DBAN help pls - blank screen!

waterwatereverywhere

Hi,

I hope someone can help. Been having loads of problems with a PC so used a DBAN downloaded CD to wipe it - which was successful. BUT now cannot seem to re-load Windows XP - just have a completely blank screen.

It is a HP Compaq dc7600 small form factor PC base unit. I don't have an original XP disc, but downloaded a disc from someone recommended here which was specifically for HP Compaq XP reloads - I used it once before just to reload, rather than wipe completely.

Now when I insert the CD nothing happens, just a blank screen.

Is there something else I should be doing?

Many thx in advance.

santer_2

Are you starting the PC with the CD already inserted?

Is it set to boot from CD ROM then the hard drive?

waterwatereverywhere

Hi Santer,

Yes, I put the CD in the drive then shut off the power and restarted. It starts making "whirring" noises, but have left it for ages and still nothing is happening, just a blank screen.

Not sure if it is set to boot from the CD and not sure how to check this - just can't do anything with it at the moment as there are no signs of life!

Any tips/advice to resurrect it gratefully received!

santer_2

Start the PC but press the delete key when you see the first screen.

Look for boot order to check what it is, usually the up and down arrows change it, then press F10 to save and exit

If the tower has a power button at the back, try switching that off for a minute

waterwatereverywhere

Hi again,

That's done the trick, I think!

It is now asking me if I want to create a partition - there are currently no partitions. should I create one? If so, it is asking me what size I want it to be, in MBs - pls can you suggest what this should be?

The unpartitioned space is 76317 MB.

Thx again!

santer_2

I don't bother with partitions but here are a couple of takes on it

http://thedijje.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/hard.disk.partition.html

http://techlogon.com/2011/07/24/benefits-of-partitioning-a-hard-drive/

waterwatereverywhere

Hi Santer,

That's all worked, many thanks for your help ... a long slow old process though!

I'm having trouble with the drivers now. I had backed them all up and they are saved as a folder on a pen drive. I can open the folder and see all the drivers, but how do I reinstall or run them please?

I can't remember what I used to back them up, think it may have been the free "Driver Backup" software, but that was wiped off the PC in the DBAN and reinstall process. Do I need to download it again or can I make the folder/files reinstall themselves without downloading the program again?

This is my last question... hopefully!

Thx in advance.

bmewsd

With XP it's easier to install the device and then point the dialog at the pen drive for the driver it wants.

so if it's a printer, plug the printer in and let it ask for the driver and then point it at the pen drive (if it's f:\drivers etc etc).

do that for each device you need to plug in. If it's stuff like display, keyboard etc, go to manage (start>right click computer> select properties>device manager).

then look at the devices normally the ones requiring a driver will have a yellow mark against them.

hope this helps

waterwatereverywhere

Thank you for your help, bmewsd, all sorted now, I think!