Can't install XP Pro from cab files?

[***** charles]

Hi all,

My method is this:

1. Create and format C partition
2. Create and format D partition
3. Copy i386 subdirectory from CDROM to a
i386 directory on the D drive
4. go to the D:\i386 and type WINNT and
start the install.

Problem is that I get an error message that
says it can't find the "asms" on the cdrom
and the install aborts. So my question is
what part of the Windows XP Pro cdrom do I
have to copy to the D partition to get the
install to be successfull?

Second question is how do I install if
possible XP Pro over a network connection?

thanks,
charles......

 

[Jeff]

why are you installing this way, instead of just booting
to the CDROM, formatting and installing from there?
sounds like it would be a much easier task.

as far as network installations go, search the MS site
for various methods for network installs, none of which
are really meant for the home use (im assuming thats what
you are trying to do).

 

[Guest]

The copy command is not sufficient enough to copy all the folders and files over to a flat on your hard disk. You should use xcopy to perform this task. You will have to copy it from a working 9x computer or from the 9x cd rom.

 

[***** charles]

I am aware of the differences between xcopy and copy.
First, I install XP on a lot of differing machines.
Second, XP "remembers" where the install directory is
for future reference. I would like it to be either
the second partition on the first hard drive or the
second drive in a two drive system. Since most of
the machines I setup have one drive, that would make
it the second partition on the single drive. The
"best" way to setup a machine that doesn't have
remote administration as in a big corporation, is to
put all the install files and all of the drivers and
downloads for future installation on the second drive.
That way if one has to "wack" the C drive, and re-
install it is much faster. I know that GHOST kind of
makes all this fine tuning mostly unnecessary but
setting up a machine the right way in the first place
makes working on and fixing it latter much easier.
In the "old days" it was possible to put the cab
files on a network server and boot to a floppy and
install off the server. It was much faster than
installing from the cdrom. I hate searching through
M$ for the solution to my problem but I thought
someone might have already gone through this since
XP has been out since 2001.

thanks,
charles....

PS. This is/was not meant to make illegal machines.
All the machines I work on are setup legally.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Description of the Windows XP Corporate Deployment Tools and Documentation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;321880&Product=winxp

Support WebCast: Microsoft Windows XP: Deployment Methods
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324874&Product=winxp

Support WebCast: Preparing Your Network for a Windows XP Professional Roll Out
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324884&Product=winxp

How to Prepare Images for Disk Duplication with Sysprep
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/duplication.mspx

How to Use Sysprep with Windows Product Activation or Volume License Media to Deploy Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299840&Product=winxp

Summary of the limitations of the System Preparation tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830958&Product=winxp

Deploying Windows XP
http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/Install/deploy.htm

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

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

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


|I am aware of the differences between xcopy and copy.
| First, I install XP on a lot of differing machines.
| Second, XP "remembers" where the install directory is
| for future reference. I would like it to be either
| the second partition on the first hard drive or the
| second drive in a two drive system. Since most of
| the machines I setup have one drive, that would make
| it the second partition on the single drive. The
| "best" way to setup a machine that doesn't have
| remote administration as in a big corporation, is to
| put all the install files and all of the drivers and
| downloads for future installation on the second drive.
| That way if one has to "wack" the C drive, and re-
| install it is much faster. I know that GHOST kind of
| makes all this fine tuning mostly unnecessary but
| setting up a machine the right way in the first place
| makes working on and fixing it latter much easier.
| In the "old days" it was possible to put the cab
| files on a network server and boot to a floppy and
| install off the server. It was much faster than
| installing from the cdrom. I hate searching through
| M$ for the solution to my problem but I thought
| someone might have already gone through this since
| XP has been out since 2001.
|
| thanks,
| charles....
|
| PS. This is/was not meant to make illegal machines.
| All the machines I work on are setup legally.