Isiea, could the copy of windows my friend gave me be faulty? Is it possible?
Also, would it be likely for a low level issue, such as you're describing, to occur despite me only having JUST reformatted my hard-drive and reinstalling windows? O_o
its not necessarily a faulty windows version you have. Windows, just like most versions of software requires "critical" updates even more so (for an OS Software), this is due to the nature of the OS not being final code. It does not matter whether or not it is faulty, as long as it will install and update. If not, then you have to get a newer version of the install disc. I myself have used old Windows XP discs (so old it comes without sp1) but switched over to the ones with SP2 later because of improved stability and less problems with compatibility and other issues relating to "final code".
Unless you're running a later build of windows, you can still have low level issues. I know this because on installs with winxp without the sp1 i have had HAL issues (hardware abstract layer) and USB issues causing even blue screen of deaths on my PC's that are NEWLY formatted.
Some advice to give you, find a newer version of windows xp, preferrably one that uses sp2.
=============================later on======================
If you get the hang of it here is some advice to try later on this is a little advanced: TRY a LOW level format a hard drive. Most people just format, i erase aka zero the drive altogether, erasing the entire MFT and parititions and the like. Make sure you back up all your data before doing a low level format.
Comments
its not necessarily a faulty windows version you have. Windows, just like most versions of software requires "critical" updates even more so (for an OS Software), this is due to the nature of the OS not being final code. It does not matter whether or not it is faulty, as long as it will install and update. If not, then you have to get a newer version of the install disc. I myself have used old Windows XP discs (so old it comes without sp1) but switched over to the ones with SP2 later because of improved stability and less problems with compatibility and other issues relating to "final code".
Unless you're running a later build of windows, you can still have low level issues. I know this because on installs with winxp without the sp1 i have had HAL issues (hardware abstract layer) and USB issues causing even blue screen of deaths on my PC's that are NEWLY formatted.
Some advice to give you, find a newer version of windows xp, preferrably one that uses sp2.
=============================later on======================
If you get the hang of it here is some advice to try later on this is a little advanced: TRY a LOW level format a hard drive. Most people just format, i erase aka zero the drive altogether, erasing the entire MFT and parititions and the like. Make sure you back up all your data before doing a low level format.