Help trying to get XP running again

[*_ash_* 88]

hmmm the rubber band snapped?

im downloading 2 versions and one says 17 mins the other says 1.53hours

mine sonly a crappy 1mb connection

 

I think it's this old computer more than anything. It only u/l at 25 per second. On my Dell that's more like 460/sec.

[*_ash_* 88]

Are they all bit torrent:confused:(sp) things mel?

 

Sorry for asking so many questions..

 

I'm trying to send a link to a direct download thing, to just stick it on an email to a mate that says he'll put it on CD for me.

[melthebell 862]

no im downloading via http

even the dvd that is ftp only

 

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/

 

select the cd version for you, should be quite adequate for your needs, if you like it after you can venture down the dvd route.

 

tell him to do

KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso 20-Jan-2007 18:53 696M

which is here

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/CD/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso

[*_ash_* 88]

no im downloading via http

even the dvd that is ftp only

 

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/

 

select the cd version for you, should be quite adequate for your needs, if you like it after you can venture down the dvd route.

 

tell him to do

KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso 20-Jan-2007 18:53 696M

which is here

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/CD/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso

 

cheers for that Mel, appreciate it

 

I've sent him the link. Hopefully should be able to do something with it

[*_ash_* 88]

You mean your desktop? You shouldn't be taken there.

 

After seeing the black windoze screen with the loading bar, you should be taken to a screen which says "An exciting new look", and various other guff, and that "Setup will complete in approx. 39 minutes"

 

Got it! Waited 39 minutes. Then it says Windows will start up .... >>> please wait.

 

After about 2 minutes - got the message

 

problem detected with windows, it will shutdown etc

a process or threat critical to your system blah blah terminated.

 

[*_ash_* 88]

no im downloading via http

even the dvd that is ftp only

 

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/

 

select the cd version for you, should be quite adequate for your needs, if you like it after you can venture down the dvd route.

 

tell him to do

KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso 20-Jan-2007 18:53 696M

which is here

http://ftp.ux0.de/pub/linux/knoppix/CD/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso

Got it!

 

Managed to get the desktop up for this. I can see my HDD. But when I click on it it says..

 

Error - KDesktop

 

The error was: I could not determine the filesystem type and none was specified.

 

[happyhippy 11]

Got it! Waited 39 minutes. Then it says Windows will start up .... >>> please wait.

 

After about 2 minutes - got the message

 

problem detected with windows, it will shutdown etc

a process or threat critical to your system blah blah terminated.

 

 

Can you remember if that error message came up on a blue or black screen, or just a dialog box?

[*_ash_* 88]

Can you remember if that error message came up on a blue or black screen, or just a dialog box?

Just like a pop up HH.

 

Meaning it didn't crash anything. It just popped up, I closed it, and went through lots of other menus etc to find some other way of opening it.

 

I managed to plug my ext HDD in, and opened it just fine.

[BH_80 10]

i advise downloading a live distribution of linux suh as knoppix and burning to a cd so you have a bootable version of linux and grabbing as much off your computer as possible to external hard drive, usb stick or even burning to dvd

just in case of accidents...or failing that, seems your having a bit of trouble with the usual way outs...reformatting and reinstalling windows

 

Thanks mel. I've just been reading about this linux thing after reading your post, this could be what I'm looking for in the short term. I'm happy to reinstall windows again, but my photos videos and music are my first concern. I've got my Ext HD standing by.

 

Luckily this old heap of crap has got a CDRW.

 

Suggesting a Linux LiveCD to transfer as many files as possible to an external HD is excellent advice, Melthebell. However, perhaps you might want to download Ubuntu 8.10 instead, Ash?

 

I'm taking an informed guess that you haven't used Linux before so it might be easier for you to use a more user friendly and popular version of Linux.

 

You can check out which "flavour" of Linux would be right for you at

PolishLinux.org.

 

I'd recommend either Ubuntu or Kubuntu, but the choice is yours.

 

I recently got my friend to switch to Linux after their computer encountered similar circumstances, and he's almost wrote off Microsoft now. I understand that at this point you might not wish to do the same, but why not think about exploring another operating system which is free, and less resource hungry (you can run Linux on literally any sh*te PC and it'll be smooth). Plus you'll learn much more about computers too, which is obviously beneficial....

[happyhippy 11]

Just like a pop up HH.

 

That's a better sign! At least it's not a BSOD.

 

If you try it again, and it doesn't complete set up, copy the error message down and let us know. If you use the recovery disk bit, the default password is <ENTER>, but I'll be honest, I've never had to go down that route, mainly because I don't have the bloody disks for it anyway!

 

Shouldn't be difficult to resolve seeing as you can get to the desktop now anyway.

[*_ash_* 88]

Thanks for that BH, and HH.

 

HH, I don't think that booting up my pute with this CD has done any repairing or owt.

 

I was hoping to just copy my stuff to my Ext HDD and then format the drive then done.

[*_ash_* 88]

I'm just uploading a copy of that umbut..thing to try that if this fails. Ta BH.