can't reformat disk on reinstall

[shelirose]

I'd like to reinstall windows XP on a computer with MSI motherboard,
Intel Duo E7300 and Samsung SATA 500 gig hard drive. During the
initial install, I was asked if I wanted to format the drive and the
install appeared to run smoothly. I then downloaded SP3 and installed
it successfully. A week or so later, I tried setting up the fax option
and it prompted me to reinsert my XP disc (it only includes SP1). I
unchecked an internet option on the menu before downloading the new
files and got a message that said windows might not work properly. I'm
still booting up but lost the explore ICON. I copied a shortcut of
"iexplore.exe" and can still access Windows Explorer.

However, I've been trying to do a clean install since not much is on
the computer.
I believe that I'm booting from the CD as files begin to load and the
CD light is on.It also seems like the hard drive light is on and I
never get the options of 1)new installation or 2) Repair an existing
installation.
Instead many more files continue to load until I get a screen that
says "Session3_Initialization_Failed".

Shouldn't I be getting a prompt to reformat the drive? If not, does
anyone have an idea of why I can't reinstall.
Note that I can still load Windows XP if I'm booting from the hard
drive. I'm a little tentative trying to reinstall from the CD in the
case that I'll won't be able to reboot from the hard drive.

Any suggestions on how I can do a clean reinstall including
reformatting the drive?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

...I'm still booting up but lost the explore ICON. I copied a shortcut of
"iexplore.exe" and can still access Windows Explorer.

<snip>

The Internet Explorer icon is missing from your desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945402/

 

[Rey Santos]

It could be a bad CD drive.
See this thread:
session3_initialization_failed
http://www.techimo.com/forum/technical-support/135371-session3_initialization_failed.html

 

[Tim Meddick]

More likely than not, it's dirt on the cd (hopefully not scratched).

Look closely at the surface of the installation cd - is there dirt or
scratches?

Wash it gently in warm water and a little detergent - then dry it off
with kitchen roll.

Try the installation again.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Mark Adams]

I'd like to reinstall windows XP on a computer with MSI motherboard,
Intel Duo E7300 and Samsung SATA 500 gig hard drive. During the
initial install, I was asked if I wanted to format the drive and the
install appeared to run smoothly. I then downloaded SP3 and installed
it successfully. A week or so later, I tried setting up the fax option
and it prompted me to reinsert my XP disc (it only includes SP1). I
unchecked an internet option on the menu before downloading the new
files and got a message that said windows might not work properly. I'm
still booting up but lost the explore ICON. I copied a shortcut of
"iexplore.exe" and can still access Windows Explorer.

However, I've been trying to do a clean install since not much is on
the computer.
I believe that I'm booting from the CD as files begin to load and the
CD light is on.It also seems like the hard drive light is on and I
never get the options of 1)new installation or 2) Repair an existing
installation.
Instead many more files continue to load until I get a screen that
says "Session3_Initialization_Failed".

Shouldn't I be getting a prompt to reformat the drive? If not, does
anyone have an idea of why I can't reinstall.
Note that I can still load Windows XP if I'm booting from the hard
drive. I'm a little tentative trying to reinstall from the CD in the
case that I'll won't be able to reboot from the hard drive.

Any suggestions on how I can do a clean reinstall including
reformatting the drive?

Copy the CD with ISO Recorder on a different computer using a different CD
drive. Somettimes changing the media can help with a reluctant install. It's
also good to have copies of your media, you never know when a disk will go
bad. Save an .iso file of the disk to your hard drive for safekeeping as well.