Can Windows Installation?

[The Hobo]

So whenever my buddy starts up his computer, it goes into the Windows XP installation screen and asks for the CD. He claims he didn't start installing, then quit, but I'm thinking he did. So is there any way to cancel the installation? I've looked at the hard drive, and all of the Windows files seem to still be there, so is there something I can do to make it just boot up Windows and not try to continue installing it?

[dark_shadow]

why dont you just let it finsh its installation?

[Kasracer]

Once an installation is started, you have to let it complete otherwise windows would not be fully installed and thus, not work correctly (if at all)

[lilwupster]

If you want to start windows... installing it would let it be able to start... whats wrong with it?

[gigemboy]

Whats wrong is he doesnt want it to overwrite anything, as everything was fine before this happened. Re-installing windows means a ton of stuff. Lost settings, possibly overwritten data, registry info, etc. Not to mention the Updates. He would have to re-install SP2, redownload all sorts of updates.

I have dialup, and if this happened to me I would be p***ed if the only thing that was suggested was "let it install" hehehe. You know how long it would take me to update on windows update over dialup on a fresh install???

Im sure he would like to know if there are any other options

[lilwupster]

oh, i see, though windows will now search for updates when installing if you have your connection set up (dial-up, dsl or cable) and download and install them with the windows installation. This makes it faster and easier because it is more automated and there are no programs or spyware running in the background to hinder the download and install process. Though I understand about losing all personal files.

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

Question:
Why do you HAVE to update?

Windows doesn't need them to function properly.

[penagate]

So whenever my buddy starts up his computer, it goes into the Windows XP installation screen and asks for the CD. He claims he didn't start installing, then quit, but I'm thinking he did. So is there any way to cancel the installation? I've looked at the hard drive, and all of the Windows files seem to still be there, so is there something I can do to make it just boot up Windows and not try to continue installing it?

You could try editing boot.ini to point to the existing Windows and see if it loads up, I think that would work.

[RobDog888]

Couldnt you do a Repair installation or does it go straight to the installation progress screen?

[dark_shadow]

You could try editing boot.ini to point to the existing Windows and see if it loads up, I think that would work.

you cant edit it when windows doesnt boot up he said it goes to the installation screen .... but if you used somthing like erd command might work to edit the boot.ini

[penagate]

Well Hobo said he looked at the hard drive so obviously he has some means of editing it. Probably stuck the drive in another computer, most likely.

[RobDog888]

Maybe he looked at it by booting to the command prompt (DOS). He can edit it in DOS too.

Edit C:\Windows\ Boot.ini

[dark_shadow]

ah i forgot about using the edit command in dos its been so long since i've used it

[CornedBee]

Question:
Why do you HAVE to update?

Windows doesn't need them to function properly.

Uh ... without the updates that prevent Slammer from working, the average uptime of an unprotected computer is still somewhere around 2 hours, before a stray Slammer kill the IPC and brings down the computer.

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

Uh ... without the updates that prevent Slammer from working, the average uptime of an unprotected computer is still somewhere around 2 hours, before a stray Slammer kill the IPC and brings down the computer.

Huh, Thats weird because I never install any updates and my computers have been on for at least weeks before I restart (not that I have to, I just feel that it needs a good restart every once and awhile). And Slammer is only affects people that run Microsoft's SQL server.

Lets bring up that destructive love letter virus while were at it. Oh thats right it was just a VBScript file.

Again I state...

Windows doesn't need them to function properly.

[CornedBee]

Might not have been Slammer. I'm referring to the IPC worm that, for a time, completely brought the web down. A Windows computer without the Hotfix for that, at least, will go down.

Perhaps you have automatic update installation active?

In any case, not installing updates is extremely irresponsible, and knowingly not installing updates just plain stupid. Get off the web!

[k1ll3rdr4g0n]

Nope, that was the first thing I turned off.
Oh so..you would suggest to every web master running Apache 1.3.x to upgrade to Apache 2.x? So then they will have a headache trying to find the same Apache modules that worked under Apache 1.3, that now run under Apache 2.X. Lets talk about PHP, some older PHP scripts don't work right under PHP 5. But, because running PHP 4 is stupid, lets upgrade to PHP 5 anyways, so then script x won't work, but still I wouldn't want to be stupid. Lets trace this back to if you need a antivirus/firewall. You know what I'll even start a thread in CC for the continuce of this arguement so we don't get too off topic here...

[CornedBee]

I'm talking about updates, not upgrades. Now shut up.

[gigemboy]

Huh, Thats weird because I never install any updates and my computers have been on for at least weeks before I restart

If you have some sort of firewall or router network device, your computer can be pretty well protected without updates, virus software, etc. But the general home web users do not have this type of hardware.... the software firewall included in windows is a basic defense against this, so if you have SP2, this provides some protection.

Not updating windows is very bad advice, and I don't recommend this to ANYONE, regardless of how much you know about windows and how pc knowledge you have. It is being arrogant, and not smart.

The only reason your computer has not "messed up" due to not having to update windows (so you say) is because either 1) you really are updating and are being arrogant, telling others that "viruses don't even try messing with me because I am such a bada**" 2) you arent updating manually, and have some other things enabled that you either don't know about, or arent telling anyone about, to try to re-inforce this bad advice you are giving... or 3) you have some sort of network router or other network device present on the system, or 4) you don't even know that your computer has "messed up", and has lots of trojan/spyware/malware programs that are currently sending out all types of info, keystrokes, and files to some other person that is giggling while they read your keystroke log file for your previous post

[The Hobo]

The problem was that he lost his CD Key sticker thing, so we couldn't reinstall without it. He's found it, since I posted this and Windows was reinstalled. I put the sticker on the side of his case, so unless he doesn't something completely retarded, he shouldn't have the problem again.

Thanks for the ideas.