[Drabdr]

My friend's system had a illegitimate XP operating system. As I attempted to clean the system up (add antivirus; scan; remove adware; etc.) the system seem to operate worse as the days went by. Finally, it got to a point where upon startup, A windows XP screen appeared asking for a password. Not sure what was going on; or if it was the work of a virus.

I got a legitimate copy of XP and loaded it on the E drive (unpartitioned section). The legitimate copy of XP would not allow me to load on the same drive as the illegitimate copy.

I have the computer running well off the new XP version (downloads and everything). How can I remove the illegitimate version of the operating system?

[Elvandil]

You should just have installed it into the same partition as the old. there is no way that it could have blocked the installation if you simply removed the partition. It sounds like XP was not correctly installed. Did you boot from the CD? If you had, the option to remove the partition would have been clear.

If you want to remove it now, we need to know what drives and partitions you have, where the MBR is located, and where the machine now starts the boot process. If the MBR is located on the original system partition, then it can't be deleted without losing bootability unless a new one is created for the new installation.

[Drabdr]

Wow! Thank you for the awesome response, and in such a timely manner.

At the time I loaded the new XP, I was having to boot from the new XP CD. I (with my limited knowledge) didn't know what else to do, as it kept going to the Windows XP enter a password screen. The new version appears to have loaded correctly and appears that everything is working correctly.

I don't recall seeing anything asking about the partition; only that it could not load into the same drive as the other version.

I am assuming the old version is on there. During startup, it lists both operating systems (Windows XP), so I am assuming the old version is still there. I have not tried to start off the old one.

Where would I procure the information about the present partition, and the MBR?

[Elvandil]

Right after pressing F8 to agree to the license, it shows you the partitions and any operating systems that it found. If you read the directions on that page, it allows you to remove any or all partitions that exist. You can then create new ones in any of the unallocated space and install XP into whichever you want.

Because the 2 OS's are now tied together, chances are that the machine boots from the partition that contains the old OS. So removing it means you will lose the ability to boot into the new one.

Why not just start from scratch, only this time remove all the partitions so you get a clean installation?

[casper0191]

But before you do that make sure that you backed up the important files that you needed.

[Drabdr]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

Right after pressing F8 to agree to the license, it shows you the partitions and any operating systems that it found. If you read the directions on that page, it allows you to remove any or all partitions that exist. You can then create new ones in any of the unallocated space and install XP into whichever you want.

Because the 2 OS's are now tied together, chances are that the machine boots from the partition that contains the old OS. So removing it means you will lose the ability to boot into the new one.

Why not just start from scratch, only this time remove all the partitions so you get a clean installation?

I had to boot from the CD, as trying to run the setup sensed a operating system later than the one I had installed. Since there were two operating systems, there were two partitions that had to be removed.

Originally Posted by casper0191

But before you do that make sure that you backed up the important files that you needed.

This... is simple but excellent advice. Thank you very much for mentioning. When you go the route specified by Elvandi, you are formatting, so you better assume everything will be wiped. Thus, make backups of whatever you need.

I am currently downloading service packs, so this issue has been resolved.

Thank you very much to Elvandi and casper0191 for the assistance.

[tony007]

Did you do a clean install if so you should check in devices manager to see if all drivers have been reinstalled a yellow question mark denotes an uninstalled driver.

[Drabdr]

Hello, tony!

Originally Posted by tony007

Did you do a clean install if so you should check in devices manager to see if all drivers have been reinstalled a yellow question mark denotes an uninstalled driver.

Yes, it was a clean install, so yes , it is exactly as you say. I have about five uninstalled drivers. I know, because when I was researching why I had no Standby Mode ( with Shutdown and Restart), I noticed the uninstalled drivers. Problem is... I don't know where to get the updated drivers. This was a home-built system. I had the computer search automatically, but as usual, it did not find anything.

[tony007]

Are you online if so try right clicking on the drivers with the yellow mark and click on update driver. If you are not online then your network driver is the one we have to get first. I await your reply.

[Drabdr]

Originally Posted by tony007

Are you online if so try right clicking on the drivers with the yellow mark and click on update driver. If you are not online then your network driver is the one we have to get first. I await your reply.

This is a friend's computer, so I will have to head over this afternoon to find out exactly which drivers they are. The computer does have internet connection (cable modem; boy them things are fast ) I have loaded all the service packs and all other Windows Updates. Too, I have installed Firewall, Spybot, and AVG. All are current.

With the computer connected to the internet, I clicked on automatically finding the drivers (I think it asks permission to go to internet to check), but it just came back with something like "Update not found".

Hey... could the firewall and stuff be blocking any updates? There is no prompt by the software that it is blocking something, but could that be the issue?

[Elvandil]

MS doesn't have all the possible drivers. You'll need to check with the computer or hardware manufacturers. In the future, save all the installed drivers so you don't have to search for them.

WinDriversBackup
DriverBackup! 2
DriverMax
Driver Magician Lite (mirror)
Driver Collector
Double Driver

[Drabdr]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

MS doesn't have all the possible drivers. You'll need to check with the computer or hardware manufacturers. In the future, save all the installed drivers so you don't have to search for them.

WinDriversBackup
DriverBackup! 2
DriverMax
Driver Magician Lite (mirror)
Driver Collector
Double Driver

Thank you, Elvandi. Is there a directory with all the drivers in it?

[Elvandil]

Those programs will search your machine and find all the drivers so you can save them. Though most of them give you the option of saving the Microsoft drivers, too, that is not necessary since they will be present in any new installation already.

No, there is no single directory with all the drivers, and besides, you need more than just the drivers themselves. You also need the installation information files (the .inf files) that tell the OS how to install the drivers. Those will all be backed up by the programs listed.

[Drabdr]

Luckily, the guy who had the computer had a disk of drivers. So I got all but one of them loaded correctly.

The only one that I can't figure out is the ethernet controller, but it does not seem to matter. Everything is working well, and the computer is going into Standy mode all right.

[LauraMJ]

Originally Posted by Drabdr

Luckily, the guy who had the computer had a disk of drivers. So I got all but one of them loaded correctly.

The only one that I can't figure out is the ethernet controller, but it does not seem to matter. Everything is working well, and the computer is going into Standy mode all right.

I'm so proud of you! *wipes tear*