Cannot install XP from DOS

[Claire]

Hi Im really hoping someone can help me as I have no idea
where to go from here....

I had the error "NTLDR is missing", resolved that problem
by booting from floppy. So now I can get to A: prompt and
also access the HD and CDROM. I cant get to any windows
OS though, Im only able to work from DOS.

So now I try to install XP on an old hard drive which had
windows 98. I FDISK and FORMAT without any worry. When I
run WINNT.EXE from the CDROM. It opens up a blue screen
in DOS saying it is copying files but then after a while
the file names at the bottom right disappear and all
thats left is a blue screen with the heading saying
windows xp setup (or something like that). It just hangs
here.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Follow this procedure to properly install Windows XP:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Hi Im really hoping someone can help me as I have no idea
| where to go from here....
|
| I had the error "NTLDR is missing", resolved that problem
| by booting from floppy. So now I can get to A: prompt and
| also access the HD and CDROM. I cant get to any windows
| OS though, Im only able to work from DOS.
|
| So now I try to install XP on an old hard drive which had
| windows 98. I FDISK and FORMAT without any worry. When I
| run WINNT.EXE from the CDROM. It opens up a blue screen
| in DOS saying it is copying files but then after a while
| the file names at the bottom right disappear and all
| thats left is a blue screen with the heading saying
| windows xp setup (or something like that). It just hangs
| here.
|
| Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Guest]

Thanks.

I tried that but when I restart (after setting BIOS to
boot from CD) I just get the error "Invalid Boot
Diskette. Please insert Boot Diskette in A:"

-----Original Message-----
Follow this procedure to properly install Windows XP:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and

keyboard, before installing XP.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation

difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?

scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------


| Hi Im really hoping someone can help me as I have no idea
| where to go from here....
|
| I had the error "NTLDR is missing", resolved that problem
| by booting from floppy. So now I can get to A: prompt and
| also access the HD and CDROM. I cant get to any windows
| OS though, Im only able to work from DOS.
|
| So now I try to install XP on an old hard drive which had
| windows 98. I FDISK and FORMAT without any worry. When I
| run WINNT.EXE from the CDROM. It opens up a blue screen
| in DOS saying it is copying files but then after a while
| the file names at the bottom right disappear and all
| thats left is a blue screen with the heading saying
| windows xp setup (or something like that). It just hangs
| here.
|
| Any help would be greatly appreciated!
.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Check and see if you left a floppy disk in your floppy drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Thanks.
|
| I tried that but when I restart (after setting BIOS to
| boot from CD) I just get the error "Invalid Boot
| Diskette. Please insert Boot Diskette in A:"

 

[Claire]

Okay I can get it to start the Setup from boot. Except
after a short time I get the
message "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" on a blue screen.

Thanks for your help so far. Any idea how to fix this?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

"UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" Error Message When You Restart Your
Computer or Upgrade to Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297185&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Okay I can get it to start the Setup from boot. Except
| after a short time I get the
| message "UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME" on a blue screen.
|
| Thanks for your help so far. Any idea how to fix this?

 

[Guest]

I have tried scan disk and everything suggested.

Still I have the same problem.

Should I be booting with a Win98 or a WinXP disk?