Re: unable to install XP on new HD

Hi Anna,
To clarify the floppy bootup disk I was using it to pass the NTLDR missing
message that initiated this post, I was trying to delete the partitions
created in HDD during the aborted xp install, but this time pc could not find
floppy drive so it went onto cd rom where I still had the xp cd so it got
into setup which is where I wanted to get to without sucess. This time as
you know the problem is different, I am using two different disks of xp one
an original and the other a copy but makes no difference i keep on going back
to the beginning of setup after the automatic restart of xp install. You are
suggesting checking the HDD but how can I do this if the PC is not functional
yet? I think I am going to take the HDD to where I bought it from and
explain the problem maybe they can help. Thank you so much for all your
help. Merry Christmas to you all beautiful people !!!!!!!!!!!

"Anna" wrote:



On Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:24:00 -0800, elly <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Anna
Thanks for explaining everything so well. the answer to your questions
is
yes I have made sure that CD ROM is the 1st option, then floppy and
lastly HD
and have exited BIOS saving the changes, I get prompted to press any key
to
boot from CD ROM and I do press the any key right after I am prompted.
One
thing you have not noted is the fact that I was able to enter XP setup
first
just after installing new HD and that it had to be abborted because of a
file
that could not be extracted from the CD, the problem with the missing
NRLDR
started as I tried to re-enter XP Setup and that is where I am at. I
don't
know what went wrong, the HD has been detected by Bios it is properly
connected to the primary master HD and I was once able to boot to OS XP
from
CD and setup was initiatated but somewhere along this process things
went
bad. Any other suggestions I am about to chuck this PC to the
bin...thank
you for your patience
Elly


"Homer S." wrote:
Remove the XP install CD. Boot the system to a floppy disk that has the
FDISK
command. Run FDISK and delete all partitions from the hard drive. Remove
the floppy
disk, restart with the XP install CD and press the 'any key' if it asks.
Restart the
XP installation.

For a boot disk go here: http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm and use the
following
link to get it: 'Windows 98 SE Custom, No Ramdrive | Mirror'.

For a Windows XP boot disk with tools try here:
http://freepctech.com/pc/002/files010.shtml. Download the 'MS Windows XP
System
setup disk'. Just boot to it and use one of the tools to wipe your hard
drive clean
(re: delete all partitions).

Good luck,
Homer


"elly" <elly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:5CD2FE1E-A3CE-4328-B9DD-651885F08877@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hello again
I finally got my PC to boot from the XP disk as I was trying to boot up
from
a floppy boot up disk as instructed, suddenly the computer started to boot
up
from the XP CD so I have been able to delete all partitions. Anyway now I
have a different kind of problem. I have tried to install XP a few times
without success, the following is what happens: PC boots from XP CD ok it
goes with normal set up procedures loads files, copies files and then it
says
that pc will restart and continue with setup procedures however it does
not,
after restarting it goes back to the beginning of setup, loading and
copying
files, formatting the partition etc, I have tried so many times and every
time the same happens, then other times setup just gets stuck into setup
cannot copy file ei driver.cab and if I hit the skip button it continues
and
stops at some other file and it continues on not being able to copy some
files and so I have to abort installation. I don't know what this is, if
anyone has an idea what this means please let me know, this is getting
very
extrange...Thanks again Guys for your invaluable help
Elly


Elly:
It's really difficult, if not impossible, to tell precisely what is causing
your problem at this point.

Conceivably it *could* be simply an instance of a defective XP OS
installation CD, but assuming you're using an "original" MS product that
would be an extremely rare occurrence in our experience. On the other hand,
should you be using a copy of the installation CD that would be a more
likely possibility. In any event, we've come across so very few instances of
a defective CD that we ordinarily discount that as the cause of the type of
problem you're experiencing at least for the moment. Anyway, it's something
to consider.

I'm not sure if I, or someone, previously recommended you check out your HDD
with the diagnostic program normally freely available from the website of
the manuf. of the disk. You should do this if you haven't up to now.

I'm really puzzled by your comment that "I finally got my PC to boot from
the XP disk as I was trying to boot up from a floppy boot up disk as
instructed..." There should be *no* involvement of a floppy disk in this
process of fresh installing the XP OS onto your HDD. Perhaps you're
indicating that you used a DOS floppy disk along the lines recommended by
Homer. There should be no need to do this.

The XP OS installation should be a straightforward setup process of just
using the installation CD to uninstall any existing partition(s) on your
HDD, then create and partition the disk as you please, and finally install
the OS.
Anna



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