Re: Unable to install Operating System

"Darrell S" <dumbwid@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:EOx6e.3774$lv1.485@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> 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.
Yes. That is true. But only the first time you get to this point. First
time through, it asks you for partition selection, and if created, permits
you to format it. Then it loads Windows on it, and when that's done it
reboots, asking you that same question again.

Since the OS should now be loaded, you DON'T click on any key, and it passes
the CD and goes to the next item in the boot list. If that's empty as well,
goes to the HD and attempts to boot up Windows. And **THAT** is were I get
to before I see:
"A Disk Read Error Occurred
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart"

And that's where I continue to be today. To summarize again, I've:
* Thoroughly tested the Disc, Memory, Video, and Processor sub-systems.
* Upgraded my Dell Dimension 8100 BIOS to XP2 (A09+1) from A06--which, BTW,
was running my XP box just fine, thank you.
* Used the RC (Recovery Console) to "fix" the boot sector
* Used the RC to "replace" the boot sector
* Used the RC to run read and write files, run CHKDSK, FORMAT, & others
* Used the RC to check & see that every file that s/b there, was
* Replaced the HDD with a brand new, off-the-shelf item
* Replaced the XP Pro boot CD with a brand new, off-the-shelf item
* Tried to load Win2K Pro and WinNT
* Disabled all of the integrated devices, except the mouse & keyboard ports
* Replace the video card with a simple, VGA card that doesn't require
anything
* Arranged the boot order in every combination possible
* Sized and formatted partitions in various allocations
* blanked the disc and tried from there

The only thing I haven't tried yet was to format in FAT; and that'll begin
right after this post goes out...

Later all,
DustyB


> 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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