alan C @ July 24 2008, 10:09 PM BSTHow will he do that without a Cd/dvd drive?
external or plug one in
Quote: Gavin @ July 24 2008, 10:11 PM BSTexternal or plug one in
If he has one then I wish him luck - sounds like a headache to me. He has not given us a spec for the laptop, memory installed etc - so even if he does get it to run it may just creak along
Buy or borrow a USB connected CD/DVD drive and re-install using that.
Or better still take it back to where you bought it and ask them to re install back to factory state.
The normal way of dealing with your problem would indeed be to attach your hard disk to a diffeent computer, (perhaps by putting it in an external USB case) and then loading the system onto it. But the system would be a preconfigured IMAGE of a hard disk that had been properly installed for the specific hardware of the target laptop.
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since you have essentially nothing to lose, you might try FIXBOOT.
to do this press F8 at startup so that you get the initial SAFE MODE boot screen. Select SAFE MODE WITH CONSOLE or SAFE MODE with DOS Prompt (It's called something like that)
When you get a black screen with a prompt ending in >
type FIXBOOT
then press ENTER/RETURN
When it is done, reboot.
If you are lucky it will now work.
Cheers all, I'll try billwill's trick.
It's a Dell L400, I've asked on here about it before I think? But it teases me with its WinXp logo and I still think there's hope. But probably not.
I don't think it allows USB boot, even though it's in the boot options.
Damn, didn't work - it hangs on a driver called agp440.sys and the blue screens and resets.
Oh well, thanks for the help guys, in the bin it goes and the power adapter on ebay, fetch a dime they do.
Quote: David Chapman @ July 24 2008, 10:06 PM BSTWhy did I even think about looking into this thread?
Because you were hoping for banter. But it really is just all techy speak.