Blank screen during installation

[tommaso.beniero]

Hi,
my name is Tommaso. I've an Asus laptop with three partitions:
1 FAT32 (empty)
2 FAT32 (backup files with no operating system)
3 Logical Volume with Linux

I want to install my copy of Windows XP Professional (obtained from my
university with the MSDN AA (Microsoft Software Development Network
Academic Alliance)) in the first partition. So i put the cd in the
cd-rom before to turn on the computer and wait. A message appears
asking me if i want to boot from cd and i answer yes, then appears a
message saying that the hardware configuration will be inspected but a
blank screen appears and the computer doesn't do anything.
How can i install Win XP? I don't want to use Asus restore cd because
i'll lost all the data on the backup partition.
Is it possible to copy some Windows file from the Windows cd, passing
through Linux, on the first partition? What file i have to copy?

Thanks a lot in advance.

Bye

Tommaso

 

[John John]

Is it possible to copy some Windows file from the Windows cd, passing
through Linux, on the first partition? What file i have to copy?

Yes, it's called installing from a "Flat" or installing from a "Flat
Folder". There is no guarantee that it will overcome your problems but
see here for instructions on how it's done. Ignore the article title,
the procedure described is what you have to do.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315349
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848/EN-US/

Copy the files to your second FAT32 partition and install to the first.
Anything can happen when you install operating systems, mistakes and
glitches happen so make sure that you have a backup of all your
important data on a different drive. You shouldn't entrust important
data to the physical hard drive on which you are installing.

Disconnect ALL unnecessary peripherals (printer, USB devices, etc) from
the computer before you begin the installation, all that should be
connected i the monitor, the keyboard and the mouse.

As I said earlier, I'm not convinced that a flat install is the cure but
you have little to lose trying it.

John

 

[tommaso.beniero]

Yes, it's called installing from a "Flat" or installing from a "Flat
Folder". There is no guarantee that it will overcome your problems but
see here for instructions on how it's done. Ignore the article title,
the procedure described is what you have to do.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q315349
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307848/EN-US/

Thanks for these articles, i'll read them immediately!

Copy the files to your second FAT32 partition and install to the first.

I think i don't do this step because my second FAT32 partition doesn't
have an operating system so i can't boot it.

Anything can happen when you install operating systems, mistakes and
glitches happen so make sure that you have a backup of all your
important data on a different drive. You shouldn't entrust important
data to the physical hard drive on which you are installing.

Disconnect ALL unnecessary peripherals (printer, USB devices, etc) from
the computer before you begin the installation, all that should be
connected i the monitor, the keyboard and the mouse.

As I said earlier, I'm not convinced that a flat install is the cure but
you have little to lose trying it.

John

Thanks a lot John, i'll do what you say and i'll let you know what will
appen.

Bye

Tommaso

 

[John John]

Thanks for these articles, i'll read them immediately!




I think i don't do this step because my second FAT32 partition doesn't
have an operating system so i can't boot it.

Can you not copy them there from your Linux installation? Then you boot
with a Windows 98 boot disk and navigate to the partition\i386folder and
launch the setup program.

John

 

[tommaso.beniero]

Can you not copy them there from your Linux installation? Then you boot

with a Windows 98 boot disk and navigate to the partition\i386folder and
launch the setup program.

John

Yes, it's what i think to do. The problem is that i don't have a floppy
drive on my laptop (unfortunately floppy drivers on new laptops are
rare things!). I'm looking over the internet for a "usb pen-drive
windows 98 boot disk" or something similar.
In your opinion, if i use a Windows 98 SE CD for access the c: drive
where i copied before the windows xp cd, can i install Windows XP or
there will be any problem related to the different Windows versions?

Thanks a lot

Tommaso

 

[John John]

Yes, it's what i think to do. The problem is that i don't have a floppy
drive on my laptop (unfortunately floppy drivers on new laptops are
rare things!). I'm looking over the internet for a "usb pen-drive
windows 98 boot disk" or something similar.
In your opinion, if i use a Windows 98 SE CD for access the c: drive
where i copied before the windows xp cd, can i install Windows XP or
there will be any problem related to the different Windows versions?

You should be able to lauch the XP installation if you can boot to the
DOS prompt with the Windows 98 CD. Another alternative might be a USB
diskette drive, but the laptop has to support booting from USB devices
for that to work. To tell you the truth the installation from the
Windows XP CD should work, there is something that is preventing the
setup program from runniung properly. It might be the lilo loader or an
MBR that Windows doesn't agree with... more guessing from my part ;-)

John