Swap drives to get out XP mud?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BillyL
  • Start date Start date
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BillyL

In answer to problems copying files from XP installation
CD during install, many of you have suggested swapping
out a possibly faulty CD drive. To this, I have these
questions:
1) Presume this means that I have to choose to quit the
current installation process. But it is pretty far
along, the disk has been wiped and the original partition
is gone. This means the computer no longer has an
operable OS. Do I just re-start the installation of XP
from scratch? There's no way to hot-swap the drive is
there and just pick up where I left off, right?

2) Will the computer even recognize the new CD drive?
After all, no drivers for it will have been loaded and
there's no longer a working OS on the computer. Will I
have to reload Windows 98, then install the new CD drive
and drivers, then install XP? Seems like throwing the
computer out the window and selling Windows XP is a more
tenable option.

BillyL
 
from scratch? There's no way to hot-swap the drive is
there and just pick up where I left off, right?
Click to expand...

I seriously do NOT recommend trying to hot-swap - touching the mobo while
running is a bad, bad idea.

Make sure your XP disc is bootable - i.e., can your machine boot from the
CD. If so, it's safe to start over... if not, go to www.bootdisk.com and you
should be able to find what you need to create a bootable floppy disk for
the purpose.
2) Will the computer even recognize the new CD drive?
After all, no drivers for it will have been loaded and
there's no longer a working OS on the computer. Will I
have to reload Windows 98, then install the new CD drive
and drivers, then install XP? Seems like throwing the
computer out the window and selling Windows XP is a more
tenable option.
Click to expand...

At the BIOS level, which is where the XP install starts, it doesn't need
drivers; a boot [floppy] disk will contain generic drivers, and the
installer loads its own set anyway I believe. Thus, it should have no
problem with the new CD drive.
 
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