Clean Install Loop/Errors

[Guest]

Hi Al

Just got a new (used!) pc, with 2 120mb (one seagate one maxtor) hd's. Formatted the intended Windows installation hd in ntfs, and dug out my copy of XP Pro. So far so good. I received an error message just as xp was beginning to install (the first "graphic" install page), saying that files couldnt be accessed from i386 folder. no option to ignore or whatever and after clicking ok it reboots and goes back to the same stage. an inescapable loop

lately it has also sometimes come up with a blue screen
reg file failur
\systemroot\system32\config\softwar
it is corrupt, absent, or not writable

my xp pro is a proper retail version, but is slightly scratched in places (dont laugh) - if the cd needs replacing i can accept that, but dont want to buy another unless i have to

thanks.

 

[Drew Tognola]

Steve
Try the repair install, then do the clean install
Drew

Hi All

Just got a new (used!) pc, with 2 120mb (one seagate one maxtor) hd's.

Formatted the intended Windows installation hd in ntfs, and dug out my copy
of XP Pro. So far so good. I received an error message just as xp was
beginning to install (the first "graphic" install page), saying that files
couldnt be accessed from i386 folder. no option to ignore or whatever and
after clicking ok it reboots and goes back to the same stage. an inescapable
loop.

lately it has also sometimes come up with a blue screen:
reg file failure
\systemroot\system32\config\software
it is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

my xp pro is a proper retail version, but is slightly scratched in places

(dont laugh) - if the cd needs replacing i can accept that, but dont want to
buy another unless i have to.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Hi All

Just got a new (used!) pc, with 2 120mb (one seagate one

maxtor) hd's. Formatted the intended Windows installation
hd in ntfs, and dug out my copy of XP Pro. So far so
good. I received an error message just as xp was
beginning to install (the first "graphic" install page),
saying that files couldnt be accessed from i386 folder.
no option to ignore or whatever and after clicking ok it
reboots and goes back to the same stage. an inescapable
loop.

lately it has also sometimes come up with a blue screen:
reg file failure
\systemroot\system32\config\software
it is corrupt, absent, or not writable.

my xp pro is a proper retail version, but is slightly

scratched in places (dont laugh) - if the cd needs
replacing i can accept that, but dont want to buy another
unless i have to.

thanks.
.
try

support.microsoft.com
311755 and 307848

goal to xcopy a flat of the i386 directly to the hard
drive and run winnt from dos to start the install

if the file copying fails moving i386 folder try your xp
cd on another xp compatible system if it works then it is
probably bad ram or a drive overlay on the hdd or
mismatched speeds between hdd and cdrom drive,but it
could be cpu ram motherboard cdrom drive or hdd or cables
or jumpering.

 

[Guest]

Already made a copy of i386 (on my laptop) and burned it onto a cd, so could you tell me the "idiots guide" steps for copying i386 to hard drive, then exactly what to type where (re the winnt)

thanks