XP install - problem copying files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ture Magnusson
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T

Ture Magnusson

Hi!

I just bought and assembled a super machine, but I'm having HUGE problems
installing Win XP Pro.

System:
Mainboard: AOpen AX4C Max II
Processor: Intel P4 2.8GHz with HyperThreading capability
RAM: 2 x Samsung 512MB DDR400
Graphics: Sapphire Radon 9600 Pro
HardDisk: Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 - 160GB
CD drive: AOpen 52X

I'm installing Win XP Pro with SP1a (eng) from my MSDN CD, dated July 2003

When files are being copied to the HD, several files are difficult to copy,
but after retrying several times, they usually make it to the HD. Even if I
(after many retries) succeed to copy all files, the setup process cannot
continue and gives Blue Screens with different messages. Sorry - can't
recall the exact errors now.

I've tried with different CD readers, different hard drives, different
memory modules. Even with a different CDs (Win XP Pro - original release,
MSDN CD dated Oct 2001).

The CD looks OK as far as I can see and I had no problem to copy its
contents to a folder on another machine.

This is the message I'm getting:

"Windows XP Professional Setup
The file xxxxxx.xxx was not copied correctly.

The file Setup placed on your hard drive is not a valid Windows XP
system image. If you are installing from a CD, there may be a problem
with the Windows XP CD.

To retry, press ENTER..."

I even installed Win 98 SE onto the hard disk and tried installing Win XP
from within Win 98. The installation files are copied to the HD and then the
machine reboots to continue the installation. When the files are being
copied (or extracted?) during thie process, I still get the same message.

I don't know what to do - anyone have a clue what is wrong and what I can do
to solve this problem?

Ture Magnusson
Karlstad, Sweden
 
Yes, i had this problem may a times. download memtest86, i can bet you have
bad RAM which is causing files to be copied wrong. try putting in a new
stick of RAM and while installing make sure you only have ONE stick of RAM i
the machine. (i know it makes one since, just try it)

http://www.memtest86.com/
 
Thanks, Chris, but...

I have two 512 MB memory modules and tried installing with each one.
Same problem, no matter which one is installed.
If both (2 x 512MB) are installed, the installation halts just before it's
going to install files, with a message similar to

"corrupt .SIF file - WinNtDirectories value = 0"

I've downloaded memtest86 and run it with both modules installed. After
running 20 minutes or so, it had passed the tests four times with no errors
reported. But perhaps I need to run the test longer than that?

/Ture
 
Then you could have a bad Windows XP CD

Ture Magnusson said:
Thanks, Chris, but...

I have two 512 MB memory modules and tried installing with each one.
Same problem, no matter which one is installed.
If both (2 x 512MB) are installed, the installation halts just before it's
going to install files, with a message similar to

"corrupt .SIF file - WinNtDirectories value = 0"

I've downloaded memtest86 and run it with both modules installed. After
running 20 minutes or so, it had passed the tests four times with no errors
reported. But perhaps I need to run the test longer than that?

/Ture

RAM
Click to expand...
 
-----Original Message-----
Then you could have a bad Windows XP CD

times with no
errors try putting in a
new have ONE stick of
RAM setup process
cannot copied to the HD and
then


.
Click to expand...
I just had the same problem, built a P4 3.02 and AOpen MB
865PE chipset. All new components, I just came to the
conclusion that the DVD rom drive is not working properly
and used a CDRW drive and the install went fine with no
errors. Try a CDRW drive as a master and see if you get
the errors.
 
I am having the same issue on a AMD machine using DDR400
PC3200 memory. It is not a bad Windows XP CD. I have
three copies of Windows XP and one for Windows 2000. The
problem occurs using any of the CD's with either both
memory modules installed or only one (I tried both
separately). The problem still persists. The BIOS is
updated to the latest. At least I know I am not the only
one. Now what do we do though?
 
I turned off L1 and L2 cache in BIOS and also disabled HyperThreading.
Installation seems to be working OK now (it's very slow but all files have
been copied without problems - it has now rebooted and continues with
installation with nice graphics)

So - the CD media is not the cause of the problems, I believe.

What does this indicate? Faulty RAM or faulty processor? Or something
else?

If this install works all the way - is it likely that Win XP will run OK
after
I turn L1 and L2 cache and HyperThreaing back on?

/Ture
 
Thanks Mike, but I have tried using several different CDRW and
CDROM drives, with the same results.

As I wrote recently, though, turning off L1 & L2 cache and HyperThreading
seems to make the installation work (although very slowly)

(see very bottom of this message for Mike's comment)

/Ture
 
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