i have a compaq presario 7360.my son tried to put windows xp on it and whiped out the hard drive.when i turn the computer on the compaq logo comes on and then it goes to "press any key to boot from cd" if you do that it goes to a blue screen and tries to install xp asks to select partion and all that.i am guessing that the computer was not compatible with windows 98 (i think that was what was on there).so do i need to reinstall a new operating system or? .also i dont have any windows disks except the xp disc which is for a dell. anyone have any thoughts?

Hello and welcome to PC Help Forum.

I have just checked your computer specifications.

It came origonaly with 64 mb RAM/Memory.Have you ever added more RAM to this desktop?

You need to upgrade RAM to at least 128 mb,your computer can take MAX 512 mb.

This would still mean it will be a little slow with XP installed on it.

If you have not upgraded the 10 gig hard drive to a larger sized one then I would also do this.It is an older computer so it would not be compatable with a very large gig hard drive.A 40-80 gig hard drive proberly would be fine.Although you can install XP on the origonal 10 gig hard drive.But would not have much room for storage.

Ok now you say it is a Dell XP disk?Do you have the key code that came with that disk?If he installed XP correctly he needed to input this key code so the setup of XP could continue.Do you know if he input this key?

When you turn on this computer does the hard drive show on the post screen?Black screen,white words?

How long ago did he install XP as once installed it needs to be activated within a certain time period or you would have to reinstall XP yet again.Was the XP ever activated?

To return to windows 98 you will need the install disks to reformat this computer.

I also see this machine can have XP installed.

I sugest you enter BIOS/setup and set first boot device to CD rom put in XP install disk press F10 save and exit.

Then follow this:How to format and partition a computer.

Note during the install you will be prompted on post screen to press any key to boot from CD/DVD then do this,when pc reboots during the install you would be promted to boot from CD/DVD rom again.Do NOT do this you only boot from CD/DVD rom once at the very begining.

Then download the drivers:Compaq driver downloads.

It maybe that your son did not finish installing XP and this is why I asked did he input the XP key code.Also is the XP disk legal disk or a copy?

sounds like i just need the drivers.can i put all of them on one disc or do they need to be on seperate discs and if so does it matter which one i put in first?

Yes if they fit on one disk then you can put them on one disk.

now when i turn on computer it says:
162-system options not set
then it goes to
a disk read error occured press ctrl+alt+del to restart
and the same thing will keep happening.
is computer destined for the dumpster??

Well this maybe a simple fix.It is an older computer and I think you should change the BIOS battery.I am not sure on price in USA but they are £2 in the UK.A lot of good electrical stores sell them.

Although you will need to write down the number and letter code on the battery or take battery with you when you buy a new one.Why as they come in diffrent thickness and you need the correct one.

Or it is combination of BIOS needs resetting,try entering setup and rest BIOS or try load failsafe and defaults F10 to save and exit.

Or this has occured due to dead BIOS battery.

Although this could be you need to resit your RAM/Memory or bad RAM.Memory.

Or installing XP there is a hardware issue that some hardware item is not compatable with XP or even a driver issue.

A BIOS update may help.

i decided to put in an old hard drive i had lying around.it has windows 95 on it and it will only start in safe mode.you know how to get it out of safe mode?