Restoring Windows XP

[Broni]

By the way I set the BIOS for CD to be first boot device. It eventually asked if I wanted to replace the existing Windows

BIOS asked you that? That would be the first.

I don't happen to have F10 on the keyboard

That would be the first, too.
You press F10 to save changes. If you don't do this, nothing changes.

[Broni]

remove the cd from the drive

CD doesn't bother anything.

[BC_Programmer]

remove the cd from the drive

CD doesn't bother anything.

"install starting over and over" could be simply booting into the CD setup over and over, thus the eventually being asked to replace the existing installation.

[Broni]

Possible, I guess, but I've never seen anything like that.

[BC_Programmer]

...unless one was to push any key when it says, "push any key to boot from CD"...

[Broni]

...itchy fingers, I assume...

[patio]

The slipstream may have not been prepared properly...

[drams]

I finally was able to erase the existing partition and reloaded WinXP with SP2 slipstreamed disk. Thanks for all the help.

One problem I have though is a new DVD drive won't work. Computer store says it works on their computers. It will recognize folders but can't open them. It is a Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7200A.

Any ideas?

[drams]

Thanks for all the help. This episode is closed but a new door opened. More on that in a bit. I resolved this problem by backing up the files to another computer on my network after booting into the second copy of WinXP.  After back up I was able to after some stops and starts to do a clean install of WinXP with slipstreamed WinXP with SP2 disk. Reloaded software and transferred files. It seems to be working well. Will keep up to date of backup files.

For the next chapter I had a second computer fail to boot up. This time after again some issues the least of which was when I attempted to repair the WinXP installation it hung with Error Message "The file ASMS on Windows XP Professional CD-ROM is needed"  After trying over and over with both retail copy and slipstreamed copy of CD, I could not get past this and finally found a MS document 311755 that shows how to modify registry to get past this hiccup. I tried it a few times with no luck. But eventually install proceeded though I am not sure what finally allowed that result. Bottom line was I was able to restore WinXP and all files and settings were intact.  Hoo Ray! Happiness is something that actually works eventually.

Now for the next chapter. Now another computer on my next just stopped connecting to the internet. I can't tell you how many times I have run the network setup wizzard and every other thing I could think of or try suggestions from this site and others. I have never had a problem like this before with and network. The offending computer is communicating with all computers on the network but I can not connect to internet. This kind of problem has always been easily solved using the trouble shooting guide and wizzards.  Are their and network Wizzards here that might be able to help.

Thanks to all that have helped. Seems like problems come in three's.

Here's to happy computing,
Dave

[drams]

Again, thanks for all the help. Broni, really, the keyboard on that computer does not have F10. Stops as F8 I believe some older keyboards had fewer function keys.

Sorry some of my writing is a little fuzzy from poor memory and just not being as thorough as I should. I have been assembling my own computers and doing the maintenance since my first Compuadd computer I purchased in the late 80's. Doubt many even remember that company.  I probably have just enough knowledge to be dangerous.

[BC_Programmer]

Even the original XT keyboard had an F10 key...

here