[donar88]

hi i could use some help with problems in my desktop XP PRO
1. computer is approx 5 years old, home use only.
2. definately a genuine version of xp pro, i do not have the disc but i do have the product / serial number ?
3. in the past 3 months has had,
new power unit / new video card ( exactly the same as the old one ), new motherboard battery.
4. both memory sticks have been installed in seperate slots and also tried seperately
5. result after M/B battery replaced , cd tray now opening and closing ( was not previously ).
green light appears, i can hear the hard drive running, no red blinking light appears.
6. i have a new hard drive but i have no means of getting my version of XP out of the old drive or getting the product number into the new hard drive.
7. if i buy an XP disc on ebay,do i buy a reinstallation disc, an OME ??? or what?
8. i know nothing about BIOS. if that may be the problem.

thanks for your time, donar.

 

[spunk.funk]

If you buy an OEM disc, it should be from the same manufacturer (ex) Dell. and ideally, the same computer model. This will supply all of the drivers for your computer as well as the operating system, and will probably be already activated and will not require a product key.
If your old HDD was working correctly (but then why would you have replaced the HDD?) you could attach the old HDD to another computer via USB Adapter and clone the HDD to the new one. Of course if the old HDD had problems, you will just be transferring the old problems to the new HDD. Once you get Windows installed on your new HDD with the OEM disc you buy, attach your old HDD via USB Adapter to transfer any personal files to the new HDD, you can then format the old HDD and use it as a backup drive.

 

[donar88]

thanks for the reply, as i said in my question i have no access to another PC for connecting via a USB adapter, so i cannot see how that suggestion would be any good, but if i buy an OEM disc then i can use it to instal XP on my new H/D using my product number, would that be right, i do not require any information from the old HD.
the PC was custom built here on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia ( 2 of ) presumably my former partner got the disc.
i do have 2 laptops, one with XP home, the other with Win7, can i use either of these, thanks donar

 

[shawnpb]

Hello! What is the make and model of your machine?

 

[donar88]

hi thanks for your help, i had 2 PC's custom built by BMB technologies here on the Gold Coast Queensland Austrlaia about 4 years ago, my former partner took one ( and presumably the disc and i took the this one, thanks don

 

[shawnpb]

thanks for the reply, as i said in my question i have no access to another PC for connecting via a USB adapter, so i cannot see how that suggestion would be any good, but if i buy an OEM disc then i can use it to instal XP on my new H/D using my product number, would that be right, i do not require any information from the old HD.
the PC was custom built here on the Gold Coast in Queensland Australia ( 2 of ) presumably my former partner got the disc.
i do have 2 laptops, one with XP home, the other with Win7, can i use either of these, thanks donar

You would have to call the manufacture of the computers and ask them for an OEM Windows XP disk.

 

[donar88]

now that will be a problem because BMB Technologies who built the 2 PC 'Ss are no longer in business, old guys like me,they have retired, thanks don

 

[spunk.funk]

Some OEM discs require the computer hardware to be the same brand as the disc (ex) Dell disc for Dell computer. But many OEM discs do not require a manufacturer.

 

[donar88]

hi thanks for that i was pretty sure myself that that was the case, thanks to all, don :dance::dance:

 

[dai]

what are you running
video card brand and model
cpu
m/board
ram
power supply
brand
model
wattage

check the listings in the bios for 12v line voltages and temperatures and post them

 

[donar88]

you are kidding, right ? DON

 

[dai]

no the specs give a picture of what we are dealing with

i don't work on comps wearing a blindfold

 

[donar88]

so the way i see it this problem cannot be solved in my desktop, the original H/D is dead and it has the O/S in it so how can the PC ever run? how can you get the O/S out of a dead drive into a new drive in this PC ?
what i was hoping when i asked the question was that someone may have had been able to tell me if i would have to get a tech to use my new HD to instal my genuine XP in it with the genuine product numbers or if not which type of OME OR OEM i should buy.
in the first instance using the product numbers in a new drive would render your questions null & void as i would only be putting exactly the same things back into the machine as was in it when it was made.
in the second instance i think as long as i do not buy a disc specifically suited to a dell or like that, then it is XP so what else matters.
the power supply is new, the video card is new and the replacements were EXACTLY as came out of the machine, the wattage? why would it not be a problem when the PC was working and it is now,? the motherboard has not changed , it worked for 5 years so why is that an issue, the 2 memory sticks are the same as when the P/C was ok and i have tried them singularly and swapped around, i replaced the motherboard battery last week and now the CD tray will open and close and it would not previously.
i just do not see how your questions are in anyway relevant to my problem as the problem cannot be fixed in this machine.
i will withdraw my question from the forum ,i do not think that the standard of the replies have been very high , so i will not bother you all again

 

[spunk.funk]

I'm sorry if we did not meet your standards for replies. Everyone here is volunteering their time for free, and we can only supply answers to questions of elevated standards. And when we ask questions to help you, we would like you to help us and answer them.
The problems you were stating are usually related to something hardware related (ex) Power Supply Unit, RAM, and Hard Disk Drive. That's why DAI asked. If the PSU is under powered or failing, then it would cause these problems.
As for Windows, you can easily reinstall Windows if you have a Retail Version of Windows XP CD. You would boot off of the CD and choose to install it. You would use the Serial Key that comes with that disc. To save money, you could find an Original Equipment Manufacturers CD, But it's best to get one specifically for that brand of computer or motherboard as this disc usually has drivers for that board. If your old HDD had failed you cannot transfer the Windows Operating System to a new drive, because the HDD is no longer booting and is corrupted. And with your motherboard being 5 years old it too may have some problems. Everything electronic dies at some point. I hope that answered your questions?