Acer 5100-3835, updated to Win XP SP-3, then I get "Load Error! Press a key to reboot.." - just repeats. Also diagnostic program reported PCI BIOS bug # 81 [000fd950] found. Tried another backup hard drive with a good set of programs from 6+ months ago - same error. Tried restore to original state from DVD's, same error. Tried default BIOS, same error message. Is it hardware or software? Can the BIOS be replaced or downloaded from somewhere? There is a hidden partition for Acer files, so a Master Boot Record is used. That could be corrupted (but not on the spare drive).
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Most likely cause is that the boot order in the BIOS is set up for the HDD first. When turning on the unit, press the key needed to enter setup. Once in setup, search thru the menus for the boot order. Choose the CD drive as the first boot device, then the hard drive as second. Save and exit the setup. When rebooting, ensure the WIN XP CD is in the drive. When the screen says, "press any key to boot from CD", press a key and the WIN XO CD should take over and start the install. Once WIN XP starts installing, follow directions. On each restart after that, DO NOT press the key to boot from CD. WIN XP setup will handle everything until the reinstall is complete. After you are done, you may choose to go back to setup and change the boot order back, but it is not really necessary. The only time you will get the "press and key to boot from CD" message is when there is a bootable CD/DVD installed in the drive. Otherwise, it overlooks it and goes to the next boot device (HDD).
You should be able to get XP 32-bit SP3 added. However, Windows Update will not work with XP SP2. Thus you will need to manually download the update and then install it. This is the link to the update: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24 . Click on the Download button. This is the version usually used for computers that aren't on a network.
I hope this helps.
Cindy Wells (the Acer 1640z came with XP SP2; most computer companies support all of the service packs for their originally installed OS.)
If you're using window xp/2000 you can try using the last known configuration option. Here are the instructions:
To load the last known good configuration in Windows 2000 / XP reboot the computer and as it's booting booting repeatedly press the F8 Key, which should bring up the "Windows Advanced Options Menu" as shown below. Use your arrow key to move to "Last Known Good Configuration" and press your Enter key.
1st of all plug in the usb bootable device. Then: When you start up your computer it should say something like press f2 or f8 or something for setup. Hold down that key when the computer is starting up then: 1. Search through the BIOS with the arrow keys and enter for the setting to change the boot sequence. 2. Change the boot sequence to have your computer boot from the device first. 3. Then save the changes and reboot your computer.
1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD. Note: If you have a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your issue.
2. Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you see this message press any key.
3. In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to enter the recovery console.
4. Select the operating system you wish to fix, and then enter the administrator password.
5. Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32
6. You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file type Y and press enter to overwrite the file.
7. Type exit to reboot the computer.
Hi Good day!!! Here are some ways to repair your winXP
Repair Windows XP Files with System Restore
1. Save your work and close all open programs. Click Start, then Control Panel, then Performance and Maintenance. On the left side of the screen, click "System Restore."
2. Select "Restore my computer to an earlier time." Click Next.
3. Click a date with a bolded number in the calendar on the left. Make sure this date is at least 1 day in the past. On the right side of the window, select a restore point. Click "Next" twice to restore your system.
Repair Windows XP Files With the Installation CD
1. Back up all of your user files onto removable media such as CDs or DVDs. Find your Windows XP installation or recovery CD, and insert it into the optical drive that your computer can boot from. Click Start, then Turn Off Computer, then Restart to reboot your computer. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears, press a key on your keyboard. Press "Enter" to start Windows XP setup, and press F8 to accept the licensing agreement.
2. Select the path of your Windows installation and press "R" to begin repairing it.
3. Follow the instructions provided by the Windows XP repair program and finish the reinstallation. Go to the Microsoft website and download Service Pack 2 from their website, then visit Windows Update to install Windows XP Service Pack 3, critical updates and Internet Explorer 7.
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When you installed SP3 it was also placed into Add/Remove programs, (In control panel). Boot the system and enter safe mode. Uninstall SP3.
See also Microsofts instructions on how to remove SP3; http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249
Boot the computer using the XP CD. You may need to change
the boot order in the system BIOS so the CD boots before the hard drive.
Check your system documentation for steps to access the
BIOS and change the boot order.
When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen,
you will see the options below
This portion of the
Setup program prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer:
To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
Press Enter
to start the Windows Setup.
To Repair Install, press ENTER \r\n'); FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.borderStyle','double','style.borderWidth','3px','style.padding','5px','style.backgroundColor','#F9F4D5','style.backgroundImage','url(\'edgbkgnd4.gif\')'); FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.visibility','visible')" onclick="FP_changeProp(/*id*/'layer1',0,'style.visibility','hidden')" border="0" height="21" width="15" />
do not choose "To
repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, pressR", (you
Do Not want to load Recovery Console).
I repeat,
do not choose "To
repair a Windows XP installation using the Recovery Console, press
R".
Accept the License Agreement and Windows will search for existing
Windows installations.
Select the XP installation you want to repair from the list and press R
to start the repair. If Repair is not one
of the options, END setup. After the reboot readWarning#2!
Setup will copy the necessary files to the hard drive and
reboot. Do not press any key to boot from CD when the message
appears. Setup will continue as if it were doing a clean install,
but your applications and settings will remain intact.
make sure you have taken all the backup of your data from your system bcoz xp will not overwrite on vista you need to be format your drive which will erase your data. for installing windowx xp you need win xp cd as well as all the driver for win xp bcoz the driver is diffrent for vista and win xp .
if you have windows xp bootable cd just place in your cd-rom or in dvd rom .and go to bios setup (bios setup is just press the del button from your keyboard or f2 key it is display whrn you start your system )and change the booting sequnce from hdd to cd rom when it will boot from cd one massage will come press any key to continue just press the space bar and follow the setup instruction .
if you need more help let me know
bye
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