Re: unable to install XP on new HD


On 11 Dec 2007 elly <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello,
After installing a new HD to replace non-working HD on an older PC I
proceeded to install XP Pro but a few minutes into setup I got a message
that
a file could not be extracted from the cd I think it was cab.driver or
something like that I cannot acces that information now, I retried but
could
not be done so the next option was to exit setup and try again which I
did,
here comes the problem when I tried to reboot to start XP set up again
the
system will go past the bios boot but stops before loading XP from CD
rom I
get a black screen with the following message NTLDR missing press alt
ctrl
del to restart, but It will not work I keep on getting the same message
everytime, I have tried a different CD rom but the same, I am stuck not
being
able to get past this problem. My PC is a pentium 4, bios seems to be
working ok I setted it up to boot from cd and the new HD has been
detected.
Thank you for your support
Elly


"Homer S." wrote:

The boot sequence in your motherboard's CMOS settings is set to boot from
>> the hard drive before checking the CD-ROM drive for a bootable CD.
Since
your hard drive now has an aborted installation of Windows XP, the boot
process is getting hung up there before ever going out to try to boot
from the >> CD. Go into the BIOS, find the setting for boot sequence and
make the CD-
ROM drive the first boot device. I always set the
following sequence: #1. CD-ROM Drive(s) #2. 3.5" Floppy drive (or USB)
#3. >> Main Hard Drive.

It would also be a good idea to clean the XP CD and run a cleaning CD in
the >> CD-ROM drive you're trying to boot from. After that's all done,
restart and see if >> the installation continues. If not, just delete the
partition you created, reformat it
and start all over again.

Have fun!
HJS


"elly" <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3CE5334F-E16E-41DC-AF57-5A5F9B8F1936@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you I will try it and let you know if it worked.


elly:
Assuming the problem you've described still exists after following Homer's
suggestions...

During the boot sequence involving your XP OS installation CD, a message
will (or should) appear on your screen to the following effect...
""Press any key to boot from CD"
Is there any possibility that you may be overlooking that message during the
bootup process? If you don't "press any key" shortly after that message
appears, the system will boot to whichever other device your BIOS indicates
is next in line in the boot priority order, presumably your HDD in most
cases.

I realize you've stated that you were (at least at one point) able to get
into "setup", which of course indicates that you were able (again, at least
at one point) to access the XP OS installation CD to undertake a fresh
install of the OS. So it may be the above is not relevant. However, you now
indicate you continually receive that infamous "NTLDR is missing" message so
it's apparent the system is attempting to boot to your HDD and not the XP
installation CD.

While the problem *may* be a defective XP installation CD, you say you've
experienced the problem with two such CDs. Assuming one of those CDs is not
merely a copy of the original CD that you or someone else previously
created, it's unlikely two different XP OS installation CDs would be
defective.

Anyway, should the problem still remain, give it another shot along the
lines I've described above.
Anna


.

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