[rustydusty1717]

well to start off i've got a computer running windows xp home. it started to have a lot of stuff on it so i decided to reformat. first time i did it worked fine but it didn't install all my drivers so i couldn't even connect to the internet. second time it worked and connected to the internet but when i tried to do windows update it crashed. that was the last time it worked. i've tried many times to reformat and just about when it's done reformatting it comes up with an error about missing dlls and crashes. now i'm looking to run a few gaming server's on this computer so should i just someone get it fixed or should i just look at installing a linux version for an OS? i've used fedora core before and it seemed fairly simple. is there any other free or fairly cheap server based OS's out there that i should look at instead?

[alchav21]

Well RustyD I see you have Posted a couple of questions about the same thing, so I don't think MPH will like this. Anyway, it doesn't seem like you know what you are doing, so I don't think you should try an OS you know nothing about. Drivers are still going to be an issue, so if you don't have an other computer to download the needed Drivers, then you should do it before and put them on a Flash Drive. I don't know what you are using to Format and load Windows, but an OEM CD works very well and if done properly should give you no problems. Give us more detail on the PC if you need more help.

[rustydusty1717]

yes i have another computer. i'm typing this on it. how do i know what drivers i need? it just comes up with some "kernel needs dll's" or something. the computer is a pentium 4 2.5 ghrz, 80 gb hd, 1 gig ram etc.

[alchav21]

You can find the Drivers on the Computer Manufacturers Web Site or the Motherboard Web Site. After you finish loading Windows, go to the Device Manager and see what Hardware has errors. You usually need Graphics Card, Sound, Network Adapter, and Modem. So what is the Computer Manufacturer and Model, or MB Model.

[Knifeblade]

rusty, we are willing to help, but you need to break things down point by point, okay? Like alc states, such a generic statement doesn't help matters.
1} What is your specific system, you don't need to get too technical yet.

2} You decided to reformat because you had a lot of "stuff" on it. Okay, where? On your hard drive, of course, but what "stuff" are you mentioning? Is it around your Favorites, or Programs, in bookmarks, what??????????


3} After you reformatted, because of the "stuff"?, you lost drivers. Then you apparently regained some, because you got the Internet back. I do presume you meant reformat, not re-partition, correct?

4} Why did you decide to reformat?

have you tried the first and easiest way, goto a system restore?

[rustydusty1717]

it's a cicero running windows xp home. i decided to reformat because i had lots of program, music files, videos etc on the computer. yes i meant reformat. complete whiped all files and windows files. when i tried reformatting first time it worked but it didn't install the driver for the network adapter so i couldn't access the internet. so i did it again and it worked perfectly but when i tried to download windows updates it crashed. ever since that time when i reformat it get's to about 80% done and it slows right down and when it slows down it shows it's copying .dll files. once it slows down it copies those files then it will crash all of a sudden and come up with a message saying something like "kernel needed to loaded dll's" or something along those lines. yes i tried just doing a recovery and it didn't work either. it crashes when i try that.

[rgreen4]

Rusty, if you are installing XP Home from an original installation disc you should not have these problems. There may be issues with items you added after the machine left the factory, like maybe the ethernet card since you call it a card, as onboard ethernet connection should be recognized. It almost sounds as if you are having problems with the hard drive.

When installing XP, the initall installation is into memory and then it writes the files to the HD.

What brand of hard drive is it and how old is it?

We may need to do some diagnostics.

[rustydusty1717]

the hard drive is a desk star. it's about 5 years old i'd say. should i just go get a new hard drive and try installing windows on it?

[rgreen4]

Well, I am not sure. I have had some drives last a little longer, but not many. Seagate now offers a 5 year warranty (from date of manufacture). Deskstar drives were originally manufactured by IBM and then that division was sold to Hitachi.

If it were a Seagate, Maxtor or Western Digital, there are specific diagnostic programs out there for download that could give a definitive yes or no. As it is, it probably would not hurt. If you were willing to wait, you can get either Seagate or WD 80GB IDE drive for under $50 delivered. If you can get one locally for just a little more with tax, you could at least work on it tonight or tomorrow.

You say you are responding by using another machine. Does it support IDE drives?

[rustydusty1717]

yes i think this computer i'm on has ide drives. also my windows recovery disk it a little scratched could that be causing the problems?

[rustydusty1717]

just went and picked up a new 500 gb hard drive. i'm gonna try installing windows on it and see what happens. crosses fingers

[rgreen4]

Rusty, a severely scratched recovery CD could cause the problem, but generally you would get the problem during the install when it would come back and tell you there was an error in reading the disc.

[rustydusty1717]

well the cd seems to work fine. when i use it at about 80% it slows down when it's copying some .dll files and then it crashes. should i try and find a new recovery cd or give mine a go first? just don't wanna wreck a brand new hard drive up

[rgreen4]

What is the brand and model of your computer?

[rustydusty1717]

it's cicero and i don't know anything else. got it from a friend couple years ago. it's about 5 years old though. do you want a model number?

[rgreen4]

I looked up Cicero Computers and they are apparently a machine marketed by Future Shop in Canada.

1, What does the front of the restore disc say? Does it have anything besides the Microsoft logo?

(Does it have the hologram of Microsoft or is it just a plain label. My HP restore discs are black and white, while original MS Windows discs have a hologram label).

2. If you take the cover off, and use a flashlight, can you read the motherboard brand and model?

3. Is there a Microsoft sticker on the machine, either top, side or back?

[rustydusty1717]

okay well i got a new hard drive. it's a Sata 500 gb HD. now i went to plug it in and the power is fine but it comes with a "serial ata cable" and my old hard drive connected with a big pin connector type. how do i fix this? do i need some sort of an attachment?

[Knifeblade]

[rustydusty1717]

yes that picture is exactly what i mean. how do i fix this?

[Knifeblade]

Meh, the text glitched. Anyhoo, the above is IDE, the below is SATA. These are Internal drives. They aren't switchable, re cabling or adapters. Note the four wire power plug, pretty much same for both. That's why the drive will power up. But the bug/problem you face is in the transfer cable, that the SATA drive uses, a specific connect to your motherboard{ harddrive signal out, so to speak}, from the SATA drive to your mobo, which is why you can't connect the SATA drive to the motherboard. Essentially, if your motherboard is not SATA-capable, you can't install an INTERNAL Sata drive. There are no internal adapters, that I know of, that will set an internal SATA into an IDE mobo.
I think that you are trying an internal SATA drive on an IDE {meaning non-SATA} internal motherboard. It just won't happen. At least, not internally. Externally, off a Firewire or USB port connect, likely yes, but not internal. That might be where you steered wrong.

My thought is to return the internal SATA drive, start a new thread asking about external SATA drives, or research the forum Community a bit, this has been covered before, and should apply to your situation. Think of an External SATA drive.