windows xp startup bad image?

Question

I have a computer that is just all screwed up. It kept crashing so I tried to restore it to a previous day when it worked, it still crashed, I tried to do a system restore, even the full restore to it's original state. It looks like it is about to start up for the first time and then nothing but bad image errors pop up and everything stays black. Is there anything I can do besides pay someone else to fix it?

I was given this computer with no disks, I found a windows vista update disk but no activation code, i don't think it even matches to code on the back of the computer

Answer 1

Get a CD with windows XP and use the code on the back of your computer to format and reinstall.
PS: Be sure that the code is for Windows XP.

Answer 2

If this is a Dell try this

Using Dell PC Restore by Symantec
NOTICE: Using Dell PC Restore permanently deletes all data on the hard drive and removes any applications or
drivers installed after you received your computer. If possible, back up the data before using PC Restore. Use PC
Restore only if System Restore did not resolve your operating system problem.
NOTE: Dell PC Restore by Symantec is not available in all countries or on all computers.
Use Dell PC Restore by Symantec only as the last method to restore your operating system.
PC Restore restores your hard drive to the operating state it was in when you purchased the computer.
Any programs or files added since you received your computer—including data files—are permanently
deleted from the hard drive. Data files include documents, spreadsheets, e-mail messages, digital photos,
music files, and so on. If possible, back up all data before using PC Restore.
To use PC Restore:
1 Turn on the computer.
During the boot process, a blue bar with www.dell.com appears at the top of the screen.
2 Immediately upon seeing the blue bar, press .
If you do not press in time, let the computer finish starting, and then restart the
computer again.
NOTICE: If you do not want to proceed with PC Restore, click Reboot in the following step.
3 On the next screen that appears, click Restore.
4 On the next screen, click Confirm.
The restore process takes approximately 6–10 minutes to complete.
56 Troubleshooting Tools
5 When prompted, click Finish to reboot the computer.
NOTE: Do not manually shut down the computer. Click Finish and let the computer completely reboot.
6 When prompted, click Yes.
The computer restarts. Because the computer is restored to its original operating state, the screens that
appear, such as the End User License Agreement, are the same ones that appeared the first time the
computer was turned on.
7 Click Next.
The System Restore screen appears and the computer restarts.
8 After the computer restarts, click OK.

Answer 3

Hi .. it sounds like the factory image is corrupt you should borrow a copy of the xp cd and see if it loads. if it does great. if not you may be having hard drive issues, or ram issues. either way i think you need a tech. hope this helps..R.

Answer 4

If you have your XP OS cd then put the CD and boot your system from CD . then select update . it will update your OS and fix the error

Answer 5

find a friend that knows how to install windows and has a copy of it.

Answer 6

Pirate windows. I've done it many times, and it's very awesome.

Or use linux, it is soooooo damn awsm I like it and awsm.

Answer 7

try reformating and start all over

Answer 8

no way