NOVICE needs help please!

[Purgatory]

Hi every one.
just taken an old windows XP machine, and have installed windows 7 to it.
This went well with no complications. Then began the very slow update session = after about three hours, I aborted (would do them later I thought).
Computer was shut down, and the earlier set of updates were configured. After a restart,I then found that the machine would not boot - it got so far and stopped with the message Boot fail (40)the floppy disk light was now permanently on. Pressed delete to get into bios and found that the floppy disk was now set to 1st boot - this I changed to HDD-0.
Being just a novice at this point, I am 'stuck' and would very much appreciate your help. If I disconnect the floppy disk (power and ribbon) it still will not boot.
Motherboard is an Asus AN7-8XX with phoenix bios.
Thanks in advance
C

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Purgatory,

Being just a novice at this point, I am 'stuck' and would very much appreciate your help. If I disconnect the floppy disk (power and ribbon) it still will not boot.

If you are asking if you can disconnect the Floppy then the answer is Yes, as long as the HDD is set as the first boot device.

 

[Megahertz07]

You should disconnect the Floppy and on BIOS set to not installed. But this wont fix the boot issue.

How much memory you have on the A7N-8XX ?

 

[Purgatory]

I can confirm that the first boot is set to HDD - with the ribbon and power removed from the floppy disk, it will not boot - just goes to a black screen. (Prior to that all the usual white on black data does show during the boot process.
Hope this clarifies the matter. Thanks for your help.

 

[Purgatory]

Thanks Megahertz07
Have checked - the PC has just 1Gb memory (2 X 512Mb Crucial sticks) which I know is not much to say the least.
Today I was playing around (playing guessology etc) I removed the C Drive, and replaced this with a HDD from another old XP PC.
Surprise surprise, the machine instantly booted up to the point where a password is needed. (Regrettably cannot remember what that number was) HOWEVER, this would seem to confirm that (?) the HDD had expired during the 178 update period that was taking place.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Purgatory,

HOWEVER, this would seem to confirm that (?) the HDD had expired during the 178 update period that was taking place.

You would be better off using DISM++ to update the OS rather than the M$ WU method.

DISM++ - Basic Overview

DISM++ is a FREE implementation tool that has the ability to perform Windows Updates [WU]. Some of the advantages [but not all] are:

[1] The GUI is very easy to understand and use.
[2] It is much faster than M$’s WU because it uses a different engine.
[3] It downloads the latest WU DB from the M$ servers, scans your OS, and then lists the updates available.
[4] It doesn’t install superseded updates like M$ does.
[5] It gives you the option of what you want to install.
[6] The pre-ticked updates are what is recommended and are similar to the WU critical and recommended updates. The un-ticked updates are similar to the WU optional updates.

[7] It warns you if an update:

• Includes telemetry.
• Has known issues with certain hardware.
• Needs exclusive access.
• Is suspect.
• Your OS doesn't need it.
• Has any other known issues.

[8] It doesn’t require re-booting between updates.
[9] It can be used to either update an install.wim image OFFLINE, or to update the LIVE OS.

I hope this helps!

 

[Megahertz07]

With only 1G of memory, even for Win 7 32 bits it will never run well. I would install a lite Linux.
I have Lubuntu. lubuntu – lightweight, fast, easier
10 Best Lightweight Linux Distributions for Older Computers in 2019 [With System Requirements]

 

[Purgatory]

Thank you everyone for your input. I may have some additional memory hidden away - I will take a look.
Must admit to be very interested in DISM++, being a novice I will endeavour to find out more. Sounds a good idea.
Thanks again everyone.
PS - have tried all the usual tweaks to overcome the lack of password situation, but without success so far.

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Purgatory,

Must admit to be very interested in DISM++, being a novice I will endeavour to find out more. Sounds a good idea.

If you decide to use DISM++, then it is best to run the DISM++ Windows updates a couple of times to make sure you get ALL the updates that are needed. DON’T install ANY of the ORANGE updates though [see numbers [6] and [7] above]. It can also install the required .NET Framework updates. Then just run WU to see what other updates are available, if any.

DISM++ - Run Windows Updates On The LIVE OS

DISM++ Direct download [zip] => DISM++.

Here is the quick procedure guide:

[1] Download the latest version of DISM++ [see the DISM++ Direct download [zip] link above].
[2] Extract the files using something like 7-Zip here => 7-Zip.
[3] Turn Sleep mode OFF in Power Options [you can turn it back on after you have finished].
[4] Double-click Dism++x86 or Dism++x64 and then click Run.
[5] Click Updates in the left-hand pane and then click Scan [bottom right].
[6] Once the scan has completed, click Install Updates [blue button to the right of Scan].
[7] If any warning pop-ups appear [see item [7] in the Basic Overview above], click Cancel and it will skip that one. There could be several of these appear so click Cancel to all of them.
[8] It is advisable to run the DISM++ WU a couple of times. To do this, just re-boot and Scan again [from number [4] above].
[9] Run M$ WU [Windows Update] to see if there are any other updates available.

That's it!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Purgatory,

Must admit to be very interested in DISM++, being a novice I will endeavour to find out more. Sounds a good idea.

Did you try DISM++ out?