Help Needed - Unable to load XP to start computer

Flylady_Flower

Hi,
I hope I am putting this in the right place, apologies if it should go somewhere else but I didn't know where to start. Please feel free to move it to where it should be if necessary.

I really hope someone can help us, as we have been given a computer for our club and cannot get it to load up. (just the base - no leads, discs, anything so we have nothing to work from)

It had Windows 2000 on it I think, but this would not load and we did not have any discs for it, so was unable to do anything about it.

So we got Windows XP and tried loading that on, which it starts then comes up with this:

Windows XP Professional, Home Edition 8in1 Cd

then gives these choices:

1. set up windows xp professional MSDN, corporate
2. setup activated windows xp home edition OEM
3. setup finalpatched window xp home edition OEM
4. setup finalpatched windows xp professional OEM
5. setup untouched windows xp professional OEM
6. setup untouched windows xp home edition OEM
7. setup untouched windows xp professional retail
8. setup untouched windows xp home edition retail

---

a) Boot windows 98 version 4.10.22221 from cd rom
b) boot windows 98 to run NTFSDOS-pro from cd rom
c) run partition magic 7 from a ram drive
d) development ->
q) quit to command promt
r) reboot
esc) boot first harddisk

I haven't pressed anything here, but it starts automatically then it goes through the following:
collects info, dynamic update, prepares installation (it has now already done these, so they come up as complete on the final page)
then when it comes to installing windows, a fatal error comes up:

Fatal Error:
An error has been encountered that prevents setup from continuing.
One of the components that window needs to continue setup could not be installed.
Manifest Parse Error : Invalid at the top level of the document.
Press OK to view the setup log file.

These are the bits on the log :

Error:
SXS DLL - Syntax error in manifest or policy file "D:\I386\asms\6000\MSFT\WINDOWS\COMMON\CONTROLS\CONTROLS.MAN" on line 0.

installation failed \I386\asms. Manifest Parse Error: invalid at the top level of the document

Fatal Error:
One of the components that windows needs to continue setup could not be installed.
Manifest Parse Error: Invalid at the top level of the document.

It repeats this all the way down the log as though it has tried a few times.

I hope you can help, this will be great for our club, as the current computer has no A or D Drives or USB ports and a tiny memory, so any advice would be welcome. Thanks in advance. Denise

superscaper

I may be wrong but I thought the 8 in 1 disc was illegal. Certainly not a legitimate Microsoft disc.

Get a legitimate copy of XP and there shouldn't be anything wrong with the disc or installation.

superscaper

As you've not given the specs, it could be that XP wouldn't really run properly anyway depending on the hardware. If this is for simple things such as writing documents etc then maybe you should install a Linux operating system such as Ubuntu (and use the free OpenOffice).

DatabaseError

as suggested, you need a legitimate, genuine copy of XP, nobody is allowed to offer help otherwise, even if they wanted to (forum rules)

Flylady_Flower

Thanks guys, god you're quick
that would be why then. The computer wouldn't work with the 2000 on there - it kept asking for the disc which we didn't have.
Someone got the XP for us and we loaded that then came up with the problems, but obvious now if its not legit - I will get rid of and get another proper copy cheap off amazon or something- shows how much I know, I suppose they thought they were helping.
Thanks for all your help, at least we know it should work if we get the right stuff now as we were worried it was the computer itself, so still good.
Denise

superscaper

denisefowler wrote: »

Thanks guys, god you're quick
that would be why then. The computer wouldn't work with the 2000 on there - it kept asking for the disc which we didn't have.
Someone got the XP for us and we loaded that then came up with the problems, but obvious now if its not legit - I will get rid of and get another proper copy cheap off amazon or something- shows how much I know, I suppose they thought they were helping.
Thanks for all your help, at least we know it should work if we get the right stuff now as we were worried it was the computer itself, so still good.
Denise

Before you go out spending money possibly needlessly,
"As you've not given the specs, it could be that XP wouldn't really run properly anyway depending on the hardware"
what are the specifications of the PC? There's no point buying and trying to install XP if the PC wouldn't be capable of running it properly. As I mentioned if all you want it for is the typical normal tasks then install something like Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/) seeing as it's free.

shadowdragon

If it was running 2000 previously I would stick with that, has it got a sticker on the pc with the Microsoft logo and keycode?

Just becareful when purchasing another Operating system especially from ebay some are copies and you will be back where you started.

If its an older machine its unlikley it would run XP and if it did it would be slow.

Flylady_Flower

superscaper wrote: »

Before you go out spending money possibly needlessly,
"As you've not given the specs, it could be that XP wouldn't really run properly anyway depending on the hardware"
what are the specifications of the PC? There's no point buying and trying to install XP if the PC wouldn't be capable of running it properly. As I mentioned if all you want it for is the typical normal tasks then install something like Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntu.com/) seeing as it's free.

Thanks Superscaper. Not sure, as we were given the computer and have no knowledge of it - If I could start it I would tell you but being pretty thick and only basic tech minded all I can tell you is that it has a grey case... :rotfl: only joking, but really I don't know, sorry.

We do only need it for normal tasks, but also need to run frontpage (of which I have a legit disc that we use already ) as this is what our website is built on and we need to do updates, etc, also, sending letters, etc to people, can they read them if they do not have open office only microsoft office? Also, can you run sage on it? we do our accounts on that.

Ubuntu sounds brilliant, but I take it you can't run any microsoft office programmes on it? sorry to sound thick, but just asking questions that pop up. Thanks again for your help.
Denise

Flylady_Flower

shadowdragon wrote: »

If it was running 2000 previously I would stick with that, has it got a sticker on the pc with the Microsoft logo and keycode?

Just becareful when purchasing another Operating system especially from ebay some are copies and you will be back where you started.

If its an older machine its unlikley it would run XP and if it did it would be slow.

2000 was on the computer but when we were given it, it kept asking for the disc, which we didn't have (no stickers on the computer either).

I don't think I will get one from ebay for the exact reason you mention, but might have to look on amazon because we are a small club and funds are an issue (as with most clubs I suppose). I think they are a bit more trustworthy on there?

I don't think it's that old a machine, as it has a dvd drive and USB sockets. the one we currently have is really old and this will be a definite upgrade from that.

Thanks for all the advice guys, it's been much appreciated.