Can't Install From i386 on Dell PCs

[mr.roboto.ny]

his is the 2nd time in two consecutive days w/ the same problem
on two different Dells. Windows is damaged and needs a clean
install. The i386 folder seems okay (they're plenty big enough
at 1GB !) I copy over my own $OEM$ sub-directory (no drivers,
just common 3rd-party apps like Adobe Acrobat) with my preferred
WINNT.SIF and launch WINNT32 from via my BartPE disc. It fails
immediately w/ an error msg reporting that the CD key invalid.
Have confirmed the keys multiple times, have removed the key
from the answer file and enter it manually at the beginning of
the setup process. No joy. Same error every time.

Have been searching the 'Net for additional info, but I can't
find a single instance of anything similar, specifically WRT
Dell PCs. My best guess is that this is some oddball OEM
arrangment from Dell, whereby their i386 sub-dir doesn't have an
operational Windows XP distribution file set. Doesn't make much
sense, but that's the only explanation that fits the
circumstances. It suggests that the only "approved" way to put
Windows XP back on these PCs is to use Dell's special recovery
disc and completely wipe it. Not my preferred solution at all.

This isn't an urgent distress call, it's simply that I use a
particular procedure for redoing PCs and as a rule I *NEVER*
reformat or the like unless there's absolutely no other
alternative, like now....Jet

 

[Shenan Stanley]

his is the 2nd time in two consecutive days w/ the same problem
on two different Dells. Windows is damaged and needs a clean
install. The i386 folder seems okay (they're plenty big enough
at 1GB !) I copy over my own $OEM$ sub-directory (no drivers,
just common 3rd-party apps like Adobe Acrobat) with my preferred
WINNT.SIF and launch WINNT32 from via my BartPE disc. It fails
immediately w/ an error msg reporting that the CD key invalid.
Have confirmed the keys multiple times, have removed the key
from the answer file and enter it manually at the beginning of
the setup process. No joy. Same error every time.

Have been searching the 'Net for additional info, but I can't
find a single instance of anything similar, specifically WRT
Dell PCs. My best guess is that this is some oddball OEM
arrangment from Dell, whereby their i386 sub-dir doesn't have an
operational Windows XP distribution file set. Doesn't make much
sense, but that's the only explanation that fits the
circumstances. It suggests that the only "approved" way to put
Windows XP back on these PCs is to use Dell's special recovery
disc and completely wipe it. Not my preferred solution at all.

This isn't an urgent distress call, it's simply that I use a
particular procedure for redoing PCs and as a rule I *NEVER*
reformat or the like unless there's absolutely no other
alternative, like now....Jet

Actually - I believe the i386 directory on Dells (from Dell - unmodified) is
a courtesy - not meant for installations. It's for some things - but the
Dell(s) in question should have a restoration procedure (for example -
reinstall from provided CD, restore from recovery partition, etc.)

In most cases - you can use a generic OEM CD and the CD key on the Dell PC
(the sticker to be specific) to perform many things on your Dells.

 

[mr.roboto.ny]

Actually - I believe the i386 directory on Dells (from Dell - unmodified) is

a courtesy - not meant for installations. It's for some things - but the
Dell(s) in question should have a restoration procedure (for example -
reinstall from provided CD, restore from recovery partition, etc.)

In most cases - you can use a generic OEM CD and the CD key on the Dell PC
(the sticker to be specific) to perform many things on your Dells.

That's essentially what I thought (about i386, that is.) So, if
Windows detects that a core file is corrupt or missing, one can
reinstall it w/o the CD. Now about using a generic OEM CD,
that's another story entirely. Due to internal issues, I'm not
always given OEM CDs, but sometimes retail CDs. And sometimes,
I'm not sure that the mfr's XP CD is OEM or VLK. I've found a
site that shows the different COA stickers (for all the good
that does), but I was wondering if anyone knows of a site that
shows the different setup dialogs that distinguish OEM, retail,
and VLK. Retail CDs are (physically) easy to distinguish bec
they have the prominent hologram (assuming I get the disc), but
the others are a crap shoot.

Later, y'all....Jet