system disk?

[way.spacedout]

Hmm i wouldnt know where to start but ill save that question for when the time comes

[Broni]

the motherboard was replaced thats what i was saying, he shouldnt have touched the ram but he switched them out

Different motherboard may require different type of RAM.
You're not robbed. You had 1GB of RAM, and you still have 2x512MB=1GB of RAM.

[patio]

Good point Broni...
However he did return a non-working machine to her which makes me wonder about his level of expertise...

spacedout if you think you can do this yourself a Repair Install of XP  will save all your data and programs...

You will need an official Windows XP CD that matches your version and service packs installed.
In other words if you are running XP Pro with SP2 that is the CD you need...an OEM CD ( Dell, HP, Compaq etc.) will not work for this.
Borrowing someones CD to do this is well within your rights according to MS so there's no worries there.

Let us know after reading up on it if this is the way you want to go...

[bronx27]

Take it BACK to whomever worked on your computer and MAKE SURE they
TEST things out before they return it back to you.

Just a note of advice.

Good Luck,
Bronx27

[Broni]

However he did return a non-working machine to her which makes me wonder about his level of expertise...

Totally agreed

[Robinhood]

about the memory sticks. It is possible that he replaced your mother board with a different type. It may not take a 1024 stick.
He certainly should have given you your old stick back.
Also you should ask him what was the name of the board he took out and what is the one he put in.
You can also go to www.crucial.com and run a scan (it is free and safe). It will tell you exactly how many sticks are in your system how much ram is on each and what your system will take.

[Broni]

about the memory sticks. It is possible that he replaced your mother board with a different type. It may not take a 1024 stick.

By any chance, did you read my reply #16?

[macdad-]

like Patio said, just get your copy of Windows XP and pop it into the CD drive and install it.

Use the link that Patio, provided.
(sorry if im repeating you Patio)

[way.spacedout]

patio- i could try, do i have to have another hard drive to back up my data? you know where i can get a windows cd pretty cheap?   broni- i know im not robbed, i just didnt know why he wouldnt give my old one back or at least tell me about it.

[way.spacedout]

Thanks for all the help guys, ill probably have to end up doing this myself with yr help. robinhood- ill get the names of what he took. ill post it when i can. maybe you guys cld tell me if he had to switch the ram if you know what kind the mb is..

[Broni]

I definitely wouldn't forget my $110, and I'd start with asking the guy what's going on....

[way.spacedout]

For sure. i mean this guy has had it for a few weeks and i get it back n it doesnt work still, he put a gray panel on it 'mine was black' n he switches out the ram. it just makes me wonder what else he done to it..

[patio]

Find out or remember what ver. of XP you have installed on there...
Borrow a CD of the same as i said above version and SP installs...
This will cost 0 dollars.
You don't neccessarily need another drive to backup to however i would do it if it were me...i'm big on data backups just in case.

[way.spacedout]

I have windows xp media center edition but i dont know anyone that has the cd, do you know if it would be expensive to have it done?  oh ok, does it have to be the same amount of gb? mine is 200 n i can get an 80 to back it up to..

[patio]

Media Center Editions are very hard to come by as they didn't ship alot of CD's with this version...
That being said i would consider backing up all your important data and burning it to CD/DVD and starting over...