hey guys, so i got this HP desktop for free from a friend. he said it was working when he last used it about a year ago. so i hook it up and power it up and it says "Windows\System32\Config\System File is missing or Corrupt". so i do a little research and get my hands on (XP sp1, sp2, and sp3 "red"). I change the Bios to boot from disc and try to re-install XP but half way through it says there is not enough memory to run XP. when pushing F8 and looking at the operating systems it only has one named "Microsoft Windows Whistler Personal". no matter what i do it reboots and goes to that System32 error page even trying safe mode, and every option there is. I read about Bartpe and used the SP2 disc to make the Bart Recovery Disc. booting it straight from the disc Bartpe starts scanning files and loading. blank screen then to the Windows XP Loading screen (I'm excited now thinking i got it going!) then all of a sudden it goes to the "Stop c0000021a {Fatal Error}" blue screen. i don't know what is going on. could anyone please help me restore this desktop? i don't care if it all gets wiped. i just want to get a fresh new XP desktop running. please help. all help is greatly appreciated. thanks
boot from cd let it go thru it's bits and when it gets to loading windows press escape and load new windows delete all partitions, create a partition, quick format, off you go if this does not work check memory and harddisc
okay, sorry. i'm kind of a newb. i only got the XP Loading Screen while using Bartpe. never with the XP discs. how would i do the partition stuff? good info. i'll try but could you explain a little more thoroughly please?
okay, i tried. it seems like i don't have any control over the PC. it starts scanning files, and the when it says "Starting Windows Setup" no matter what i push nothing happens and then it says "This Computer does not have enough memory to run Windows XP. This Version requires 64 megabytes (MB). Setup Cannot Continue. To Quit Setup push F3". The only operating System on it is "Microsoft Windows Whistler Personal" isn't this XP? please help anyone? *Update* okay. switching back to boot from HDD first. tapping F10 at boot screen brings me to the HP Recovery Mode. it starts to load then goes to a blank blue screen then a error message "Virtual Memory Low" then back to the Black "Windows\System32\Config\System" Screen. still no luck. anyone?
you need at least 128meg of ram to install windows so much do you have? check in bios as it will tell you what you have. what is the make & model# of that hp to see what you have?
its a HP Pavilion 521c. in bios it says 32mb installed. does that mean theres not enough mem? or ram? any other help?
Microsoft Windows Whistler appears to be windows 2000 http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whistler_beta1.asp Yes it can run xp & is upgrade able if you need more ram http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bph07568&dlc=en&product=77585
okay. i thought i read somewhere that whistler was a code name for XP? so you think if i add more ram it should wipe the drive and run XP?
will need 2 256meg pc100 or pc133 sdram sticks to max out the ram. bit wierd that you say you have 32meg but pc was supposed to come with 256meg according to scorp's link.
okay, so my friend is giving me 2 1GB 4200 SPd sticks. if i jus swap these in and remove the other 2 would it be able to wipe the HDD and install/upgrade to XP Pro? i know. the stock specs say 256mb. but in bios it says installed memory is 32mb.
Ram type you need is what ddp said otherwise it won't fit which is PC100 or PC133 SDRAM,once installed even with 1 stick xp should be good to go EDIT:As a test i'd download puppy linux & burn to cd & run it as a live cd with the 32mb you have already just to make sure most of the hardware is working,assuming 32mb is enough
try reseating those 2 sticks to see what you actually have as now there is something wrong. also check that 32meg in the bios to see if it is actually for the onboard videocard.
okay, so im fairly new to this. maybe i read the wrong memory? how would i know which is the actual memory in bios? i dont have much play room except for bios and cd-booting. do you know where i could get the linux thingy? is it just a ISO to burn to disc? i guess the 2 1 gig ram sticks wont work then. he said they were also from an HP. my friend said he was running XP and he added Ram when he last used it. he doesnt remember how much though. any other suggestions? i appreciate it guys.
pull the sticks out of the pc to see if there is a label on ecah stating memory size for each stick. those 1gig sticks are either ddr or ddr2 ram which cannot fit into sdram slots as not pin compatible. sdram has 2 notches on the bottom whereas ddr & ddr2 have 1 notch off center on bottom.
okay, im at work right now and using my phone to post. but there were 2 sticks. assuming they were big enough to run XP like my friend says he's been, are there any other things that it could be? and any other ways i could resolve this issue?
going by the link posted above, the board can only read 512meg of ram total for the 2 slots. if ram is labeled above 256meg each then that could be why for some reason it is reading 32meg if not assigned to video. reseat both sticks 1 at a time to see what it shows in the bios & mark on the stick with pencil what it posts as if not labeled. that is what i do if no label on stick when working on customer's system or when scrapping a system for parts.
ok. i get where you're going. so the board will hold 512mb ram TOTAL. if they are over, it could cause the 32mb ram error. basically all that i am stating is that it has to be in those 2 ram sticks and little chance of anything else? say for example...both sticks are 256mb ram and in good working order. what else could it be? what other options do i have to getting around and re-installing XP if its not the ram sticks? thanks for the help. i'll try when i get home and i'll update you maybe you could see what else i could try.
okay, got some progress. so 1 was 32MB and the other is 256MB. I took out the 32MB ram stick and booted only on the 256MB. it let me erase the Partitions, and re-install XP. i created a new partition using all the max amount of memory. Formatted installed and Formatted the Drive. then it says "this part of the istallation is complete, computer will re-boot in 15 seconds" it re-boots and then back into the cd installation and everything. i went into bios and switched it to default. it boots up showing the HP screen and then goes blank and just stays there. any help on this?
