Ethermaster
New member
Hi Guys,
This maybe abit long winded but please read on and help if you can.
Got me a very strange error that I have never seen before trying to sort out this clapped out old Dell machine for my mum which she used for her arts and crafts and creating cards, she advised that the error has only been happening for the past few weeks since she became a silver surfer.
Right machine specs,
Its completely stock.
Windows XP
Dell Dimension 2400
Intel P4 @ 2.6Ghz
512Mb DDR
Intel 845GV chipset
40 Gb HDD
Right my problem, After the post it looks like its going to boot into Windows but then it loaded the age old message that everyone hates.
"Windows Installation Error, press any key to restart"
So I found her recovery disk that came with the machine and tried to repair the Windows installation .... that completed after what seemed an age! restarted same thing.
I then did a complete reformat and installed Windows XP with a lovely clean installation, Everything seemed fine I installed all the drivers etc then went to upgrade the service pack from 1 to 3 from the Microsoft site and BANG !! problems started again "Windows Installation Error, press and key to restart".
OK I thought to myself lets install Windows XP again and try to upgrade the service pack with a known good copies and go though 1,2 then 3 and as soon as I upgraded from SP1 the error rears it ugly head again.
I have changed for another known good IDE HDD that I had laying around at home and went though the same install process and that did the same thing upgrading the service pack.
I've cleaned the CMOS tried 1 stick of RAM to try and resolve the fact that I can't update her Service Pack, and told her not to use the computer or the internet until I can upgrade the service as I can't install a anti virus and anti malware until I do and that she is not protected.
My mum has had this computer from new back in 2004 and still has the box and manuals!
Please help I can't figure this one out ! May have to tell her to just buy a new one.
This maybe abit long winded but please read on and help if you can.
Got me a very strange error that I have never seen before trying to sort out this clapped out old Dell machine for my mum which she used for her arts and crafts and creating cards, she advised that the error has only been happening for the past few weeks since she became a silver surfer.
Right machine specs,
Its completely stock.
Windows XP
Dell Dimension 2400
Intel P4 @ 2.6Ghz
512Mb DDR
Intel 845GV chipset
40 Gb HDD
Right my problem, After the post it looks like its going to boot into Windows but then it loaded the age old message that everyone hates.
"Windows Installation Error, press any key to restart"
So I found her recovery disk that came with the machine and tried to repair the Windows installation .... that completed after what seemed an age! restarted same thing.
I then did a complete reformat and installed Windows XP with a lovely clean installation, Everything seemed fine I installed all the drivers etc then went to upgrade the service pack from 1 to 3 from the Microsoft site and BANG !! problems started again "Windows Installation Error, press and key to restart".
OK I thought to myself lets install Windows XP again and try to upgrade the service pack with a known good copies and go though 1,2 then 3 and as soon as I upgraded from SP1 the error rears it ugly head again.
I have changed for another known good IDE HDD that I had laying around at home and went though the same install process and that did the same thing upgrading the service pack.
I've cleaned the CMOS tried 1 stick of RAM to try and resolve the fact that I can't update her Service Pack, and told her not to use the computer or the internet until I can upgrade the service as I can't install a anti virus and anti malware until I do and that she is not protected.
My mum has had this computer from new back in 2004 and still has the box and manuals!
Please help I can't figure this one out ! May have to tell her to just buy a new one.
