Windows 7 installation on an older desktop with xp pro s/p 3

Superb help David.

Just stay calm and don't do anything rash. No install has ever failed when following our guidance in tens of thousands of cases we've helped with, and there's no reason to believe you'd be the first. We will be here

Did I have to boot to the command prompt from System Recovery Options? The instructions said -OR- after boot from installation disk or system repair disk...

I didn't go to the recovery options, but chose Brink's method How to open a command prompt at boot.: Is either OK?

Yes. Either is fine.

WHEW!! Was feeling panicky : ) DiskPart just successfully shrank the volume by: 268GB...now on to installation...AFTER making sure I choose "unallocated space!!!"

Thank you for the peerless help again.

No problem...thanks again, sir.

I forgot this important step, but it appears that the installation went flawlessly because I haven't heard from my buddy,and I sure would have heard if there were problems. I'll still post the screenshot as soon as I get back to his place.

Because the help here is so valuable, instructive and right-on, I was wondering if there are any resources for another desktop,this one an HP about 5 years old with an AMD processor that I suspect has infection problems?

Thanks again to Greg, David and addRAM for impeccable work : )

sbuxman

Work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7

If you can't start Win7 or it won't run well enough to troubleshoot then use Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

Thank you so much!

There are a few more miles between this friend's home and my buddy's, but with almost 4 weeks of recup time from a FMLA for eye surgery beginning this Thursday (with insurance picking up the tab : ), I'll have the time.

Without benefit yet of screenshots or specifics which I'll provide later today, I can tell you that his system has no DVD/CD player capability and is sluggish in mouse performance and keyboard operability, and worst of all, I can't access the Device Manager to even see his new DVD player, which I purchased yesterday. It also will not show up as a drive letter! The purchase was probably a waste of money since I doubt it's the hardware. I'll post a screenshot a little later today of the message which greets him with every new boot/restart (for about one month now).

BTW, the manufacturer's own online troubleshooting service, which I pay for until cancelling today, used a restore point of 12/28 last week in the hopes of getting everything back in order, only to have the CD/DVD fail again yesterday, so like I said, I doubt it's the hardware!

Thanks for the help...BTW, I'll set up his system specs so they show when I comment from that system.

Should I start a new topic since we're already on post #60 for this discussion about a different computer?

sbuxman