Would A New Retail Xp Solve Hardware Problems?

I bought a second hand computer that came with XP Pro that I didn't activate, but the seller had also given me an official Microsoft diskette with the EDU version of XP on it which I tried to install yesterday. Midway through the installation I got the error message "file asms needed" and it went from bad to worse from there. The computer is an HP and I was so desperate that I paid $40 CDN to talk to an HP support person, and the end result of that was their telling me that I should take the computer to an HP service depot, that the problem is probably that I need a new CD/ROM combo drive.

I have been researching this problem all day … a lot of people think the error message indicates a hardware problem, that the CD/DVD combo drive needs to be replaced. But is it really possible that the many people who are getting that error message, have defective CD/ROM drives? I find that hard to believe.

After reading a post on this forum tonight I got wondering if the 'asms needed' error message is code for "this is llegal software." This is the thread: http://forums.tomcoyote.org/Computer_wont_…elp_t47560.html

If a new retail version of XP is all it would take to solve my apparent hardware problem, I definitely don't want to be wasting money on new hardware, diagnostic services and such. OTOH I don't feel like investing $399 CDN for a new retail version of XP to install on wonky hardware – spend $399 and still get the same error message blocking the installation? Another option HP mentioned is that I could buy a set of recovery disks for $50 that would restore the computer it to factory condition .. that sounds like a good solution but would it really work and I don't think I have the expertise to do a recovery.

Can anyone give me input on which way they think would be best?

Hi,
I am sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing. The advice from the HP support may be best for you to follow, but you may find the following observations helpful.

1 Without knowing the terms and conditions of the sale to you of the second hand computer and whether the sale was made by a trader or a private individual and the consumer protection laws in your particular jurisdiction it is difficult to give precise advice, but my first step would be to consider going back to the seller, tell them that the machine doesn't work and get them to fix it or refund your money.

2 Are you entitled to use/install the "Educational" licensed version of Windows XP? if so its OK to proceed, if not then go back to step 1

3 If you have formatted the disc (hard drive) then the original copy of Windows will have been deleted and you will need to rely on the Edu disc (if you are entitled to use it) or obtain a new operating system (if the HP tech felt that a $50 set of discs would solve your problem then this would be a good way forward and keep you the right side of the law.)

4 The asms is not a coded reference to an illegal copy, but quite often folks who burn their own copy of a Microsoft Installation disc find that the asms does not get included in the new copy and therefore presents great problems when its time to use it for installation.

5 Your cd drive may have a hardware problem and you can easily check it out thoroughly by using a live issue of Linux, downloaded and burnt to a CD on a reliable machine (try Linux Puppy or Knoppix or Ubantu or Kanotix ) and if this runs satisfactorily, it will demonstrate that your hardware is OK. (the live copy writes nothing to your hard drive and operateds from RAM so provides a good test of your hardware.

6 If your hardware is OK, then you will need to follow the advice in:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311755

which will give you chapter and verse on how to dela with the asms issue.
Hopefully these notes will give you some food for thought and in the meantime, good luck and I hope you managed to get it all fixed up satisfactorily.
Regards
paws

hi paws

Thanks for your reply and good wishes.

Reply to point 1: Here is the root of the trouble, I bought it from someone, paid them cash trusting their word, with no terms or conditions (other than getting him to sign a receipt). I have learned since that he is dishonest, and nasty too, when I complained about the problems he got extremely nasty and blocked my emails. If I had a great big bodyguard kind of guy in my life, I'd send him him over … that is about the only thing that would work … but I don't … . Long story short: I made a foolish mistake and I will NEVER again buy a used computer.

Reply to your point 2: Without having read the license I guess I'm not since I am not the person who purchased it. I didn't feel comfortable trying to install it but I was desperate …

Reply to point 3: Just ten minutes ago I ordered a full retail version of the XP from Amazon. The reason I decided on that route was because I'd get a fresh, clean, fully upgradable not OEM version of the O/S and also full Microsoft support while installing it. But after reading your email I am reconsidering the HP route … which is certainly much more economical. I will call HP again and get more information, especially – will they help me do the install? – and if I go that way, I believe I can return the full retail version to Amazon if the box isn't opened. Considering that I don't yet really know if the problem is software or hardware, the HP route would be the best way to get to the bottom of the problem, but again, I would still have an OEM version which I don't believe are upgradable.


Reply to point 4. The Edu version that I was using is an official disk burned by Microsoft, I wonder why they left it out? The problem that I and apparently huge numbers of others are having isn't that a search can't 'find' the file, it is that there seems to be a sudden disconnect in communication between the CD ROM and the keyboad, nothing happens, no attempted search for the file and a response "can't find"


Reply to point 5 Thanks for the tip. My old machine is reliable so I will follow the instructions and get back to you. Beats lugging the thing into a service depot. (it is not a laptop)




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