How can you reinstall a computer operating system?

Question

The disk I'm using will install windows XP to halfway and then it will say that there are files missing from the system restore disk and hence windows may not run correctly. I then procede to install and it will go halfway along and then the screen will go blue with writing about the install failing and then it will restart and just sit. I'm really annoyed as I'm had so much trouble since I installed this new ram as you can see from my previous question.

I hope you can help, is my computer destroyed?

I'm writing this from my friends laptop.

Answer 1

A recovery CD and a Windows install CD aren't necessarily the same thing.

When it was working, your computer stored certain files in a place on the hard drive that I'll call the recovery partition (they may use a different term).  The recovery CD probably needs these files to do its thing, and it sounds like they got destroyed.

Nutshell:  You need a different CD.  Call Packard Bell to order it, or just go to Best Buy and pick up a copy of Windows.

Answer 2

i would buy a vista cd because its cheap and vista is great.

Answer 3

1 Run CHKDSK, it restores missing files.

2 Place your XP CD into the tray, then go to Start>Run and type "sfc /scannow" without the quotes. That'll replace any missing or corrupt system files.

Answer 4

Hey bro... lol faced it ages ago wid ma fuji laptop.... see the best thing to do is to find some one who has a pack bell laptop and has their Recov Disk thats the best way to do it .. coz all the drivers and stuff will be on it... also "pirated" coppies are all over the net... dont reccommend you to download them because most have viruses builtup in them.

Answer 5

You need a windows disk to do this,Go buy one.

Answer 6

hi wrighty

          stop worrying mate,this isnt unusual and i recently repaired a pc and during the reinstallation of windows a similar problem occured with me

           the reason for the failure during installation was a dirty cd-rom,which didnt suprise me as it was a old 52x speed cd rom so i asked the owner wether they were happy for me to fit a new optical drive(dvdrw) and thus fitted the new dvdrw drive

           after this the windows reinstallation went ok,no errors and everything went smoothly

             however the problem can also be due to a damaged or dirty disk,and to work round this you need to borrow another windows disk from a friend,dont worry about the different product key,you are not asked for this until the end of the installation,and then you can enter your product key(found on th p.c case) ,even though the disk belongs to someone else you can still enter yours

          however you must only use another windows xp disk(upgrade or retail) but not another recovery disk,this is because each recovery disk is unique to the specific pc,try using another recovery disk on your p.c and you will experience all kinds of strange problems

           with reference to your new memory try swapping the position of the modules,the largest of the modules should be put in "dimm1" and the next largest in "dimm2" and so on,and if problems still arise then try another configuration

        pc memory is sold in budget models,these are alot cheaper but also have a higher percentage of bad modules,i have been lucky however try another module if possible and see if the problems persist

           any problems let me know

                   good luck mate !

Answer 7

you need an actual windows xp  disc iam afraid

stay away from vista its not worth the hassle  

vista is only  worthwhile if your  pc  is  less then a year old  

Answer 8

1-I would contact Packard Bell and tell them I need a new restore disc

2-If you don't get anywhere with that, then I would try a different HDD

3-I don't think the Ram would keep you from installing and OS