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Hi there.

i've tried everything. you all seem like a nice bunch, so here goes......

Having problems with XP freezing up at random times i.e. during start-up, 10 minutes into log-on, safe mode etc. doesn't seem to have any relevance to operation.

I have updated my drivers as far as i am aware, ran chkdsk/f etc etc. nothing seems to work.

I took my psu apart and noticed that there was a burned out area, so i have replaced it. It has now got to the point where it will not start at all in normal mode (monitor turns off after xp loading screen) and screen freezes in safe mode before you can carry out any procedures.

I am pretty much resigned to uninstalling xp professional (not upgrade) and re-installing my win98 disk. reason being i bought the comnputer second hand and have just found out thanks to MS registry that it may be a counterfeit copy and i do not have the original disk!!

so, is it possible for me to uninstall windows xp pro, reinstall win98 then purchase an upgrade for xp legitimately??

if so, could anyone explain the procedure??

many many thanks in advance

system...

pentium 4 - 1.7
2x 40g barracuda hard drives
1x cdrw
1xcd
1xfloppy
nvidia gex440
ac97 (i think)
300w maplin psu

Had a similiar problem so I've done following myself.

Boot from Windows 98 CD & just follow instructions, including Delete Existing Patrtition, Create New partition (of same size), Format Hard disk and then away you go.....

You will need a Win 98 CD Key


XP Upgrades can be bought from most Computer shops.

wow! that was quick.

thanks a lot. will give it a go.

sorry to be thick, but xp is telling me i need to start in ms-dos mode.

the only way i can see of doing this is starting in safe mode with command prompt, which i have done. on typing "setup" as stated in the win98 manual it tells me to go to control panel.

any way i can get into ms-dos without starting up xp??

Hi there terrywastecake, what you could do is go out and buy a full copy of XP (not the upgrade version) and install that from a computer retailer. I would then be happy to direct you here. http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

cheers for the help, but i would rather save meself the extra ?100 for a full copy if i can upgrade from 98.

i have created a 98 boot disk but my computer does not recognise it and goes straight into xp.

also i have created an xp boot disk, but again it bypasses my a drive and goes straight into xp.

does anybody know a way i can get into ms-dos to start my windows 98 install??

ok. i can now access ms-dos. i simply changed my bios settings.

however i put in my win98 boot disk and i choose the option to load with cd-rom and after all the relevant checks i get the message........

windows 98 has detected that drive C does not contain a valid FAT or FAT32 partition.

it suggests that the drive may need to be partitioned, and to run fdisk.

it then asks if i want to enable large disk support to which i say no


it then asks if ntfs partitions should be treated as large to which i am now at the point of not knowing waht the hell to do!!

all i want to do is to get rid of xp and install 98.

there must be an easy way, surely????

oh, and i dont mind losing all the info off my hard drives.