New recruits need my help......

[pch.shot]

Before you remove the hard drive from their machine just install the generic ide conrollers and then you can do all the clean up work at your place, set up the dual boot and then when you put the hard drive back in their box re-install the proper ide controllers form the motherboard manufacturers web site. That way you won't have people glaring over your shoulder and distracting you while you are trying to work. If you say their Windows installed is messed up anyway, they probably don't have the correct drivers installed!!!!
Just in case something horribly goes wrong: http://users.bigpond.net.au/hermanzone/ ... ith_ms-sys

[Wolfie Lee]

Well, i'm not sure their DRIVERS are the problem at this point...like I said, (and I ran a trial registry cleaner that needs to be purchased to do any good), there are about 200+ bad registry entries. I could probably clean it up at their place, they know I need the space and time to help them out. And, I'm still not clear as to why I should worry about their drivers if I DON'T boot the windows OS while it is in my rig......?

[Wolfie Lee]

P.S.

THANX for the link.......looks like a lot of great info there. I especially like the command line index...GREAT stuff!!

[pch.shot]

'I should worry about their drivers if I DON'T boot the windows OS while it is in my rig......?'
If you want to do a proper job then install all the correct drivers for their Windows install. Then you know you have done your best. You are starting to sound like a Future Shop or Best Buy technician now!!!
Cleaning out the registry is not that hard with Windows.
From the start menu run regedit. Don't delete anything that you can't identify, that's all. If there are software
entries that do not belong to any program(like a program that was removed delete it). But if you want to pay money for a registry cleaner that will @$#! something up, go for it. The ones I suggested do not @$#! anything up. They do a good job, but no registry cleaner is perfect!!!!

[Wolfie Lee]

Truth be told, I am not at all proficient with that level of Windows tweaking (and, as you said, this IS an UBUNTU site). I have NEVER done anything with the IDE controllers or all the other fun stuff you mentioned...remember, I am hard core LINUX ONLY, if at all possible, and I don't want to Bork their Windows (YET , until they see the light and learn how to use Ultimate Edition). So, if I can fix their registy, and do the other stuff you posted on that, and can speed things up on their Windows install (and I DO mean CONSIDERABLY), I would rather leave it at that, sorry! So (and I promise, this is the last time I will ask)...IF the system can be considerably revived and useable again...and I don't go poking around with their drivers...Shouldn't the Dual boot take...(if I HAVE to put their HDD into my system WITHOUT booting Windows)???

And, NO, neither they, nor I, are going to PAY for a registry 'cleaner'...a lot of those kind of things can be dangerous (I've expierinced a TOTAL failure because of a similar 'MALEWARE disguised as help' situation)...

[Wolfie Lee]

I really like and appreciate the advice and genuine concern that is given to help steer someone down the right path, here. We are all here to help and learn from each other. I do not wish to be taken as trying to insult ANYONE here, ever, but can almost feel insulted myself when it seems someone is trying to tell me what to do without having my SPECIFIC questions being answered. They are well thought out questions aimed at trying to LEARN as much as I can. The REASON I do not understand there even is an issue with the drivers is because I felt it should have been clear in the info already given: The OS in question DOES boot up, and all hardware involved, with the exception of the DVD drive in question, is in working order. I have Run the trial registry tool and it has scanned MANY bad registy entries, but to clean it up, no one is going to BUY the thing, not much of a TRIAL app., I say... That was one of the Q's I've asked (DOES it sound like the DVD drive IS the PROBLEM, given what info I"ve provided?). I appreciate and will follow the advice that has been given and keep this thread posted on how everything goes. I'm just trying to have enough to go on when I attemt this again...

I will:

1.) Utilized links given to do my best at cleaning up the system
2.) Attemp usb flash dual boot install
3.) IF that fails, I will swap opticals and attempt it that way, OR
4.) as a LAST resort, swap HDD to my bare rig, and attempt the dual boot in that fashion.

[pch.shot]

That sounds like a plan to me. You have to realize sometimes that we get a little overwhelmed with trying to solve many people's issues at the same time. Sometimes there is only one Mod or Admin here to help 6 people.
Not only that, we are also trying to solve our own issues and come up with a solution for others at the same time. And yes, we have issues also.
p.s. If I seem pushy that's because I am trying to help you teach yourself to help yourself so I can give my pea brain a rest!!!!!
I see you have used a wallpaper for TinyMe/PCLinux OS. I had that as my wallpaper when I was using those operating systems on my PIII.

[Wolfie Lee]

Did not know it was a TinyMe/PCLinux wall...which RU refering to... the wolf, the waterdrop, or something from a screenshot I've used?
And, YES, I really do understand that you can become very busy! So I do sincerely thank you for all of the help, and will post all the gory details as soon as I can.

...anyone else notice how the Q got skirted...again? Just Kidding! LOL have a good one, and thanx again!

[pch.shot]

Hopefully everything will go without a hitch and you won't have to bug me again!!!!

[Cell]

just in case....i found this in the fact section
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2323