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1029usr078198
Forum Admin
USA
333 Posts |
 Posted - December 23 2008 : 07:12:25
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Listen now. or Download the archive.
Question: Jack asks, “I’ve messed up my Windows XP and the computer won’t boot anymore. My computer is a Dell that didn’t come with a reinstallation CD. To fix this thing, do I have to use a Dell disc or can I use any old XP disc?”
Answer: Great question, Jack, and good to hear from you. The situation you are in stems from the fact that many manufacturers don’t include separate reinstallation media, although sometimes they include a program on the hard drive that can make those discs using your own CDs. Listeners, if your computer’s manufacturer did this, then please do make those, I guarantee you’ll eventually need them. Smaller computer makers, like me, always include Microsoft-branded recovery discs, even if the recovery process becomes a little more involved. The rest just put a recovery image on the hard drive and count on it not to crash before the computer’s warranty runs out because that’s when their support obligation ends, but I digress. For your problem, you’ll need to get a CD that matches the edition of XP you have, either Home, Media Center, Tablet PC, or Professional. You can look at the Certificate of Authenticity on the computer’s case to find out which one you have. You must have the same edition, and it’s preferable to have one from the same manufacturer, Dell in your case. I’ve seen cases where one manufacturer’s disc won’t accept the Product Key code from another manufacturer. I believe you can get that disc for free from Dell if you can’t find one. Other manufacturers might charge a small fee. But when you get it, do what’s called a repair installation. Boot from the XP Disc. The first screen it stops on will say something about repairing using the Recovery Console, but that’s not what you’re looking for. Keep going like you’re going to just reinstall XP. When you choose the C: drive, setup will find the copy of XP that’s already there. It’ll then ask you if you want to repair that one, or set up Windows in another folder. The repair installation will delete every file it’s going to replace inside your Windows folder, then reinstall those files from the CD. This will preserve your data and return you to a bootable state. You might have to reinstall some applications, but it shouldn’t be too bad, as long as you have the discs.
Cool Site: Online Monitor Test: I heard about this one on the DL.TV video podcast. If you need to test the color performance of your monitor, you need this site. It’s free, that’s always a plus. While they have a downloadable version of their test, you don’t have to use that one. The tests are also available in Flash as well. They can help you determine the best brightness and contrast settings by showing you a screen with black, white and different percentages of gray in between. They can check for stuck pixels and changes in color caused by backlighting. It’s a neat test site, but it’s not really automatic. You have to choose the tests and observe the results. It can even determine the lag of your LCD TV. You’ll need a camera to do the test, but most folks have one.
Cool Gadget: Microsoft Arc Mouse: Even though touch-enabled screens are on the rise in laptops, most of us have a touch pad. I personally like them, but I’ve found many, many folks who don’t. These folks usually buy a mouse to connect to the system. The thing about most mobile mice is that they are usually smaller than regular mice, which for me, makes them more difficult to handle. Microsoft has a new mouse, called the Arc that is designed specifically to address these issues. It folds up so that it’s easy to carry, yet when unfolded, it’s the same size as a regular mouse. It’s cordless, which is cool, and it has a clip-in USB-connected transceiver. The clip-in idea is great, because that keeps you from losing the transceiver. Microsoft says this mouse should cost around $60, which is kind of pricey for a mouse, but might be worth it here because the wireless is radio, not infrared based.
It's All “Geek” To Me: hotfix: A hotfix is really nothing more than a fix (or “patch”) for a bug in a program. It’s called a “hot” fix because it is expected that the program is regularly or currently being used. I tend to use the terms hotfix and patch interchangeably, because they really are. Usually they can also be uninstalled.
Links
DL.TV
http://dl.tv
Online Monitor Test
http://tft.vanity.dk
DL.TV Buying Guide:
http://dl.tv/2008/11/dltv_ep_259_part_one_of_our_ho_1.php
Microsoft Arc Mouse:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=112
Hotfix on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotfix |
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12/5/2008-Reinstall,MonitorTest, Arc Mouse, Hotfix
