Hi all ~ and yes, my name says it all. LOL!

My son has an IBM T30 with XP Pro and no internet access unless I go to my folks and hook up to their cable. He has e a valid license, but no install disk as XP was installed at the factory. He has been having so many bugs and I am ready to throw up my hands and completely reinstall Windows, but I do not know how to go about doing so. This morning when I powered up I got the blue screen of death.

Tech info:

STOP: (0x0000007E (0xc0000005, 0x804D9C2, 0xF96AF8C0, 0xF96AF5BC)

I don't even know if those numbers mean anything to anyone, but just in case.

So, if I want to completely start over, reinstall Windows XP and give him a clean slate, what are my options? Can anyone help me or is it a lost cause?

He needs this computer as we homeschool and his curriculum is totally computer-based.

Thank you all for any help you can give - I am most appreciative. And please bear with me -- I will probably ask MANY stupid questions along the way!

NCL

i'd say in this case you'll need the system restoration cd that should have come with the computer. if a restoration cd isn't available then there's 2 choices.

1. order the recovery cd from lenovo (ibm)
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss...-42355.html#eus

2. buy a win xp cd and download the drivers for the T30 from lenovo.
Driver download site
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss...ocid=MIGR-42358

installation instruction site
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss...ocid=MIGR-45299

the system files are on the hard drive but it takes the restoration cd to be able to activate the restoration process.

This is good advice. I second this.
In addition, you don't have to spend a ton of money on the new XP CD if you go that route. Check out PriceGrabber.com and search for XP HOME and then look for "OEM" in that list.

Thanks for your help guys! I called Lenovo Tech Support at the phone number on the website you sent me to. Was told I had the wrong Tech Support number - called the one they gave me. Was told to call IBM Tech Support (I thought they were the same?) and they informed me that since their records showed this computer as coming from the factory with Windows 2000 on it, they couldn't help me. I explained that it was a refurbished machine and when I bought it, it had XP loaded, no restoration disk, but I had a valid product key sticker on the bottom of the machine. They still said I was out of luck, but told me to call Lenovo at a different number than either number I had called before -- turned out to be Lenovo Sales. The guy in sales told me I needed Tech Support (can you say runaround?) and so I called yet another number he gave me and that person in turn gave me ANOTHER number for Lenovo Parts. FINALLY I found someone who could help me. (Good GRIEF!!) For the small fee of $50.06 I will be receiving a restoration disk (what I had been asking for all along!) in the mail in 3-5 days. So I am currently at a pause in my saga!


You guys are awesome -- maybe you should work for Lenovo or IBM -- you certainly know what you're talking about better than they do!!

thanks for the compliment!!

that's pretty standard stuff for all big corps. most excellent y'all have sorted the problem. the next steps should be relatively easy.