Messages

1

Tech Clinic / Shuttle won't accept Windows OS CD to install

« on: February 05, 2007, 07:42:49 AM »

Hi...

I just bought a used Shuttle DB61G2 and I'm having a bit of a problem.  The machine has no OS but is 100% intact other than that with a 120G SATA drive and 512M of memory.  It boots up into the BIOS very quickly and stops even though it appears to be set to boot to the CD first.  I've tried to install either Windows 2K Pro or Windows XP Home for the past five nights and it never gets beyond the boot screen, giving me this message:

Verifying DMI Pool Data........................................
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

My cds are genuine Microsoft hologram cds with COAs.  It doesn't have a floppy drive just a CD drive.  So I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how to force-feed the OS CD to this puppy?  I would really hate to have to bring it to a computer shop and pay $75 to have them install a OS using my CD.

Thanks in advance for the help.

2

Software / XP PRO retail or XP Pro Corporate-Which is it?

« on: January 29, 2007, 08:34:04 AM »

I bought a sealed CD and MS instruction booklet with MS Windows XP Pro that  was supposedly intended to reinstall XP Pro on a Dell Computer (my pc is  not a dell). The CD has a green and white label and it notes: "The  software is already installed on your computer. Only use this CD to  reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer". At the top it says  "Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Professional Including Service  Pack 2". On the shrink wrap are Dell part numbers, bar code and rev  A00. On the MS boklet inside, it says the COA might be required to  complete the operating system setup.

So  the question of the hour is whether this cd  is a corporate version or a retail version and will it will allow me to install XP  Pro with SP2 on my new PC.  Also, will it ask for a COA key code  to complete the install? I have a hunch that this CD was part of a  corporate install package, but I'm only guessing.

Is there a workaround for the COA if it does ask (assuming it'll even install the OS)?  Or was this thirty bucks down the toilet http://images.thetechguide.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\'\' />?

3

Software / Its all about ... Vista

« on: January 28, 2007, 06:49:09 PM »

I never did try the beta... most of my stuff runs W2K, except for one machine that has XPPro on it.  I think the advice that it'll be targeted for worms and viruses would keep me away for a year.

[quote name=\'Magikal\' post=\'279578\' date=\'Jan 28 2007, 05:07 PM\']I wish I had Vista, Circuit City is throwing a Vista party ROFL!![/quote]

4

Software / Its all about ... Vista

« on: January 28, 2007, 12:08:24 PM »

The only way you get free (legit anyway) is if you bought a PC with XP between Oct-06 and Mar-07 IIRC.  And... I really don't know if they give you a version for version upgrade or just a Vista upgrade which is supposedly missing many of the neat features.

[quote name=\'Champion\' post=\'270378\' date=\'Jan 7 2007, 02:24 PM\']Is Vista free? All you do is download it in updates? Or do you have to pay for it?[/quote]

5

Software / Win XP Activation crack

« on: January 27, 2007, 12:37:54 PM »

Somewhat off the thread topic but I just bought a used PC that has no OS currently installed on it, and I'll have it in a couple of days.  I do have a sealed CD and instruction booklet with MS Windows XP Pro that was supposedly intended to reinstall XP on a Dell Computer (the pc is not a dell).  The CD has a green and white label and it notes:  "The software is already installed on your computer.  Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer".  At the top it says "Reinstallation CD, Microsoft Windows XP Professional Including Service Pack 2".  On the shrink wrap are Dell part numbers, bar code and rev A00.  On the MS boklet inside, it says the COA might be required to complete the operating system setup.

So the question of the hour is whether this cd will allow me to install XP Pro with SP2 on the new PC, and then... will it ask for a COA key code to complete the install?  I have a hunch that this CD was part of a corporate install package, but I'm only guessing.