installing windows xp on old pc help!

pennypinchingmum

I have an old computer which didnt really work. So i used my new pc windows disc and tried to reinstall windows. I think i did everything right so far but now when it loads to the windows set up screen it asks for me to insert the windows service pack 2 installation disc and it won't leave that screen until i click cancel which then means it says fatal error and shuts off only to restart and go straight back into that window.
As far as i know it's the same version of windows that was used on both pc neither one being service pack 2, though i may be wrong. The old pc does have a valid key on the pc box but i dont have the installation disc for that sspecific pc.
Any ideas on what to do? PLease help.

C_Ronaldo

Is the old pc your main pc, why not install linux on it

espresso

What version OS did the old PC have installed and what version are you now trying to install?

pennypinchingmum

this old pc used to be my f-i-l but unfortantely he passed away in jan only just got round to sorting the pc out. We want to pass it on to my sister. She'll want it for music games and eventually internet.
excuse my dunbness but whats linux and will it do the above?

C_Ronaldo

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

this old pc used to be my f-i-l but unfortantely he passed away in jan only just got round to sorting the pc out. We want to pass it on to my sister. She'll want it for music games and eventually internet.
excuse my dunbness but whats linux and will it do the above?

linux is another operating system, its free and easy to use, you can access the internet, play music and when you say games what kind of games ? solataire or bought games,

pennypinchingmum

sims and bought games would that be a problem?

C_Ronaldo

pennypinchingmum wrote: »

sims and bought games would that be a problem?

no its not a problem its just that im not sure if them games would work on linux but you could always find out,

pennypinchingmum

espresso wrote: »

What version OS did the old PC have installed and what version are you now trying to install?

erm not sure as i say used to f-i-l and had no info and couldnt access the desktop, it has a windows xp home edition product key on the box,

mdbarber

should work, none of the disks are tied to a cd key so its not that, are you formatting the c: drive during the install? best to do that
Could also be a dirty scratched disk or a failing in the cd drive to read a specific part of the cd you are using.

hannoja

I can't wait to reinstall Linux on my PC: one or two things to sort out first. BUT.. I wouldn't say it's easy to use at all. I believe it's come a long way in terms of 'User friendliness', but I would say that you have to have at least some 'geeky' tendencies to use it and enjoy the experience...

I'd say that my computer literacy is 'intermediate', and I found it a little challenging: I couldn't get some games working on it. Depends on what games you/your sister would want to play I guess, but you might find yourselves having to grapple with something like 'Wine', which is a kind of Windows emulator.. (I don't think 'they' like that term, but it's the best way I can think of to describe it ).

It has moved on a couple of levels (new builds) since I used it, so might be easier.. Have a look at the Linux website if you're curious. If you're happy to constantly look stuff up like I am, then have a go at it: I chose the 'Ubuntu' distro. (distribution: like Windows 98, XP, etc..) and the disk I got (dirt cheap) enabled me to partition my Hard Drive so I could choose whether to startup XP or Ubuntu when I started my PC.

Anyway, getting carried away :embarasse. Can't help with your actual problem sorry. I was wondering if there could be a licence issue with the disk you're using, if it was OEM or something, and found this link, but mdbarber seems to know more than me so I don't know, sorry. Just wanted to warn you that Linux isn't a piece of cake for everyone

BritBrat

Download SP2 from microsoft and see what happens when you follow the instructions it is asking you to do.

How old is old?

To old (over 8 years) it may not run XP.