Can't Re-install Windows!

[Archie]

I have an original copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After
I have upgraded from Windows ME, my system crashed (this
was after a few months with Windows XP). I can't boot my
PC even to safe mode! I always get the message, "NTLDR is
missing", or "Himem.sys" is missing (and so on!).
Hopeless, I tried to boot my computer using a Windows 98
CD then manually deleted the "C:\windows" folder hoping to
get another chance of installing windows 98 but to no
avail! I can't install any Operating System even if I use
a different hard disk. What kind of mess does Windows XP
bring? And why on earth I can't seem to use my system
anymore? Can somebody help me?

[wojo]

Floppy disk in your disk drive?
Otherwise check your BIOS settings to see if your CD drive is at the top of
your Boot Order.

"Archie" > wrote in message
...
> I have an original copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After
> I have upgraded from Windows ME, my system crashed (this
> was after a few months with Windows XP). I can't boot my
> PC even to safe mode! I always get the message, "NTLDR is
> missing", or "Himem.sys" is missing (and so on!).
> Hopeless, I tried to boot my computer using a Windows 98
> CD then manually deleted the "C:\windows" folder hoping to
> get another chance of installing windows 98 but to no
> avail! I can't install any Operating System even if I use
> a different hard disk. What kind of mess does Windows XP
> bring? And why on earth I can't seem to use my system
> anymore? Can somebody help me?

[Norm]

Get a bootable 98 or ME floppy and run fdisk and format if you want to
install 98 or ME. Why not just change your bios to boot from the XP cd, it
will allow you to reformat your disk and reinstall.

"Archie" > wrote in message
...
> I have an original copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After
> I have upgraded from Windows ME, my system crashed (this
> was after a few months with Windows XP). I can't boot my
> PC even to safe mode! I always get the message, "NTLDR is
> missing", or "Himem.sys" is missing (and so on!).
> Hopeless, I tried to boot my computer using a Windows 98
> CD then manually deleted the "C:\windows" folder hoping to
> get another chance of installing windows 98 but to no
> avail! I can't install any Operating System even if I use
> a different hard disk. What kind of mess does Windows XP
> bring? And why on earth I can't seem to use my system
> anymore? Can somebody help me?
>

[Jim in Canada]

Enter the BIOS.
Set your cdrom as the first boot devise.
Place the WinXP cd in the cdrom.
And reboot.
You can try a repair, but if you don't mind starting clean (loosing
evrything else off your hard drive) install it fresh :)

When it asks for a qualifying product, put the Me disk in the drive. And
continue....

If you really want 98 on the computer now, you will have to fdisk /mbr (See
the link below. It will probably wrap:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q69/0/13.ASP&NoWebContent=1)
to overwrite the master boot record so you can fat32 the hard drive from the
XP's ntfs. Also works if you have to get rid of Linux as well.
FAT and NTFS are just different:
http://www.ntfs.com/ntfs_vs_fat.htm

Jim

"Archie" > wrote in message
...
> I have an original copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After
> I have upgraded from Windows ME, my system crashed (this
> was after a few months with Windows XP). I can't boot my
> PC even to safe mode! I always get the message, "NTLDR is
> missing", or "Himem.sys" is missing (and so on!).
> Hopeless, I tried to boot my computer using a Windows 98
> CD then manually deleted the "C:\windows" folder hoping to
> get another chance of installing windows 98 but to no
> avail! I can't install any Operating System even if I use
> a different hard disk. What kind of mess does Windows XP
> bring? And why on earth I can't seem to use my system
> anymore? Can somebody help me?

[Malke]

Archie wrote:

> I have an original copy of Windows XP Home Edition. After
> I have upgraded from Windows ME, my system crashed (this
> was after a few months with Windows XP). I can't boot my
> PC even to safe mode! I always get the message, "NTLDR is
> missing", or "Himem.sys" is missing (and so on!).
> Hopeless, I tried to boot my computer using a Windows 98
> CD then manually deleted the "C:\windows" folder hoping to
> get another chance of installing windows 98 but to no
> avail! I can't install any Operating System even if I use
> a different hard disk. What kind of mess does Windows XP
> bring? And why on earth I can't seem to use my system
> anymore? Can somebody help me?

If you can't install a MS operating system even on a different hard
drive, you probably have failing harware. Messing around with trying to
install in different combinations isn't going to change that. Since
you've already tried a different hard drive, I'd test the RAM with
something like Memtest86 (www.memtest86.com). Allow the test to run for
a long time, all day or overnight. Of course, if you get errors right
away you can quit the test and just replace the RAM. If the RAM is OK,
then you might be having processor, power supply, motherboard problems.
It isn't possible to tell from your posts. Make sure you are installing
with no attached peripherals, and if you need help with hardware
testing, perhaps consider taking the machine to a good local computer
repair shop.

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"