Select the operating system to start

[Lisa010262]

Unsuccessful with the bootablememtest cd?

F11 does not respond

[Broni]

If you tell us more about what happened, we may have some advice.

[Lisa010262]

OK

A "friend" sold me this computer.

I think the computer was originally loaded with window xp media, as this is the certificate of authenticity label on the bottom.

i had told the "friend" that I preferred a laptop with Xp Pro on it.

Apparently he attempted to remove media and load a copy of xp pro that is not authentic, as i cannot get updates.

when you turn the computer on it very quickly (aproximatlely 9 sec) gets to a screen that says:
please select the operating system to start."

        Windows XP Pro
        Windos XP media center edition

If I select media center i recieve the following:

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware refereence manuals for additional information.

If i select xp pro it goes to the windows user menu, once I select a user it takes an extremely long time to load and become operational Maybe 6 - 7 minutes.

Then the computer is very sluggish

[Broni]

I'd format HD, and go for clean XP install.

[Lisa010262]

i'm sorry but i'm not sure what you mean?

[Broni]

Windows XP clean install: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Lisa010262]

ok went to the web site. Not sure I understand what I am doing, the instructions talk abot floppy disk, i have?? no floppy drives on this laptop? It talk about upgrading from, this computer already has xp on it

[Broni]

You must read it carefully.
For instance, it says:

If booting from CD is impossible, you have the options below.

Download the XP floppy boot disk set from Microsoft.

It has also screenshots.
That's the best manual, I'm aware of.

[Lisa010262]

Both options under the area

If booting from CD is impossible, you have the options below.

Download the XP floppy boot disk set from Microsoft.

Require the use of a flppy disk, I do not have a floppy drive on this computer?

[truenorth]

Lisa010262 If i have read your posts and the replies correctly it appears that you do NOT have any certified copies of a FULL WINDOWS OPERATING SYSTEM. If that is indeed the case you have a substantial problem to overcome before you can formatt and recover the laptop.Do you have ANY Windows operating system disks that are legit? Does the previous owner remain accesible and do THEY have a certified operating system on a disk you can use? If the problem were only a none existant floppy drive that can be overcome by the inexpensive purchase of a USB connectable floppy drive. However i think it is premature to purchase anything (maybe other than an operating system) at this point. Reply awaited. truenorth

[BC_Programmer]

Both options under the area

If booting from CD is impossible, you have the options below.

Download the XP floppy boot disk set from Microsoft.

Require the use of a flppy disk, I do not have a floppy drive on this computer?

As in, if you don't have a CD-ROM drive or the computer doesn't support booting to CD-ROM. in this case I'm sure it can do both.

[fgdn17]

Both options under the area

If booting from CD is impossible, you have the options below.

Download the XP floppy boot disk set from Microsoft.

Require the use of a flppy disk, I do not have a floppy drive on this computer?

create/use a bootable CD....

http://www.bootdisk.com/ntfs.htm

[Lisa010262]

truenorth, appreciate your assistance.

I do have a windows xp disk that came with another computer. I also have the system disk, and recovery disk that came from the manufacturer.

[truenorth]

Lisa010262,At this point you may have that sinking feeling of abandonment by the good folks at CH. Such will not be the case.In my case i was experiencing withdrawl symptoms from an extended absence from home (and my usual computer to participate in the CH forums). So when i saw your post i was actually in a public library in the southern U.S. and felt the need to get back into the forums.But now i'm back in my own nest and anxious to get back to trying to help. If i understand correctly due to the circumstances of the aquisition of this laptop (from a friend) you probably at this time have not been able to really use it for anything and hense have nothing on it that you would be at a loss if you lost it. IE: personal data? Is that correct? If that is so i would recommend a complete earasure of the HD and a full install of your operating system. I am of the opinion that you really,at the moment do NOT have a fuctioning O/S of either of the O/S's that are being offered at your startup.This is based on your earlier posts of how the questionable O/S's were installed and by whom. So at this point you would just like to be able to get a laptop working  so as to realize some payback from your purchase. Is that a fair assesment? I would like you to go to this linked site ( i know Broni provided one earlier but i have examined it and with no disrepect to either of you it seemed a bit intimidating for a neophyte). So maybe this one will be less so. Have a look and let us know what you would like to do. http://grownupgeek.com/reformat  goodluck,truenorth

[Lisa010262]

Yes you are correct, no information of any importance on the computer. You are correct we are trying to get a laptop that works.

I have gone to the site you have recommended and as i understand it you are thinking that  by using the dos commands fdisk and format that I would be able to restore the operating system using the system disk and recovery disk I have from he manufacturer?