Windows 2000 setup: can't load Windows Boot loader.

  • Thread starter Thread starter OM
  • Start date Start date
O

OM

I've got a laptop that I'm trying to install Windows 2000 on.
(I can't install XP as the laptop doesn't have the right drivers.)

I get the error: "Setup can't load Windows Boot loader".


It also says I should check if the hard disc is faulty.


Previously I had Win2000 installed.
It crashed.
I tested the hard drive.
An error was reported.


But then I got the hard drive manufacturers tools and wiped the hard
drive completely.
And ran the error check again.
All seems to be fine.


But... I still get the error above.


What can I do to ge the Windows Boot Loader to install?


Thanks.


OM
 
How are you installing? Are you sure that's the exact text of the error? To
do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. 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.

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply these to your new install before connecting to any network.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

--

Regards,

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

:
| I've got a laptop that I'm trying to install Windows 2000 on.
| (I can't install XP as the laptop doesn't have the right drivers.)
|
| I get the error: "Setup can't load Windows Boot loader".
|
|
| It also says I should check if the hard disc is faulty.
|
|
| Previously I had Win2000 installed.
| It crashed.
| I tested the hard drive.
| An error was reported.
|
|
| But then I got the hard drive manufacturers tools and wiped the hard
| drive completely.
| And ran the error check again.
| All seems to be fine.
|
|
| But... I still get the error above.
|
|
| What can I do to ge the Windows Boot Loader to install?
|
|
| Thanks.
|
|
| OM
|
 
Dave said:
How are you installing? Are you sure that's the exact text of the error? To
do a clean install, either boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup
disks. 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.

Setup inspects your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to
install the Setup and driver files. When the Windows 2000 Professional
screen appears, press ENTER to set up Windows 2000 Professional.

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows 2000 Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply these to your new install before connecting to any network.

http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/6/A/E6A04295-D2A8-40D0-A0C5-241BFECD095E/W2KSP4_EN.EXE
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

Then

Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
thanks for the reply. that was really useful.
i solved my problem in the end.
i installed windows 98.
then installed windows 2000.
 
You're welcome.

--

Regards,

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

:
| thanks for the reply. that was really useful.
| i solved my problem in the end.
| i installed windows 98.
| then installed windows 2000.
|
 
Hello OM,
I tested the hard drive.
An error was reported.

This really sounds like a physical error of the harddisk. I think it's
damaged.
But then I got the hard drive manufacturers tools and wiped the hard
drive completely.
And ran the error check again.
All seems to be fine.

Wiping removes the information about all sectors that are corrupt. So
the check util may say anything.

I am no expert but I guess the MBR (master boot record, first sector) is
broken. No clue how this can happen (only an old disk). If it's the MBR
the check util might also ignore this sector and just scan actual data
sectors.

In my opinion the is few hope that you can use this disk anymore.

(I can't install XP as the laptop doesn't have the right drivers.)

If the problem is just caused by Windows 2000 (which is very unlikely)
you should try XP although. It uses a similar driver architecture and
some Win2000 drivers are also usable under XP. In addition many devices
are supported by XP itself. Have a try.


Daniel Böhmer, Germany
 
Back
Top