nope...cause on my pc i can disable the hdd in the bios and i can still install windows to the hdd. but after its done installing everything. i go back to my bios and enable the hdd again...so that i can boot up from the hdd again...very simple process...to bad my friends pc bios doesnt have that option.

yea ita be fine i had a compaq pc that wouldnt load windows xp so i wacked it in my pc and installed it.

so the chances of the new hdd with a clean install of windows that i did from my pc will not work in his ? 50/50?

ita be cool just do it.

my advice would be to try it since you got nothing to lose anyway and if that dont work, check the manufacture website out for his pc and see if there is a bios flash update. Do try the first method (Hdd swap trick) then go from there. it should work though.

thanx guys i will do that.but now which method should i do? take the one i have right now on my pc out and replace it with the new and do a clean install or install the new hdd along side with my current hdd? and if i could do it along side with my current hdd..what are the steps needed?

after giving this more thought, I'm not so sure this will work as the winxp is nt based and will setup the devices in your pc, thus resulting in not booting in his due to the registry. It has to do with any pci cards in your friends pc that was not in it at the time it was bought. I appologize for not thinking of this sooner as I dont use xp anymore cause it sux. You can still give it a shot though and test my theory. I still believe it has got to be a card or something that was added after being preprogrammed. I could however be wrong about this but it doesnt make sence that home works and pro does not. they are almost the same with a few extra addons. My regards and I hope I am wrong with this annalysis.

Do a search on google for a program called MEMTEST86.

Run it on your computer and it will create a bootable floppy disc which will automatically run memtest.

Boot this floppy on ur mates computer and leave it to run for 30mins-1hr.

Then report back to me and let me know if it shows any errors. Windows XP uses an extensive amount of ram when installing and if the ram is corrupt or set to the wrong bus speed then it will crash out like you're describing.

Lemme know dude

just to avoid more major headaches....he decided to just take it where he got it from. they didnt ask no questions as to what happened and all that junk..they just took back in their repair department and they fixed it in about an hour. they restored to the way it was. i learned my lesson.....dont try to fix other peoples machines....and also if it isnt broken...dont fix it.

Glad you got it sorted! ;)

glad that ordeal is over....haha

thats my moto too.

LOL :p