Re: Unable to install Operating System

Press any key when that "Press any key to boot from CD..." comes up. You
want to boot from your system CD while you install XP Pro. This is NOT
asking you how you want to boot AFTER you've installed your system. You
can't boot from the hard drive if it's only formatted but still blank until
you install XP.

--

Darrell R. Schmidt
B-58 Hustler History: http://members.cox.net/dschmidt1/
-

"DustyB" <pc_phixer@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23OARG5fPFHA.1884@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Okay, this is a continuation of a post under another subject line. I did
> this to limit "subject creep"...
>
> I'm trying to install a fresh copy of XP Pro. After the format, it goes
> through the installation of Windows, and gets to the, "Remove any disks in
> drive A:", and reboot.
>
> It goes through the boot up process, gets to the "Press any key to boot
> from
> CD..." part. So, since I want it to boot from the HD, I leave it alone,
> and
> it always fails with:
> "A disk read error occurred"
> "Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart"
>
> What I've done:
> Tested the memory w/standalone test - passed
> Tested the HD w/standalone DFT - passed
> Upgraded the BIOS to latest from Dell - XP2 (A09+1)
> Replace the HD with a new, fresh off the shelf item
> Purchased a new, shrink-wrapped XP Pro full installation package
> Replaced the CD reader
> Completely cleared the disk to all blank (RAW) and reformatted w/NTFS
>
> This same result began on an otherwise perfectly functioning system, while
> I
> was trying to clean up my disk, deleting things, housekeeping and so on.
> I
> thought I'd blown some aspect of my XP installation, so I thought I'd do a
> recovery. But everything I do gets the same result.
>
> This isn't the first OS I've installed, so unless I just got stupid
> overnight (always a possibility) I can't believe that I've left something
> out.
>
> That means that I'm flat outta ideas. Any help out there? Does anybody
> have an inkling of something simple that I must have neglected to consider
> that's causing this kind of problem?
>
> Regards all,
> DustyB
> Dell Dimension 8100 at XP2 BIOS (flashed, was A06), 1/2 a 'G' of RAM,
> empty
> 80GB disk, XP Pro SP2 installation CD
>
> NB: While you're at it, can someone send me the name & address of the
> character at Microsoft, that PURPOSE designed a MICROSOFT keyboard so that
> it would come up BY DEFAULT in a function key mode THAT'S COMPLETELY
> USELESS
> at start-up? I want to invite all of the dogs in Redmond to take a crap
> on
> his lawn!
>
>


.

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