Need to re-install windows xp!!

[stressed out]

Hi

I have a problem that i hope will just be a small one and that someone out there can help me with! Basically i have recently aquired a second hand p.c from a friend of the family however there are 2 probs and i can't get it going.

The first is that the dvd drive does'nt open and the cd drive just makes a whirring noise when you insert a disk but nothing else?!

The second is that when i boot up th pc it comes up with the main screen for XP which has the list of user names and prompts you to type in the appropriate password that will allow you into the main icon screen. Problem is, i don't know their passwords,(obviously), so i cannot continue past this, i was told by someone that i can re-install Windows XP from scratch and that would be a way of sorting that out but as the cd drive does'nt seem to do much, i'm totally baffled as what to do next.

I don't know anyone to ask to help with this and i don't have the money to pay someone to sort out for me.

Please help... i'm paying broadband while my p.c is not working!

Thanks

[mattfox]

Personally, I would get a new CD Drive as if the other one is knackered, there's not a lot that can be done - this one is only �14 inc VAT - http://tinyurl.com/h325v

As for Windows XP, you will also need to have acquired the original CD Rom or have one yourself. If not, you can get one here http://tinyurl.com/juwer for �55 inc VAT. When you switch on the computer, it will boot from the CD (if it doesn't, you'll need to change the boot priority in the BIOS) and you follow the instructions to format the drive and do a clean install.

[stressed out]

Thanks Mattfox, will try that tomorrow.

You did'nt say anything about the DVD drive, do you know why it does'nt open? Also, i have a copy of XP that someone gave me, is that the one you mean? I hope it will work, i'll let you know, thanks for your help so far.

[fo3nix]

You'll need to purchase XP yourself if you want to run it (to stay legal, anyway).

And the DVD drive sounds broken to me. As matt says, they aren't that expensive. I'd be very tempted to go and get a full dvd writer. You can get a good one for �25 now, so not much more than the one matt was suggesting.

[ian.miller]

The DVD drive could have just been disconnected inside, I presume there are no lights on it either working. Also the CD drive wouldn't do anything anyway if you can't get past the log on screen.

I'd take off the cover and make sure everything is connected properly (easier than it sounds)

Then you can either change the boot order to try the XP cd, or you can use the command prompt to see if you can go to d: or whatever it is and check that way.

[stevie21]

Check that the DVD drive is at least receiving power : I'd open the case up. The power supply looks like this
http://tinyurl.com/kj4sv
and goes in the bottom right corner ;
http://tinyurl.com/enrqc

Basically, just make sure that everything's plugged in properly. Maybe try another of the power supply leads.

If you do check this, as well as turning your PC off, physically remove the power supply from the back of it and touch a metal part of the "frame" of your PC before touching anything else.
As mentioned, it is a spectacularly easy thing to check to see if the power cable has come loose.

[stressed out]

Hi, thanks for all your answers, i have tried again but no joy, funnily enough though the lights on the 2 drives do flash but one does'nt open and the other does'nt do anything?! And now i've messed up the BIOS as i changed a password and now all the options have dissapeared other than change password or save and exit setup! The power cables seem to be fine, i just bought a new one the other week, perhaps i will just have to get a new drive but i don't want to try to fit it myself, i might electricute myself knowing my luck! I have now aquired a password for the main XP screen by the previos owner so when i get home i'm going to try that out!

Anyway, if any of you can shed some light on this new info, please do. x

[linky1124]

There's a way to reset Administrator password and it doesn’t involve reformatting and reinstalling Windows. The solution is called Windows Password Reset 7.0. It can reset almost all Windows passwords in seconds. It is a great windows password recovery tool: http://www.resetwindowspassword.com . you can log in again just in one second. It also support windows 7 password reset.