Windows XP Starter edit - Huge problem

[quik1]

Has any1 ever worked on a XP starter edition machine
I just got this machine in for repair - Heres the deal: It boots up and shows the log on screen - as soon as you logon it says "Unsopprted state 2 - the machine is currently in a state not supported by XP starter edition"
phoned the ppl supporting this machine (bought it at the 2 year gaurentee ppl) and they said that the software needs to be reinstalled every 30 days?
Is this true - can som1 please confirm this!
I initially thought it was a virus (in XP home/pro you cant login and its just a simple virus) but this is not the case as the volume is clean.

Can someone please advise!

 

[|tera|]

It's probably not activated, based on what the other people said, can you boot into Safe mode?

 

[The_Techie]

Sounds like it needs to be activated, yes...

 

[quik1]

Nope - cant boot into safe mode
Nope - cant activate it - it shuts down after a minute or so

Why would the shop techies say they must reinstall it every 30 days, couldnt they then just activated it?

 

[medicnick83]

Format, Reinstall.

Tea can do that!

 

[|tera|]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914906

Seems you have to do a repair install then apply the hotfix in that article.

 

[quik1]

I was hoping it wouldnt come to this - the client didnt give me the disks! and i dont have XP starter edition here (since you cant buy them loose and only in packs of 100 i didnt bother buying it) besides i mostly sell Xp pro and vista.
Oh what to do, what to do
thx anyway guys.

PS - i cant access the link (capped for the month - local sites only now) can u maybe just email the hotfix to me, its usually fairly small downloads.
PM for my mail add.
Would really appreciate it.

 

[quik1]

Format, Reinstall.

Tea can do that!

LOL - ROFL
I always wondered why ur signature says tea can do that
I always imagined that it must be some1 u know niknamed tea that does anything

never though of that ad - LOL - thats classic man - read the thread its hilarious man
Good one

the xp problem just went away, but i guese that "tea can do that"

 

[The_Unbeliever]

boot from knoppix cd
copy all data files over to removable hdd
ask client whether client wants option of ubuntu linux, or windows xp professional
points out that xp starter edition is not well known, and that the best option is to go with xp pro
buy xp pro, install, restore data
-or-
download ubuntu, install, restore data

 

[quik1]

Thx Trollwhore, but im just gonna format and reinstall as soon as i get their disks,its much quicker. And while yu on that topic of ubuntu, do i need permition to install and sell my systems with it installed or can i just do it. I never installed linux b4, never used it. i dont want to sell ubuntu to ppl, can i pre install it on my systems that i sell to keep costs down and can you recomend one that has a kinda Xp feel to it.
We must all blame the corporates for not teaching employees to use open source, the only thig they buy and teach is MS (nothing wrong with it, but it makes selling pc`s so much more expensive and ppl generally dont know about ubuntu and the likes)

 

[Brawler]

Yes you can preload it, as long as you don't charge them extra for it, maybe a small amount for installation but thats it. Ubuntu 7.10 is nice, going to try the new one tonight after it finished downloading.

 

[kronoSX]

can it support vista that pc.
Also if you know your way around a original disk of xp then you can find the serial key on the disk hidden in a folder,will post the location for you now.

 

[kronoSX]

if you ever have a problem with your windows xp original disk serial key or lost it somehow, you can try to locate it by going into the i386 folder on the cd and locate a file called WINNT.SIF file.
Open this file with notepad and extract the key from there..
that will sort you out dont you think

 

[quik1]

thx for all the valuable info guys,
but i was hoping that some1 was gonna solve my problem without having to reinstall xp.
The customer cant afford to upgrade to home or pro and dont evan know what a linux OS is. Dont think that the pc will run Vista as the specs to run xp starter edition is pretty low.
Thx for the tip on the cd key although this is not the case here. there is an COA attached on the side, so i dont really need the key here. thx anyway dablakmark8

 

[The_Unbeliever]

quick - the newer interfaces of ubuntu (and other distros) are pretty much close to windows nowadays - there's only a few differences, but all in all the learning curve is not extreme.

Sure you can install ubuntu for a small fee, but it is freeware.

Unfortunately the problem cannot be solved without a reinstall.

A suggestion that I can make is - the Ubuntu CD's also a live CD so you can show the customer what it looks like without having to install it (runs from the CD). If the customer likes it, and wants it, then you can install it.

A definite plus from having Linux as an OS is that you won't get infected by trojans or viruses, although it is recommended in having a virus scanner to scan outgoing emails just in case you inadvertently emails something nasty to your friends.

 

[HavocXphere]

This XP starter thing sounds like a mission.

I wouldn't demonstrate linux off a live-CD. It gives the impression that linux lacks snappiness, since it has to wait for the CD drive...and most non-tech people just don't get this even if one explains it.