BIOS - Windows XP

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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre -  
quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   -
Hello,

I have an old computer running XP that refuses to display the session desktop after entering the password (I can't explain why).
So, I created a bootable Windows 7 USB stick that is recognized and works on other PCs except this one...

After managing to enter the blue "Phoenix" BIOS menu, I tried to change the First Boot Device value to USB. However, in this 'Advanced' menu, I can't change any values while other menus are editable, such as the basic information, etc.

I also tried:

Removing the battery
Unplugging the HDD

Anyway, I'm out of ideas.
For your information, the First Boot Device is CD-ROM, the second Floppy, and the third HDD.

Thank you in advance for any help that might be useful.

18 réponses

Anonymous user
 
Hello
Some "old" machines (we don’t know anything about yours!!) refuse to boot from USB.
Maybe this machine is equipped with a DVD drive! That’s the solution you should try.
See you!
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georges97 Posted messages 14510 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   2 898
 
Hello,

Not all older BIOS versions had the ability to boot from a USB drive (as indicated by the message you referred to).

Furthermore, you should have the drivers (for internal and external devices) corresponding to W7 (if you intend to install this edition).

Most manufacturers did not create new drivers for platforms dating from the time support for XP was discontinued.

Other contributors will likely share the solutions they have tested on certain motherboards, especially by booting from the DVD drive or an external hard drive.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
Obviously, I had also thought about this solution; I see it as the only remedy.

In the case of a CD installation, when should I insert the CD?

Insert the CD, then restart the machine?
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georges97 Posted messages 14510 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   2 898
 
You must first change the boot order in the BIOS to select the CD/DVD-ROM drive, then restart. At the end of the installation, you will need to switch the boot back to the hard drive.
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
Hello,

Before resorting to drastic measures, we can try to revive the session.

-If there is another user account, CTRL-ALT-DEL, log out and switch user
-Try to revive the explorer: same combination, task manager, Windows Explorer, end task
-Alternatively, we can attempt to repair the explorer using a cached copy: same combination, file, new task, enter: SFC /SCANNOW
-if there is a previous restore point, do the same with the command: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Drastic measures:
-If it’s a "branded" computer, there might be a recovery partition accessible at startup by a Fn key (for example, on Asus, it’s typically F9): kiss-cool effect, the machine returns to its original state, added programs and data are lost.
-If we are to use a support CD to restart and assuming there isn't a disk corruption requiring special tools (like Hiren's Boot CD or Live CD Malekal https://www.malekal.com/meilleurs-live-usb-de-secours-pour-depanner-son-pc/, it seems more logical if one does not have one to burn an XP CD (you will obviously need another PC): https://lecrabeinfo.net/telecharger-les-iso-de-windows-xp-home-pro-et-64-bits.html
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Ethan49300
 
The only solution I can test right now is to insert a CD, with the first boot device already set to CD/DVD-ROM.

Now I just need to find a blank CD ^^
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
A blank CD-R.

If it's not a BSOD but a screen with a blank Windows desktop, do you have access to the CTRL-ALT-DEL options?
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flo88 Posted messages 28659 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   Ambassadeur 5 158
 
Hello

A DVD...because W7 won't fit on a CD....

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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
Good evening,

It’s ambiguous; it's unclear whether it’s about repairing XP with a Windows 7 key, which is quite something, or installing Windows 7. In the first case, a CD is enough.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
The W7 ISO file is much too large to fit on a disc if I'm not mistaken (700 MB for the CD and 2 to 3 GB for a W7 ISO). Therefore, I can only reinstall Windows XP.
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
Good evening,

As previously illustrated, unlike XP, Windows 7 fits on a DVD-R (a single layer is sufficient) and not a CD-R: so you just need to buy a DVD-R.

Now, it's not a matter of installing XP or Windows 7 randomly based on the size of the media.

The hardware requirements for Windows 7 are not significant except for very, very old machines: 2 GB of RAM minimum for 64-bit and a graphics chipset that supports at least DirectX 9; but as also noted earlier, you need to check on the manufacturer's website, as it's not guaranteed, that there are indeed Windows 7 drivers available, and, incidentally, that you're not relying on old software that you consider essential and which does not support Windows 7.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
Hello,

I managed to reinstall Windows XP using a burned CD.
However, after several days of the computer working perfectly, I'm being asked for a product key... The problem is that I don't have it because I only downloaded the ISO file from the internet.
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
Hello,

You must have it, and if you downloaded the same version, it was either with your old XP CD or the OEM version stuck on the PC case.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
Indeed, I tested it, but as foolish as I am, the old version must have been XP Home and the new one is not... I just need to burn a CD again.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
I just installed Windows XP Home Edition (or Home from what I've read on the internet), but the product key is still not recognized...
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flo88 Posted messages 28659 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   5 158
 
You need to go through the phone server to activate it.
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
If the license was intended for an OEM version delivered with the PC, it will not work with a non-OEM version, even if it is Home.

https://lecrabeinfo.net/telecharger-les-iso-de-windows-xp-home-pro-et-64-bits.html

XP activation does not go through the phone; simply enter the 25 characters of the key.
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flo88 Posted messages 28659 Registration date   Status Contributeur Last intervention   5 158
 
??

Activation via the internet has been blocked for XP for a long time; you need to use the activation servers via telephone.
https://www.informatiweb.net/tutoriels/informatique/windows/windows-xp-activation.html
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brucine Posted messages 24411 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   4 105
 
It is entirely possible to activate Windows XP without a phone or the Internet, even if you haven't previously saved the installation file.

But this involves tools, one of which simply records the key without online verification with Microsoft, and the other without any verification at all.

Even the first one, which is legitimate, can be misused by people who do not have a key, so I will not elaborate on the subject.
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Ethan49300 Posted messages 27 Status Membre 1
 
The activation service is still working, whether by mobile or landline. I just did it, the problem is solved, thank you :)
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quentin2121 Posted messages 9063 Registration date   Status Membre Last intervention   Ambassadeur 1 311
 
You're welcome, enjoy surfing with that good old XP :)

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