Computer not starting properly!

Jo4

When a friend starts their computer they get a choice to either open Wndows 2003 Professional or Windows 98 SE. If they choose Windows 98 SE, the computer works, however if they select Windows 2003 Professional the computer states they need to register their Windows.

This persons computer is not connected to the internet and the computer had been going fine. The last thing they done was look at some photos, closed it down and when they went to use it later it wouldn't do anything exept ask them if they would like to go online to register their Windows 2003 Professional.

Any advice what is wrong with the computer or how to fix it?

weemee

Windows server 2003 requires a standard microsoft validation check, usually 30 days after install.

Have they recently installed it?

Is the screen definatley a Microsoft one? Does it generate a product ID?

Jo4

weemee wrote:

Windows server 2003 requires a standard microsoft validation check, usually 30 days after install.

Have they recently installed it?

Is the screen definatley a Microsoft one? Does it generate a product ID?

They are only supposed to have the computer about 3 or 4 weeks. The screen which loads asking which Microsoft edition they want is black and then it loads Windows 98 SE, after it is selected. There is Windows 95 on the computer which was then upgraded to Windows 98 SE and now it seems 2003. After Windows 98 is selected it looks like thescreen is definitely a Microsoft one to me but I am not that up todate with computers.

It does not generate a product id, although from memory it does look for one. They said they did not have the product id as the computer was a computer from the sons office. What should I do now, or is there anything that could be done?

weemee

I think you'll find the windows 2003 is either a demo copy or has not been authenticated.

If they can find the origional serial number (on the box, sometimes stuck on the side on corporate machines) then you can call microsoft and get an activation/registration code.

Otherwise you may as well remove it as you wont be able to use it.

Jo4

weemee wrote:

Otherwise you may as well remove it as you wont be able to use it.

How do you remove it as there was not an option in the add/remove program in the control panel?

weemee

On a windows install there will not be one.

Was it installed on the same partition?

My thinking is that it can't be as windows 98 wont support NTFS and I'm sure 2003 wont install to a FAT32 one (i could be wrong). If it is on another partition you could just format it back into a FAT32 one and use it for storage etc.

It wont be easy though as '98 is getting so old!

weemee

On a windows install there will not be one.

Was it installed on the same partition?

My thinking is that it can't be as windows 98 wont support NTFS and I'm sure 2003 wont install to a FAT32 one (i could be wrong). If it is on another partition you could just format it back into a FAT32 one and use it for storage etc.

It wont be easy though as '98 is getting so old!

Jo4

weemee wrote:

On a windows install there will not be one.

Was it installed on the same partition?

My thinking is that it can't be as windows 98 wont support NTFS and I'm sure 2003 wont install to a FAT32 one (i could be wrong). If it is on another partition you could just format it back into a FAT32 one and use it for storage etc.

It wont be easy though as '98 is getting so old!

Haven't a clue about partitions, NTFS, FAT32 what are they? I got the computer to work by selecting Windows 98 and pressing enter, it was better that than having no computer at all I thought. Was I right?