I can't get XP Pro to load on laptop 1

[GregoryF]

Here is what I did....
I loaded kubuntu onto our laptop as a dual boot with XP. The wife didn't like it so I tried to take it off and that is when everything went bad. It would but up to the grub loader but it would say my windows selection was invalid. No big loss, the laptop is just for surfing while sitting on the couch so I tried to do a fresh install but when it gets to the starting windows portion, just before the format section of the install, it blue screens with 0x0000007B. I know the HD is good, I can load other ubuntu OS on it, I can even load the Windows 7 beta on it with out issue, It just wont load my XP SP2 cd, and yes I have tried other CDs of XP SP2 with the same result. I am assuming my master boot record has been corrupted or deleted and I can't get it back for XP. Any ideas?

 

[Tatertot45]

No one has jumped in, so i'll give it a shot. Have you tried booting to safe mode or anything, then seeing if you can fix the MBR? sounds like you just keep trying to full boot, so try that. Have you updated, installed or added any new devices recently?

 

[ArizonaGeek]

You need to wipe the drive clean of all partitions. Use Darik's Boot and Nuke, it's free, to wipe the drive clean then reinstall with XP. Windows XP has issues with Linux and Vista/7 partitions.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[linney]

See if you can pick up any clues from this recent thread. You may need drivers to go in by pressing F6 at bootup?

Installing Windows XP on pre-Installed Windows Vista Computer
thread1583-1598207

As your old XP sounds like it may still exist, unless you have deleted the partition that it was installed in, you did say you hadn't yet formatted, you may be able to use these?

HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP(Q305595)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

[SOLVED] Grub "Invalid Signature" error when booting windows

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1264151

315224 - How to Remove the Linux LILO Boot Manager

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315224&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

314458 - How to Remove Linux and Install Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314458&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

multi boot edit help
thread779-1219064

 

[BadBigBen]

The dreaded 7B error, indicates that a driver was used to communicate with the controller that is not meant for it...

as Linney mentioned, you will need to supply the correct driver with the F6 option, or check the BIOS of the Laptop and see if there is a setting for SATA in compatibility mode (sometimes called Legacy or just plain IDE) this will present a SATA drive to the OS as an IDE drive...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[GregoryF]

Wow, thanks guys for jumping in so quick. I have never seen this kind of problem before, or at least to this extent (and it would have to happen to my wife's laptop
Tater, Arizona & Linney thanks for the input though I did try all of the above with the "Boot and Nuke" as the last viable option. The problem was the laptop would not even boot far enough to get to safe mode or even run the repair option off the CD.
BadBigBen - you, my friend, are the winner!!! I was able to change the SATA drive to the IDE option in the BIOS and it seems to be working, I am now to the partition / format portion of the install. This is the furthest I have been able to get with my XP Pro SP2 disk. Thank you, thank you thank you.

Will I be able to switch it back once XP is loaded and all the drivers have been installed? Do you think there will be much performance loss if not?

Again...Thanks

 

[kjv1611]

Will I be able to switch it back once XP is loaded and all the drivers have been installed? Do you think there will be much performance loss if not?

No. No need trying to switch it back - I suppose it's POSSIBLE that it would happen to have the right drivers installed by then to work, but it's a great possibility you won't be able to get back into Windows. The performance difference, if any, will not be worth worrying about. Generally, I see the same or better performance with the IDE/Legacy modes anyway.. at least for the boot-up process.

 

[BadBigBen]

Gregory and KJV1611,

FYI - it is possible to revert to AHCI, depending on the chipset, this would involve injecting the AHCI drivers and a REGISTRY change...

I've done this before, because, on one drive I had XP and on the other Windows 7...

is it worth it, under XP it does not make a difference, but under WIndows 7 it does (it is faster). XP does not handle AHCI very well or to its fullest potential...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[ordisecours]

I have to put it on the side , do not have more time to waste on that machine.

May be one day I will put it back on worktable...

thanks anyway ...



..._ - _ - every trouble shooting begin with power ON !! we always forgot one day. HAVE A NICE DAY.