windows xp setup=="setup cannot find FILENAME"

[aaronep]

It has been necessary for me to format my hard drive containing Windows
XP Pro.

When reinstalling from the original CD Installation Disk (from Msft,
not computer maker),
2/3's way through the installation, I get following error message:

"setup cannot copy file htable.xsl" from the CD Disk. I am
forced to go to another computer and search for the file on the other
computer's hard drive and save onto a floppy disk & then
take disk to other computer, insert it and press RETRY button and file
then installs.

So far this process has been necessary at least 10 times with no end in
sight. Each time a diffierent file name is being sought.

Two questions:

what is causing this problem whereby the computer cannot find the
file on the XP
installation disk?

assuming that the above problem cannot be resolved, is there a faster
way of obtaining all of the files from the working xp computer and not
having to go through this step by step process?

all suggestions welcomed! Aaron

 

[Unk]

It has been necessary for me to format my hard drive containing Windows
XP Pro.

When reinstalling from the original CD Installation Disk (from Msft,
not computer maker),
2/3's way through the installation, I get following error message:

"setup cannot copy file htable.xsl" from the CD Disk. I am
forced to go to another computer and search for the file on the other
computer's hard drive and save onto a floppy disk & then
take disk to other computer, insert it and press RETRY button and file
then installs.

So far this process has been necessary at least 10 times with no end in
sight. Each time a diffierent file name is being sought.

Two questions:

what is causing this problem whereby the computer cannot find the
file on the XP
installation disk?

assuming that the above problem cannot be resolved, is there a faster
way of obtaining all of the files from the working xp computer and not
having to go through this step by step process?

all suggestions welcomed! Aaron

Either the CD or the CD Drive is going bad or is marginal.

Look at the CD. Is it scratched? Blockbuster will refinish a CD for around $5

You could borrow the other computer's CD drive...
Or, if it has a burner, try to make a copy of the CD.

 

[aaronep]

good suggestions! I am now asking if there is a way of downloading
the entire contents of the XP onto the hard drive first and then making
the installation from the hard drive.
Would this be possible even if the XP operating system is not installed
on the hard drive?
Is there software that would do this? best, Aaron


***************************************************************************8

 

[Unk]

good suggestions! I am now asking if there is a way of downloading
the entire contents of the XP onto the hard drive first and then making
the installation from the hard drive.
Would this be possible even if the XP operating system is not installed
on the hard drive?
Is there software that would do this? best, Aaron

Yes, the software is on the WinXP CD. Seriously, you can save a whole lot of time and
trouble if you just borrow the CD drive from the other computer or burn a new copy of your CD.

If you really want to do it the hard way, then here's how I install Windows on laptops that
don't have a CD, and won't boot to a PCMCIA or USB device.

The easiest way is to install the HD as a slave in the other computer and format it from it's
Windows. Once installed as a slave, click Start -> Run -> and type: diskmgmt.msc
and click OK.
Locate the old HD in the window, right-click it, delete the partition, create a new one, make it
active, assign a letter, and format it using FAT32. <---NOT NTFS! DOS can't see an NTFS drive.

Once it's formatted, copy the CD's i386 folder to the hard drive.

Now, download the below file and double-click it to create a Win98 Boot floppy with CD support.
http://www.digitalforrest.com/images/killer7/myfiles/Win98Boot-CD.exe

Put the HD back in your computer (reset the jumper to master, or CS, or whatever it was before)
and boot to the Win98 Boot floppy you made.

At the A:\ prompt, type: fdisk and make the HD partition active, and exit fdisk.
Reboot with the floppy in the drive...
At the A:\ prompt, type: sys c: That will make the HD bootable.

At the A:\ prompt, type: c:\i386
At the C:\i386 prompt, type: winnt.exe

Be patient, just when you think it froze up, it'll start copying files... wait for it....

During the Windows setup, install XP to the existing partition, and after a while, you will be
given the option to convert the drive to NTFS. Say yes if you want, and go make some coffee.

This is REALLY the hard way. If it were me, I'd borrow the CD-ROM. It's only 4 screws and 2
plugs. I ONLY do it this when there's absolutely no other way.

Phew...

 

[aaronep]

Hi Unk: I do have a hard drive that is portable and connects via USB
ports. If I copy the contents of the XP installation disk onto the
portable USB hard drive, can I then install XP on the subject computer
from the USB drive? Is it possible to have the computer that is to
read the installation read from the USB Drive before XP is installed?

Thank's again for your quick responses & viable suggestions! Aaron


*************************************************************************************8

 

[DanS]

"setup cannot copy file htable.xsl" from the CD Disk. I am
forced to go to another computer and search for the file on the other
computer's hard drive and save onto a floppy disk & then
take disk to other computer, insert it and press RETRY button and file
then installs.

So far this process has been necessary at least 10 times with no end in
sight. Each time a diffierent file name is being sought.

Two questions:

what is causing this problem whereby the computer cannot find the
file on the XP
installation disk?

A flaky stick of RAM ? If you have more than one, try taking one out, try
the install. If it goes, there you have it. If not, replace the first stick
and remove the other and try again.

I've seen this 3 times, and it was the RAM in each case.

 

[aaronep]

note to UNK and all: the option I described is not viable. The bios
in my pc does not recognize a USB port as a bootable device. Does
anyone know if bios(s) in current computers recognize USB as a boot
option? best, Aaron

*************************************************************************************

 

[aaronep]

Dear UNK and Dan S:

Problem has been solved via UNK's opening statement:

" Either the CD or the CD Drive is going bad or is marginal"

This WAS the problem. My first thought was to make a clean copy of the
installation disk onto a external DVD drive. This was time consuming
and fruitless as after I made the copy I discovered that my current
bios will not allow a boot from a USB drive.

I then reread UNK'S post and tried making an installation from another
xp installation cd and same problem caused install to come to a stop.

I then gave attention to the possibility that it was the cD drive
problem, and it was. I
transferred a working cd from another computer & hooked it up to the
subject computer and WOW installation went through like a breeze.

What I did not and still do not understand is why a cd drive will
install perfectly the beginning of the cd disk and fail to read the
ending portions of the disk.

In any event, all is well and my appreciation to both of you is
PARAMOUNT (not Fox).
best, Aaron

 

[Unk]

Dear UNK and Dan S:

Problem has been solved via UNK's opening statement:

" Either the CD or the CD Drive is going bad or is marginal"

This WAS the problem. My first thought was to make a clean copy of the
installation disk onto a external DVD drive. This was time consuming
and fruitless as after I made the copy I discovered that my current
bios will not allow a boot from a USB drive.

I then reread UNK'S post and tried making an installation from another
xp installation cd and same problem caused install to come to a stop.

I then gave attention to the possibility that it was the cD drive
problem, and it was. I
transferred a working cd from another computer & hooked it up to the
subject computer and WOW installation went through like a breeze.

I told you it was a lot easier to borrow the drive...

What I did not and still do not understand is why a cd drive will
install perfectly the beginning of the cd disk and fail to read the
ending portions of the disk.

The read head has a tendency to be slightly off track as it gets closer to the outer edge of the
CD due to wear and abuse (and cheap parts). The same goes for the angle of the laser.

In any event, all is well and my appreciation to both of you is
PARAMOUNT (not Fox).
best, Aaron

You're welcome.