UPDATE, PLS HELP! I''ve wiped my NetBook using dban now I can't reinstall windows xp!

Claireybear

Help! I'm very very worried now!

My mum wants to sell her Samsung np n130 NetBook, so I followed advice on various internet guides on how to download dban etc. I am using an external cd rom drive as the NetBook doesn't have one.

Downloading and running dban went without any problems, and I just assumed I would just boot using the xp disc and it would reinstall . . but it just comes up with a black screen and a message saying operating system not found.

I'm not 100% sure that the disc is actually a recovery disc, just assumed it was because it says windows xp on it and was with the manuals! Have I done something really stupid?

I have got another computer I can download other software etc on to disc from if I need to, but I need very simple instructions I'm not very techie! Just impulsive lol!

I would be so grateful for advice, I'm really worried that I've made a big mistake!

I'm going to sleep on it . . Hopefully it will seem less bad in the morning but if any of you guys are up late, I would appreciate some help! Thank-you!

Claire

Ps I made sure it was set to boot from the disc, and I've tried the disc in another computer and it doesn't boot that one either, so I think I'm in a very bad situation aren't I?!

poppellerant

Did the DBAN run from CD, if so did it load ok? It sounds like it could possibly be a damaged XP CD stopping it from loading.

Do you see any messages when you put the XP CD and try to boot from it?

Figment

Restart the netbook and press F4 when the Samsung Logo appears. It should start the Samsung Recovery Manager (as long as it wasn't wiped with XP) to let you reinstall everything as it left the factory

poppellerant

This was taken straight from the user manual I found online, so forgive me if it's not entirely accurate.

Try this:
1) Turn the computer on - as soon as you see the booting screen (Samsung logo), press the F2 key on the keyboard to enter BIOS setup.
2) Use the Right Arrow key to select the Boot menu at the top. Ensure Boot Device Priority is selected, and press Enter on the keyboard.
3) Use the Down Arrow key to highlight USB CD and press the F6 key to move it to the top.
4) Press F10 key to save settings and exit.

Now the computer should boot from the USB CD drive before anything else.

If you get stuck, take a photo of the Boot Device Priority screen, and I'll help you out as best as possible.

Claireybear

Thanks you two for your quick replies!

When I try to boot from the disc (and when I don't) it just goes to a black screen saying operating system not found. It does the same when I press F4 - I think when I was looking at the guide to using the dban program it said it would wipe out the recovery console too. I thought it would be ok as I had the disc though.

Dban worked ok from the disc, I'm using an external DVD drive

poppellerant

Is the XP CD known to be working? Do you have a spare USB key that you can wipe if need be?

zzzLazyDaisy

This is too late for you now - but for anyone with a samsung laptop/netbook you start the laptop and keep pressing f4 before windows loads and it takes you to samsung recovery which enables you to restore to factory settings.

It is worth phoning the samsung computer helpline though - their techies are incredibly helpful, and might be able to talk you through what you need to do.

There is a landline number and an 03 number both of which are included in the inclusive minutes on mobiles. I don't have the number to hand but you'll find it on google.

Claireybear

poppellerant wrote: »

This was taken straight from the user manual I found online, so forgive me if it's not entirely accurate.

Try this:
1) Turn the computer on - as soon as you see the booting screen (Samsung logo), press the F2 key on the keyboard to enter BIOS setup.
2) Use the Right Arrow key to select the Boot menu at the top. Ensure Boot Device Priority is selected, and press Enter on the keyboard.
3) Use the Down Arrow key to highlight USB CD and press the F6 key to move it to the top.
4) Press F10 key to save settings and exit.

Now the computer should boot from the USB CD drive before anything else.

If you get stuck, take a photo of the Boot Device Priority screen, and I'll help you out as best as possible.

I have already done this, it didn't make any difference!

I've just found a cd for vista, and that seems to be installing, will it matter that it's different to the original windows xp? And used the same key as my other pc? The xp key wouldn't work!

Figment

Yes it does matter. Legally, you can only install one copy of an operating system on one machine, and if it's an OEM copy it can only be installed on a specific machine.

Claireybear

I got really worried when I read about people buying your old pc and finding all your bank passwords and stuff on it, a lot of guides said the only way to stop them getting hold of them was to use dban . . I should have been a bit less hasty about jumping straight in though!

It still seems to be installing vista . . And let me put in the same key as the other pc. . .will this cause any problems later in the installation do you think?

closed

it will fail windows product activation, so your probably wasting your time installing vista. have a look what is on the xp cd in another machine.

The simplest way of doing it for future reference is to do a factory restore, then wipe free space with ccleaner.