What the hell?

[ohheckyeah]

I'm trying to repair Windows XP from the disc but when I get to the screen to set up Windows the enter key doesn't do anything and even the F3 key to quit without installing doesn't work.

Please if you have any suggestions I could use some help

[Betty88]

1. are you using a usb keyboard?

if so check the bios and see if USB support (or something like that) is on

[ohheckyeah]

4. Yes, it's a USB keyboard.

The bios thing is above my head, but thanks.

[Betty88]

5. do you have an old style ps2 keyboard around?

in the simplest terms sometimes when you are doing an install the computer can't see a usb keyboard. If you are uncomfortable entering the bios (you do this by hitting F8 or sometimes delete on boot up, watch the screen it will tell you the key, it might say "to enter setup press...")then one thing to try is using an older keyboard with a ps2 connection. I have had this happen to me on an install I went into the bios looked for a line that said "USB Support" and changed if from disable to enable, then the keyboard worked and I was able to complete the install.

[canetoad]

2. Dirt/scratch/fingerprint on the CD?

Also bad RAM can make an installation/repair go hokey.

[ohheckyeah]

3. I don't think it's a bad CD as I've never used it before.

How would I know that the RAM is bad?

[canetoad]

6. For the time being, try a PS2 keyboard

I pick them up in second hand shops for a couple of dollars as some machines just won't let you work with a USB keyboard at times.

There's a free RAM testing program called MemTest. You download it and burn to a CD then boot the computer from that CD and run the tests for a few hours or overnight.

Symptoms of failed RAM can be hard to pin down; a string of illogical faults that seem to have nothing in common such as programs failing to install, installed programs crashing unexpectedly, error messages and files missing when you try to reload operating system.

Still, I bet the keyboard thing will get you going again.....

[Earth Bound Misfit]

7. To check your RAM

download Memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org/) Burn the .ISO to a CD (I use IMGBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/) then boot to the newly created CD and run the utility.

How to Test your RAM: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic207910.html