Please tell me about Linux. I am locked out of Windows XP PRO by error message 0x80090019.?

Question

Please tell me about Linux. I am locked out of Windows XP PRO by error message 0x80090019.
My copy of Windows XP is registered and valid but I cannot logon, not even in safe mode. If I install Linux on my unused partition, will I be able to access files and pictures I created using Windows XP? Is it even possible?

How do I do the installation? I don’t even know where to purchase Linux or what it cost.
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WOW! I’m impressed with all the responses. All of you seem to have confidence and great knowledge about Linux. You would think after paying almost $200 for an OS they wouldn’t lock you out. Microsoft says it can’t be determined if my copy is genuine or not.

I feel embarrassed that I was such a loyal Microsoft supporter all these years. I was closed minded to anything else. I’m so frustrated with Microsoft Windows, and ready to try something else. Where is their loyalty?

Thank you, all of you for you answers and kind suggestions.

Answer 1

1. Try reinstalling Windows XP. Reboot the computer with the CD, and tell it to "repair the installation". You'll see it.

2. Yes, you can read data from a Windows partition on Linux. The default for most distributions, however, is to format the hard drive completely, which is why I suggested No. 1 first.

3. The installation is often done from a "live cd". There will be a little icon on the desktop that says "Install".

4. Linux can either be gotten for free, or for a nominal cost. Free ones take a while to ship, but are often very popular. You can get them from 1 and 2 in my sources. For a small fee (just the cost of shipping and the CD/DVD its on, you can get almost any distribution from No. 3 in my sources. They will probably arrive faster.

5. If you know how, you can also burn your own CD. You download the ISO image from the main site of the distro (links can be found in No. 3) and burn them to a CD / DVD with a burning program. I suggest ImgBurn, available for free at No. 4 in my sources list.

Answer 2

Is it possible for linux? Oh yes. But, with respect, I do not believe that you are a candidate for Linux. The problem you are having with windows is no a big deal if you have a COA for your copy. This is the sticker that has the code on it and it should be stuck to your computer. If you have no sticker, you copy may be bootleg. If you have a COA, then you have a legal copy of Windows (Generally). In this case you simply need to do a Windows Repair using the CD and use the code from the COA.

This is a normal maintenance problem in Windows, and If this is a daunting task for you to consider, then I believe that you are not technically savvy enough to handle most Linux distros. I do not mean to malign you here, but loading Linux on a hard drive will require you to create at least one Linux partition (maybe 2) and a swap partition on the disk that you still have information you wish to save. If you are enough of a tech to do all that then fixing a Windows installation that you already legally own should be a snap.

Since your question is about Linux, however, I would suggest that you use a live distro of PCLinux. It looks and acts very much like Windows. It boots up into your memory, does not write to your hard drives at all, and gives you complete access to every drive on your computer, including your hard drive and CDRW. It will even allow you to burn anything you wish to a CD or load it onto another hard drive such as an external USB drive.

The added advantage to this distro is that you can boot up on the Linux CD and use for a while before putting it on your hard drive. You can still get on the web, do pictures, movies, music, save files, and everything else you would do in windows. When you get out of your comfort zone, pull the CD out and boot up into good old Windows for a while. Bounce back and forth until you start to have an affinity for penguins.

If you need a copy of PCLinux, I will send you one. If Yahoo will allow me to send my e-mail address to you, you can send me your mailing address and I will mail it out to you.

Hope this helps

Techxan

Answer 3

Most Linux is free, but it is entirely possible that some (RedHat for example) will charge for the software.

If you are locked out of your Windows NTFS (this is what XP formats your hard drive to so the answer is, "Yes.") portion of your hard drive and have even the most remote bit of technical savvy, I highly recommend PuppyLinux (http://www.puppylinux.org/user/viewpage.php?page_id=1). Download the latest version and burn it to a CD. There are instructions for how to do this. You will then run it off of the CD without installing to your hard drive, and can access the files on your hard drive. You will find that the Linux, while not having everything, has a word processor, spreadsheet, browser, IM service, media player ... all the basics already built in. And when you go to shut down, it will save all of your files to one super-compressed, understood-by-Linux file on your hard drive.

The key though is to boot in to Linux, go to "drives", "mount" your hard drive, and then you'll have access to all of your files to copy off on to a flash drive. Why I recommend Puppy over other Linuxes out there is that it is (1) free and (2) has an interface very similar to that of the classic windows desktop, so you'll already know where to find things.

And believe me, as the most tech savvy person in my family, I've used this trick to fix many a crashed Windows install (before a reformat), no matter what the reason that Windows died.

Oh, and please feel free to ask any question you have on the Puppy Linux message board. The folks there are super helpful, even if they sometimes forget that they have to explain all the little steps.

Answer 4

Try Ubuntu Linux. It's one distribution out of many, but it has a great fan base. You can download what's called a LiveCD, boot from it, and use Ubuntu without installing it to your hard drive. You may be able to mount your Windows paritions, but I'm not sure. They're probably NTFS, and I can't recall of the top of my head if you can mount NTFS partitions in Linux.

You can always opt to install Linux if you like it. There is no need to purchase Linux. It's free!!! :) They will even send you an Ubuntu CD for free if you like!!!

Answer 5

There is no one version of linux (There are hundreds called "Distributions")

For a first time user i recommend the distrobution called "Ubuntu"

It dosent cost a thing and you can even request free CD's from https://shipit.ubuntu.com/ (Shipping costs though) (Or you could download it)

It's very easy to install just insert the CD and follow instructions. You can use the partition you made to install it on, or resize another partion.

As for recovering data from another partition, i dont think its possible (it may be though)

Answer 6

You won't be able to access one partition's data from another's. You can get the Linux CD free from their site (by downloading it or by having them mail it to you for free [takes 4-6 weeks] )

good luck!