Windows XP Help

LincolnshireYokel

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

One of my previous motherboards had an on-chip zero-fill routine in the SATA controller. Pretty sure that didn't run MS-DOS.

Ah yes, but of course not, it would run machine code. Thats what Ive always referred to as a low level format, but everyone called a DOS format because it usually was loaded with a DOS partition then windows.

Just habit i suppose, what you are used to talking with other people.

-TangleFoot-

According to this article low-level formatting as it was once understood is now done exclusively at the point of manufacture; the integrated drive electronics do all the work after that.

People still use the older nomenclature though, just as they do when discussing DSL equipment.

LincolnshireYokel

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

According to this article low-level formatting as it was once understood is now done exclusively at the point of manufacture; the integrated drive electronics do all the work after that.

People still use the older nomenclature though, just as they do when discussing DSL equipment.

Yes, seems so. they call a DOS format a High Level format

I recall having to low level format then dos format drives in the 80's. Used to take hours.

I can also recall using a hex editor to rewrite disc sectors manually to recover deleted files and fix corrupted Master Boot records. Bet you cant do that on a modern sata drive.

My hero is Seymour Cray. He keyed in the first boot program for the first Cray X-MP, manually, off the top of his head, in binary using the toggle switches on the front panel, entering bytes one by one and stepping through the ram. Thats Real Programming.

Fergie76

Hi and thanks for the replies so far.

The computer is from about 02/03 and definitely has XP SP1. If I try and upgrade to XP SP1a, I get an error message though, I can't remember what it is now.

As I said above, XP SP2 seems to install, but freezes on the reboot. I have tried downloading from windows update site and I have an official XP SP2 CD.

I am using the official restore CD that I got with the computer and the restore appears to work fine apart from when I try to update further.

A full system restore is sufficient for what I need, the computer is going to family friend, so I don't need to replace HDD or anything else.

I have used the restore CD in the past and been able to update to XP SP2 and beyond, just not this time.

Cheers.

-TangleFoot-

I still believe slipstreaming is your best option; it'll save you time and effort later on.

Fergie76

Thanks TangleFoot, I'll give it a try later.

TakeThis

Fergie76 wrote: »

Hi and thanks for the replies so far.

The computer is from about 02/03 and definitely has XP SP1. If I try and upgrade to XP SP1a, I get an error message though, I can't remember what it is now.

As I said above, XP SP2 seems to install, but freezes on the reboot. I have tried downloading from windows update site and I have an official XP SP2 CD.

I am using the official restore CD that I got with the computer and the restore appears to work fine apart from when I try to update further.

A full system restore is sufficient for what I need, the computer is going to family friend, so I don't need to replace HDD or anything else.

I have used the restore CD in the past and been able to update to XP SP2 and beyond, just not this time.

Cheers.

Have sent you a PM.

Fergie76

TakeThis wrote: »

Have sent you a PM.

I have replied.

Fergie76

-TangleFoot- wrote: »

I still believe slipstreaming is your best option; it'll save you time and effort later on.

This does not seem to work as I don't have an official Windows disk, just a reload backup cd, which seems to have the image on it.

My computers details are:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 1

Tiny Computers Intel Celeron 2.4GHz, 1.25GB RAM.

And my backup CD is Reload Backup CD Version 0.4.

macman

You are confusing a System Restore with a Factory Restore. The former does not remove any data files. The latter will restore from the factory partition, but the data remains intact, though not visible (the indexing is all that is removed). The data will only be wiped when the sector on which it is stored is eventually overwritten.