First, I would try to get video output so that I could see what is 
happening while trying to solve the initial challenge. My thought on 
this is that you supply the forum with information on your BIOS (it 
should be in the computer manual). Then, if some member has the same 
BIOS, they can give you step by step keystrokes to reset the BIOS to 
work with the video card. You will not be able to see anything on the 
screen until after you reset the video and restart the computer.

After that, you may be right in that there are corrupted files in the 
restore partition. In this case, you would need to get a Windows install 
disk from the manufacturer for a few dollars or at least a restore CD.

Also, the USB port for your wireless keyboard and mouse may not be 
activated until late in the setup of Windows and, therefor, Windows is 
not seeing a keyboard and can not proceed with the setup.

Just some thoughts. I hope this helps.

Tom

Paul Hachmeyer wrote:
> (Pardon the length, trying to list all the details and specs).
> .
> My initial problem is this:
> My duaghters pc occasionally freezes up.  After doing numerous scans, 
> I couldn't find any viruses, etc. so I decided to wipe the hard drive 
> of all the accumulated junk and start with the delivered package.  So, 
> I ran a destructive restore using the delivered process on the Compaq 
> pc with win xp home sp2.  Partition D contained delivered restore 
> programs and files that were used to reformat and restore all original 
> delivered software to drive C, effectively giving a clean out-of-box 
> pc, albeit about 3 years old.
> When the restore finished, it asks if I want to start windows, I click 
> yes, it reboots, flashes a screen to wait while windows sets up, then 
> the xp screens appear and the screen goes to a blank blue/gray, 
> frozen.  I reboot into safe mode, then I get a message - 'the system 
> is not fully installed, please run setup again'.  I repeat the entire 
> process, same error.
> The only changes to the delivered pc itself was memory increased from 
> 512 to 2 gb and a motherboard problem with video that resulted in 
> adding a pci video card for video.  We're also using a wireless mouse 
> and keyboard and an HP flat panel monitor which replaced the old crt 
> screen.  The bios settings point the video to pci, not onboard video 
> and the flat panel still gets a signal throughout the process.   No 
> drivers have been installed for the flat panel as part of the restore 
> process, unless xp did it by itself, and it still displays everything 
> properly until it freezes.  Ran a similar process 4 or 5 months ago on 
> an HP of similar vintage, no problems, only changes on the other pc 
> were additional memory and an added dvd reader.   A web search today 
> suggested that a standard crt monitor be used because some flat panels 
> affect the reinstall of windows.
> I never created a set of recovery disks until just before I tried the 
> restore.  A friend suggested that the restore partition might have 
> been corrupted over the past 3 years, and the disks might not be any 
> good either.  There were no errors displayed when I created the disks, 
> or ran the restores, until the windows setup process.
> Where do I go from here to complete a working restore?
> .
> Now I went down a worse path - I had the brainstorm to switch the 
> video from pci back to onboard in the bios, and try the process again. 
> (I had already attached a crt monitor and repeated the restore process 
> a third time witht the same results).   What was I thinking?!?!?   The 
> bios change worked perfectly, now I can't view the video either 
> onboard (since the onboard video is dead) or via the pci card since I 
> changed that to 'off' in the bios.  I can't see anything to get back 
> into bios to switch it back!!   I tried to reset the cmos by moving 
> the jumper, powering up, shutting down and replacing the jumper, no 
> change.  Compac Presario SR1410NX, celeron cpu.  3 pci slots, no AGP 
> slots, no floppy drive (I guess I could install one if needed).  PCI 
> network card.  (I would have to check to see if that was added or if 
> there was also onboard network which went when the video went).  I 
> also swapped the video card into a different slot to see if that would 
> trigger anything.  Still no video.
> .
> So, #1 is how do I reset the bios without being able to view it?   
> When the motherboard video went, my local repair shop diagnosed the 
> problem and installed the video card, and all was well.  
> Unfortunately, what I was charged for a basic unbranded, unlabeled 
> video card was about the same as 50 gallons of gas at today's 
> prices... But it was paid for by insurance.  This time, it's on 
> me.          #2 is to get a good restore.
> .
> Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
> .
> Paul Hachmeyer
>
>
>

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