Windows XP Pro CD gone bad.....

Dyre Straits · Oct 15, 2005, 08:24 AM

I have only used this CD maybe 3 times since I received it about 6 months ago. It's been kept in its protective sleeve ever since and in between uses. I hardly ever use a Windows CD because I copy the i386 folder to the HD and use it for installing when needed.

Yet, tonight, when I needed to use this to attempt a Repair installation, I'm finding dozens, and dozens of files that cannot be copied from the CD.

I've scanned the surface of it and it looks like new.

Has anyone had a Windows XP CD go bad just sitting in the sleeve?

I'm really ticked!!!!

**dj_stick** · Oct 15, 2005, 12:07 PM

does an error come up with that it cannoy copy the file, or it cannot find the file?

The_Neon_Cowboy · Oct 15, 2005, 01:29 PM

try another CD rom drive the one you useing could be borked

Dyre Straits · Oct 15, 2005, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Neon_Cowboy

try another CD rom drive the one you useing could be borked

Not only have I tried a different drive, I also tried my Home XP upgrade CD and BOTH drives and CDs are having the same problem.

I'm going to put in an isolated new HD and see if I can at least get Windows installed then do a Disk Check on all the existing HDs.

The error is that it cannot COPY the files.

EDIT: I wanted to add that I've also tried installing new on a different HD other than the system drive. Still gives the same problems.

swimtech · Oct 15, 2005, 11:39 PM

CDs work in another 'puter?

Dyre Straits · Oct 16, 2005, 06:22 AM

I've been at work all day and just got home to try to see what I can do with this problem.

Here's the 'whole story' on this situation: (I hope I don't overlook anything.)

I was playing around with SiSoftSandra and noticed that it gave me some information on my CPU that gave a 'range' of speeds and voltages. My CPU is a 478-based Prescott P-4 3.2 w/HT and 1 MB L2 Cache and runs on 1.38 V. Well, SSS showed that the CPU 'might' be capable of running at 3.8 w/ 1.4 V.

So, I did adjust the voltage up just one increment on my SoftMenu setting and upped the FSB to produce a result of around 3.56 and the temperatures were looking good. I "fixed" the AGP/PCI so that they stayed at 66/33. I also used Memory settings of 1:1.

Well, after Saving these settings and checking the PC Health, everything looked good to go. CPU temperature was at 47 C. (That's NOT too high for an Intel P-4.)

BUT, when I restarted the computer it wouldn't POST....not at all. So, after my ABIT board reset things so that I COULD POST and enter Settings again, I lowered the FSB to where it would run around 3.4 Ghz. Temperatures still looked good to go.

BUT, after saving, it still wouldn't POST. So, at the next reset and POST, I just figured I didn't want to mess with it anymore and reset things to the Defaults and was going to just leave it be at that.

However, when it came time to boot into normal Windows (XP Pro SP2) it would get just past the initial LOGO screen and then lose Video Sync and restart. After doing this a couple more times, I decided to just go into Safemode and see if I could fix any damage.

Well, when it SafeMode came up where you get the Administrator or [User] name to log in, it prompted me for a PASSWORD. I HAVE NEVER set up a PASSWORD for Administrator or [User] on this computer....or any other computer I have ever owned. YET, it INSISTED that I enter a PASSWORD in order to get into Safemode.

So, after running into this brick wall, I decide at that point it was time to do a Repair. And that's where I am now.

I'm going to disconnect my current HDDs and put a small one in, reformat it, and see if I can at least get Windows installed where I can run the Disk Check program.

PangingJr · Oct 16, 2005, 07:42 AM

if you don't use Administrator password then the password requested is blank, and you can just TAB over that.

if you want to check the hard disk drive for bad sector or test its surface you can do that via a boot floopy disk that contains your disk drive maker's utility program.

note-- third party software programs like the Hitachi/IBM Drive Fitness Test v4 or MHDD can also check disk drives surface on almost every types of hard drives. and they can also be ran from a boot floopy/CD disk.

if you want to check the file system integrity i'd suggest you run the check without using the repair option until you have already backed up whatever files you need from the disk drive...

Dyre Straits · Oct 16, 2005, 08:03 AM

PangingJr,

Yes, I know I SHOULD be able to just TAB over any password prompt, but, it would NOT let me do it. It just kept prompting me for one no matter what I tried to do to pass over it.

As for the other options: I don't want to mess around with these HDs (2 SATA and 2 ATA) until I get a good Windows install on this 30 GB I'm working with now.

I had to do some resetting in the BIOS to even be able to get a Windows Install going on this newly formatted HD without getting a BSOD due to "Memory Management".

I had to set the BIOS to "Fail Safe Options" and then a couple of other things: Set Keyboard and Mouse USB to BIOS.

So far, the new XP Pro install is going along fine and no more problems copying files. It's at the Installing Windows now after rebooting from copying the initial files.

Will update later.

Dyre Straits · Oct 16, 2005, 08:33 PM

UPDATE: This note is coming LIVE to you from my newly REPAIRED Windows XP PRO installation.

All my Desktop Icons are still there and even all my Cookies.

More later.....gotta go to work.....

Oct 15, 2005, 01:29 PM	#3
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	try another CD rom drive the one you useing could be borked __________________

Oct 15, 2005, 11:39 PM	#5
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	CDs work in another 'puter? __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Oct 16, 2005, 07:42 AM	#7
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	if you don't use Administrator password then the password requested is blank, and you can just TAB over that. if you want to check the hard disk drive for bad sector or test its surface you can do that via a boot floopy disk that contains your disk drive maker's utility program. note-- third party software programs like the Hitachi/IBM Drive Fitness Test v4 or MHDD can also check disk drives surface on almost every types of hard drives. and they can also be ran from a boot floopy/CD disk. if you want to check the file system integrity i'd suggest you run the check without using the repair option until you have already backed up whatever files you need from the disk drive... Last edited by PangingJr; Oct 16, 2005 at 07:50 AM.