Cannot install Windows XP at Compaq Prisario CQ40.

Hi william chon...
Here are a few possible solutions to your problem

Hi

Start your computer in the Safe Mode.
To start in Safe Mode.
Turn your computer on.
Keep tapping F8 while the computer is starting up
When the computer starts select Safe Mode
1. Uninstall any softwear you may have put on the computer before the problem started.
2. Do a complete System Restore: Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.
This will bring your system back to a time before you installed the softwear or Microsoft installed drivers,etc.
Note: Just be sure to use a date in a darkened box, that is before your trouble start date.
When you have done the above, restart the computer and if your still having the problem, then the installed drivers,updates,softwear,etc might have
corrupted the Operating System.
If that happened then that means either repair or reinstall the operating system.
You will need to do the following:
1...Repairing the Operating System...
A...You will have to have the Operating Dics that came with the computer.
Note...If you do not have the disks that came with your computer or the ones you should have made when you first got your computer...then you will have to go to the manufacture's webpage and see if they have a recovery disk available for your computer, if they do not a recovery disks available then you can also try ebay to locate the recovery disks.
The original disks will have your product key number that came with the computer, you can also find it on the tower, or under the bottom of your laptop, or maybe the piece of paper that the CD orginally came in may have the number on it.
You can also download a small program and it will tell you your product key number.
Go to the following webpage to download your FREE key finder.
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
B...You will now insert the disc into the CD/DVD player
C...Restart the computer
D...When the window opens that tells you to press "Any" key, you will press any key you want to press.
E...If you do not receive a message that says "press any key to boot from CD", then then the computer is not ready to boot from a cd.
To correct this problem you will have to go into your computer's Bios and change the computer to boot from a CD.
To get into the Bios, shut the computer off,restart, while the computer is starting up keep tapping F1 as the computer is starting up.
When you are in the Bios, select to boot by CD by moving the cursor with the direction arrows on the keyboard.
Once you have selected to boot by cd the exit and restart the computer...the disc is already in the cd/dvd player.
Your system will then boot from the cd.
F...After a minute or less it should ask you if you want to Quit Repair, or Continue.
You will select Repair this time, but you may have to come back here and select Install if the repair does not work.
It will ok the agreement document if it asks you too.
Tap F8 on your keyboard to pass it when ready.
It will ask you if you want to Install, Repair, Delete Partition, or Quit.
Select Repair
Inside the box there will be one or two partitions.
Choose the largest partition.
After you have chosen the largest partition, you will then press the "r" key to start the repair
After the repair is complete, then you will need to restart your computer.
G...Computer Restart
After the repair is complete, shut the computer down (the computer will shut down a few times during the installation of the operating system
that is normal).
Then restart your computer, when the computer restarts it will have a box to put your product key...put the product key in the box and click.
The computer should start up and run as if it was a new computer.
You do not need to re-register
You can now remove the disc.
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If this fails to clear your problem then you may have a hardware problem.
It could be faulty ram
If you still have the same problem, then you have two choices.
1.Reinstall the entire Operating System and you may have to update some drivers.
This will require you to go back to the start of the repair info and select Install instead of Repair.
2..Take your machine in to have the hardware tested.
Keep in mind that if you do a complete reinstall of the Operating System you will lose all the information on the computer,such as pictures, programs, videos, everything you installed will be gone.
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