Reformatted HDD - Can't install Win XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Hi everyone,

I've taken it upon myself to help my brother with a HDD he reformatted. Win
XP Pro was installed prior and the original Win XP Pro CD won't start from
the CD-ROM despite the BIOS set to boot from the CD-ROM first, then the
floppy, then the HDD.

Each time I try to do a clean install, nothing happens. I've downloaded the
6 floppy disk setup set several times, burning to a CD-RW and then extracting
to floppies. 5 times, I go through the sequence, directed to insert the
floppys as they are numbered but at the 6th, as I hit enter, a message
appears at the bottom of the screen where setup status is viewed while the
previous 5 floppys were loading, "Please wait...." It stays there with
nothing happening. I last waited 1 1/2 hours to see if anything would
eventually happen - nothing did.

What am I missing here?

Also, I have the setup floppy he made from his system before formatting and
after trying that route, I get to the "A" prompt. But where do I go from
there? I've researched the Knowledge Bases and these Newsgroup threads but
can't find what I need. What commands do I enter?

I'm working with a Pentium III. 600MHz, 10GB HDD. CD-ROM and CD-RW.

I know this is much simpler than I'm experiencing but I'm really at my wit's
end. Is there anyone who can clue me in please?

Thank you,
Terry
 
If the boot disk he created doesn't have CD support, get a boot disk from:
http://www.bootdisk.com/

Please read Read1st in the right pane for instructions on how to create the
boot disk from the downloaded file.

A boot disk with CD support will assign a drive letter to the CD-ROM, take
note of it near the end of the floppy boot to DOS.
Once at the prompt insert the XP CD and type at the prompt:

asd:\setup.exe and press Enter **Note: asd = assigned cd drive letter you
noted

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
 
Is it just his XP CD that won't boot or is there a problem boot any bootable
CD on his system? By the way I hope you realize that the XP CD's bootloader
briefly displays a 5 second message that says "press any key to boot from
CD..." If you don't press a key the CD won't boot. Some setups have Logo
displays and Rapid Boot options in the BIOS. Disable those so you can see
the "press any key" message or keep tapping the space bar once you start the
computer. You can download an ISO that will create a bootable CD that
contains the Windows Recovery Console (similar to what the 6 floppy set
gives you) from here
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/tools/bootdiscs/xp_rec_con.zip
If you don't know how to burn an iso image file check here
http://iso.snoekonline.com/iso.htm

Create the bootable CD and see if you can load it. Access the Recovery
Console and at the command prompt type CHKDSK /R to see if there are any bad
sectors on the hard drive that can be repaired. Next type DISKPART to
partition the drive. Remove the RC.iso disk and pop the XP CD into the
drive. Type EXIT to reboot the computer and watch closely for the "press any
key message". If the XP CD will boot it will detect the unformatted hard
drive and begin it's setup.

By the way what precipitated the need to reformat and reinstall? Is it
possible that the hard drive is faulty? If so that would account for trouble
loading the six floppy set.
 
Thanks everyone. Sorry so long replying but was distracted from my PC repair
mission by other duties.

Problem solved. I finally succeeded in burning a good copy of the 6-floppy
startup disk and all went as smooth as silk. Once again, you guys have come
through for me.

It still amazes me when something I struggle with for so long, works so well
after consultation with the pros.

Thanks again,
Terry
 
Back
Top