Windows XP clean install

  • Thread starter Thread starter Curtis
  • Start date Start date
C

Curtis

I have an upgrade XP disk, and I'm trying to do a clean
install to get rid of my old Windows 98 mess. When I do
the clean install from startup on my computer I can get as
far as the "startup copying files" page, and then there
are about 10 files that absolutely will not copy over.
I've read that you can copy the I386 install directory to
your hard drive to fix this because it is caused by errant
readings from my CD-Rom, but I can't copy this directory
over to my hard drive because I don't have a directory
anymore after reformatting the hard drive. Is there any
way to get an MS-DOS prompt on my new XP hard drive setup
so I can copy these files onto it? Otherwise I'm ready to
throw this upgrade out the window after many hours of
trying to no avail. Any help would be appreciated. I've
already tried slowing down my CD-rom transfer speed and
memory DMA to fix the problem as mentioned in windows Tech
help and it didn't work either. Thanks for any input
 
Curtis said:
I have an upgrade XP disk, and I'm trying to do a clean
install to get rid of my old Windows 98 mess. When I do
the clean install from startup on my computer I can get as
far as the "startup copying files" page, and then there
are about 10 files that absolutely will not copy over.
I've read that you can copy the I386 install directory to
your hard drive to fix this because it is caused by errant
readings from my CD-Rom, but I can't copy this directory
over to my hard drive because I don't have a directory
anymore after reformatting the hard drive. Is there any
way to get an MS-DOS prompt on my new XP hard drive setup
so I can copy these files onto it? Otherwise I'm ready to
throw this upgrade out the window after many hours of
trying to no avail. Any help would be appreciated. I've
already tried slowing down my CD-rom transfer speed and
memory DMA to fix the problem as mentioned in windows Tech
help and it didn't work either. Thanks for any input
Click to expand...

Have you searched MS Knowledge Base for a solution, unless that is what you
mean by windows Tech help. A thought, why not create a logical disk on your
HD or use a second physical drive and copy and install XP from there. If you
format it FAT32 you should be able to boot up with a W98 startup disk and do
the copy from DOS.
Billh
 
You stated in your posting that you are using a Windows XP Upgrade disk.
You cannot clean install using an "Upgrade" disk. You must use the Windows
XP "Full Version" to do a clean install.



Please reply to the newsgroup.
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.
 
M Lew said:
You stated in your posting that you are using a Windows XP Upgrade disk.
You cannot clean install using an "Upgrade" disk. You must use the Windows
XP "Full Version" to do a clean install.



Please reply to the newsgroup.
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.
Click to expand...

Here we go again. You can indeed do a clean install with the retail upgrade
disk. You just have to put in the W98 or whatever CD when asked so the XP
install can read it to verify that you do own a copy of the qualifying
Windows. It then goes ahead with the XP install.

Billh
 
I can do a clean install from this upgrade disk, you just
have to insert Win98 to get some files from it. I even
verified that off the Microsoft knowledge base. Thanks
for the comments though...I'll keep working on it.
 
M said:
You stated in your posting that you are using a Windows XP Upgrade disk.
You cannot clean install using an "Upgrade" disk. You must use the Windows
XP "Full Version" to do a clean install.
Click to expand...


You can. And I would expect someone signing with [MSFT] to know how

You can run a clean install setup from a retail upgrade XP CD, provided
you can show it the CD of a qualifying product when setup asks where
Windows is.


What I suggest to the OP is that if he has a Win98 startup floppy, he
formats the hard disk, and reboots the floppy to copy the i386 folder
from the CD to it. Provided that the copy succeeds then run Smartdrv
(which will speed up the process), go to that i386 folder with
C:
CD i386
and run
WINNT

It will be necessary to show that Win98 retail CD when asked. A
'restore one will not do - it must have the Win98 folder of cab files
for setup to recognise
 
Thanks for all the input...I'll try copying the files onto my hard drive. I still have had no luck loading from the CD, you think Microsoft could fix that bug. Funny thing is I even made a copy of the upgrade disk and the same install files won't copy over, it's almost like it locks up my computer. I've tried reloading the upgrade disk 20 times, and every time completely different files will not load. Almost like it's a glitch on my computer or the disk. Oh well, I think the copy method to my main hard drive should save me....thanks everyone!
 
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