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View Full Version : NEED HELP- I Can't Format and My Wndows XP Wont Boot

royal
Dec 18th, 2006, 04:04 PM
Hi guys, i need advise on how to fix my computer. So heres the story in steps:

1. I was planning on formatting my computer, so i backed up all my info and inserted my "Compaq Quick Restore Cd".. restarted the copmu and then it should go through some steps to help me format my copmu, but instead i get an error:

VFAT & DOS volume in C: layouts are Mismatched
Cannot Proceed Further. DOing so May Destroy disk Data.
Please report this condition immediatley.

2. So at this poitn i tried the cd again and i get the same message. So i went through the F10 setup thing and saw that some how my whole hard drive was blank. SO i thought might aswell install the Windows XP. Now .. Xp installs and everything is good, until it starts up, at which point the compu doesnt recongizes any hardware i attached, even the integrated video card. SO the copmu is stuck on 16bit with 800x600 on my 19' LCD.

3.Whatever so i take my Xp cd out and I turn the compu back on, and the compu does not load WIndows XP, it keeps going into a roll, it starts to load Xp and then just restarts. After 2 restarts the copmuter came to the dos screen where i have an option to go into safe mode and other modes, well the copmu doesnt allow me that either it loads and then restarts in any mode i choose.

SO now i am stuck with a copmuter that is running on a roll, and dont know what to do.

PLEASE HELP!!

THANKS
fitbrit
Dec 18th, 2006, 04:11 PM
Try reformatting your disk (since you backed it all up anyway). Then retry the Quick Restore CD. If that doesn't work. Reformat and reinstall Windows.
Reformat by inserting your Windows CD for startup and deleting partitiions/doing whatever to get the disk reformatted. If a quick format doesn't work, do a full reformat. Lastly, make sure your it's not your RAM.
SkeptiKal12
Dec 18th, 2006, 04:15 PM
Do you have a Win XP CD?

If so and you want to start over (format again) go into your BIOS and select the CDROM as the first bootable drive. From there WINXP setup screen will come up and guide you the rest of the way.

Dont do the quick format.

After loading windows you will have to install chipset drivers and so on. Right clicking on My Computer --> Properties --> Hardware --> Device Manager will tell you what is installed properly and what is not.

Install the drivers for the rest of the devices and you should be good.
SkeptiKal12
Dec 18th, 2006, 04:16 PM
To check if your RAM is ok you can download and burn Memtest86 onto a CD. Setting the CD to first boot drive will run tests on your memory.

If you pass a few runs you should be ok.
royal
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:13 PM
First of all thanks fitbrit, SkeptiKal12.

Now i am runningthe Memtest, lets see what comes up.

Quick questions:
1. "Try reformatting your disk (since you backed it all up anyway). " How do i do that?

2."you want to start over (format again) go into your BIOS and select the CDROM as the first bootable drive" How do i go into the BIOS??

Sorry for such question but i am an amature.

Thanks again.
royal
Dec 21st, 2006, 05:33 PM
UPDATE: my compu is now working fine, but how do i find drivers for a integrated video card?

Thanks.
number84
Dec 21st, 2006, 06:51 PM
for most hardware manufacturers, just go their site and look for support or download link and find your product...eg, if intel, then go to www.intel.com
royal
Dec 21st, 2006, 07:04 PM
for most hardware manufacturers, just go their site and look for support or download link and find your product...eg, if intel, then go to www.intel.com

Hey thanks, yea i did that and all is good.. now dont know if this is accepted here but i wil laks anyways..

is there anyway to by-pass the windows XP activation... i have the Windows XP (Compaq Version), now this Cd does not come with a key, becasue when i install using the Compaq Quick Format CD it doesnt ask for key. but since the Compaq Quick Format CD doesnt work.. i need the key... any ideas??s so right now i am no 30day trial.. any suggestions?
number84
Dec 21st, 2006, 07:31 PM
if it's a legit copy of windows, do you have the original packaging? or if it was pre-installed on your machine, you might have a windows sticker that has the key printed on it...if you do, then just activate online using that key.
royal
Dec 21st, 2006, 09:32 PM
if it's a legit copy of windows, do you have the original packaging? or if it was pre-installed on your machine, you might have a windows sticker that has the key printed on it...if you do, then just activate online using that key.

it is a legit copy, but no orignal packaging and my machine was purchased frm COmpaq employee sale, like my unlce works there.. they took off all sticker and told me to restore using compaq restore cd and i would never need that sticker.