Win 2000 Installation Quandry.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rich M.
  • Start date Start date
R

Rich M.

Hello,

I am attempting to do a fresh install of Windows
2000 Pro on some new hardware.

Here is my quandry.
a) I only have a Serial ATA Hard-Drive.
b) I have a floppy disk with the drivers, but I cannot
get a floppy drive to work on my machine.

I have a USB key/flash drive, and I have attempted to
use it during the installation process when the text
installer asks for additional disks. It almost works, but
I get an error that the install cannot read the file
system. Win XP allows me to format into FAT, but the
isntaller didnt seem to like that either.

I also have another computer on my network with Windows
XP.

So the question would be - Is there a way to format the
USB key into an acceptable file system for the Win 2000
installer? If Not, would a USB floppy drive work?
Or would it be easier to attempt a network install using
the Win XP machine?
 
Easiest to borrow a floppy drive to get through the install. You'll want to
boot the Windows 2000 setup disks or CD-Rom. The set of four install disks
can be created from your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk
directory on the CD-Rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe
(from 32 bit) and follow the prompts.

Then *F6* very early and very important (at setup is inspecting your system)
in the setup to prevent drive controller detection, and select S to specify
additional drivers. Then later you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer
supplied Windows 2000 driver for your serial ATA controller in drive "A"

If you wait and then S to specify additional drivers, then it may be too
late as Windows 2000 Setup at this point may have already assigned the
resources your drive's controller is wanting to use.

When you get to the point, delete the existing NTFS and or other partitions
found. After you delete the partition(s) abort the install, then again
restart the pc booting the CD-Rom or setup disks to avoid unexpected drive
letter assignments with your new install.


--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
| Hello,
|
| I am attempting to do a fresh install of Windows
| 2000 Pro on some new hardware.
|
| Here is my quandry.
| a) I only have a Serial ATA Hard-Drive.
| b) I have a floppy disk with the drivers, but I cannot
| get a floppy drive to work on my machine.
|
| I have a USB key/flash drive, and I have attempted to
| use it during the installation process when the text
| installer asks for additional disks. It almost works, but
| I get an error that the install cannot read the file
| system. Win XP allows me to format into FAT, but the
| isntaller didnt seem to like that either.
|
| I also have another computer on my network with Windows
| XP.
|
| So the question would be - Is there a way to format the
| USB key into an acceptable file system for the Win 2000
| installer? If Not, would a USB floppy drive work?
| Or would it be easier to attempt a network install using
| the Win XP machine?
|
 
Do USB connected 3.5" Floppy drives tend to work?

This issue has cropped up as I am having problems getting
my previously working (on other systems) floppy drive to
be recognized on this new machine. As the BIOS
recognizes USB devices at boot time, wondering if I can
go that route.
 
Probably not but you've nothing to lose by trying. You'll most likely need a
floppy drive connected to the mb's inbuilt floppy controller.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


:
|
| Do USB connected 3.5" Floppy drives tend to work?
|
| This issue has cropped up as I am having problems getting
| my previously working (on other systems) floppy drive to
| be recognized on this new machine. As the BIOS
| recognizes USB devices at boot time, wondering if I can
| go that route.
 
Dave said:
Probably not but you've nothing to lose by trying. You'll most likely need a
floppy drive connected to the mb's inbuilt floppy controller.
Click to expand...

I'm amazed how people manage; many of the newer Dells don't come with a
floppy at all! You can perform SOME operations with a USB drive, but it
leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to booting from it, or using it
in a situation where a "real" floppy is expected. Hell, even Dell's own
"bare-metal" diagnostics is hard to setup without a floppy drive.

Of course there are some low-level tricks you can do to get round these
problems but it's far from straightforward.
 
Rich said:
installer? If Not, would a USB floppy drive work?
Click to expand...

Probably would provided you enable emulation in the BIOS. Why can't you
just mend the "normal" floppy drive?
Or would it be easier to attempt a network install using
the Win XP machine?
Click to expand...

But how would you boot up your DOS networking environment with no floppy?
 
But how would you boot up your DOS networking environment with no floppy?
Click to expand...

There is Windows PE (Preinstall Environment) CD.
It is available in OPK (Oem Preinstall Kit) or from MS Select Licensing.
I received one with purchase of HP Compaq D530. This was, of course, tweaked
for Compaq kit and rather limited, but I think I can "untweak it" and use
for something else.
You can also go to Bart PE (www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/) and build your own
bootable WinXP CD.

Dusko Savatovic
 
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