Can't reinstall windows components from WinXP Pro CD

[Timberwolf]

Ok, here's my problem.

I decided one day I was going to install some services that I had
previously removed from the windows components so I could do some
network traffic tracking to see where my speed was degrading (being a
networking major it's what I do), now the problem was, when I tried to
install the components (pretty much everything) I tried loading the
files from the CD...

Well, needless to say it popped and error on me, "Please insert the cd
labeled "windows xp professional sp2" cd and press ok." So, I placed
the cd in the drive and click ok.. Low and behold microsofts wonderful
forethought struck.. The files couldn't be loaded from the CD.. Why?
Was the cd scratched? **Pulls out cd, stares blankly**, not a single
scratch on the cd, infact, it looked better than some of the "new" cd's
I've purchased. So, was it the fact that the files needed to be placed
on my HD and read from there? Nope.. After trying it kept slapping me
with the same error although every file and folder copied onto my HD
without a problem.

So, we come to my next step, I decided that maybe it was the fact that
my drives were reading the files too fast and corrupting them as they
went, set all drives (even the HD) to PIO mode 0.. Still couldn't do
it, tried to do the setup in safe-mode, both ways (with and without the
slower drives), and still couldn't get past the setup asking for the
files.

Then I decided that maybe it was time to expand the files from the main
i386 folder (on the HD mind you) and see if it could read the expanded
files... Nope.. Still wouldn't fix the problem. So, I decided to try to
see if I could expand ALL the files in the i386 folder.. Expand doesn't
have an option to expand everything in a given directory tree and I
couldn't find a tool and I'm sorry, but I wasn't about to spend 4 hours
recreating that tree with the expanded files.

Now, I've tried setting the registry to see the copied files on my HD
as the main cd (searching in that folder instead of looking for a CD),
still nothing..

At this point I'm baffled, but as far as I can tell the problem is with
the files that end in an underscore ("_"). After expanding I didn't
notice anymore files being asked for that had actually been expanded,
but some files could not be expanded past that underscore name.. Now,
I'm guessing that the error itself has something to do with the fact
that my PC will not recognize or will not expand those files for some
reason. I've recently decided that maybe the disc itself was bad
(although 5 months ago I had no problems installing WinXP Pro) and went
on a warez hunt, I'm not proud of it, but I was desperate.. I decided
to use Daemon tools to mount the images as a "logical" cd rom.. STILL
to no avail did it help at all..

Now, I'm out of ideas.. I've tried everything I can think of and have
now decided to turn it over to the masses. Please, if anyone has any
ideas.. Even a slight idea.. It would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
-Timberwolf

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Ok, here's my problem.

I decided one day I was going to install some services that I had
previously removed from the windows components so I could do some
network traffic tracking to see where my speed was degrading (being a
networking major it's what I do), now the problem was, when I tried to
install the components (pretty much everything) I tried loading the
files from the CD...

Well, needless to say it popped and error on me, "Please insert the cd
labeled "windows xp professional sp2" cd and press ok." So, I placed
the cd in the drive and click ok.. Low and behold microsofts wonderful
forethought struck.. The files couldn't be loaded from the CD.. Why?
Was the cd scratched? **Pulls out cd, stares blankly**, not a single
scratch on the cd, infact, it looked better than some of the "new" cd's
I've purchased. So, was it the fact that the files needed to be placed
on my HD and read from there? Nope.. After trying it kept slapping me
with the same error although every file and folder copied onto my HD
without a problem.

So, we come to my next step, I decided that maybe it was the fact that
my drives were reading the files too fast and corrupting them as they
went, set all drives (even the HD) to PIO mode 0.. Still couldn't do
it, tried to do the setup in safe-mode, both ways (with and without the
slower drives), and still couldn't get past the setup asking for the
files.

Then I decided that maybe it was time to expand the files from the main
i386 folder (on the HD mind you) and see if it could read the expanded
files... Nope.. Still wouldn't fix the problem. So, I decided to try to
see if I could expand ALL the files in the i386 folder.. Expand doesn't
have an option to expand everything in a given directory tree and I
couldn't find a tool and I'm sorry, but I wasn't about to spend 4 hours
recreating that tree with the expanded files.

Now, I've tried setting the registry to see the copied files on my HD
as the main cd (searching in that folder instead of looking for a CD),
still nothing..

At this point I'm baffled, but as far as I can tell the problem is with
the files that end in an underscore ("_"). After expanding I didn't
notice anymore files being asked for that had actually been expanded,
but some files could not be expanded past that underscore name.. Now,
I'm guessing that the error itself has something to do with the fact
that my PC will not recognize or will not expand those files for some
reason. I've recently decided that maybe the disc itself was bad
(although 5 months ago I had no problems installing WinXP Pro) and went
on a warez hunt, I'm not proud of it, but I was desperate.. I decided
to use Daemon tools to mount the images as a "logical" cd rom.. STILL
to no avail did it help at all..

Now, I'm out of ideas.. I've tried everything I can think of and have
now decided to turn it over to the masses. Please, if anyone has any
ideas.. Even a slight idea.. It would be most appreciated.

Sincerely,
-Timberwolf

- What exactly is the label on your CD? Please quote it verbatim
as it is printed.
- What exactly is the CD that Windows asks for? Is it the same,
word for word?

 

[Haggis]

- What exactly is the label on your CD? Please quote it verbatim
as it is printed.
- What exactly is the CD that Windows asks for? Is it the same,
word for word?

try pointing the installer at c:\windows ro c:\windows\system if you had
the components installed at some point ..the files are probably still there.

and of course , what Pegasus is asking for :>

 

[Timberwolf]

Ok.. Well, the cd is a burnt cd.. Student MSDN subscription from my
local college.. The cd is labeled "VRMPFPP_EN".. The cd it asks for is
"Windows XP Professional SP2"... So, it doesn't specify the name of the
CD itself just what should be on the lable.. Don't know why the guy
that handles this stuff would not make the cd name match a true install
disk, however, as far as I know this doesn't affect the installation at
all as long as the file being searched for can be found in a "valid"
location or folder.. i386 pretty much anywhere on any PC will carry the
"validity" in a normal install, don't know why it wouldn't here, plus,
this is the cd I installed from and as far as I remember, I think I
actually had a problem getting it installed (was 6 months ago and I've
slept).. I think I ended up having to WinME boot and manually copy the
install to my HD, however, it doesn't seem that there is a copy of it
still on the HD anywhere.. I'm guessing after the install I figured if
I needed anything I'd just get it off the CD. Now mind you, the cd is
not warez, so please don't ask, it was from an MSDN student software
subscription my college has.. And again.. I really wish the PHD between
the keyboard and the chair could have taken the time to name the cd
properly..

As far as the files already being there.. Well, I searched the hd for
the files while I was doing the install and found nothing on the HD
(c:\windows / c:\windows\system / c:\windows\system32) anywhere.. So,
I'm guessing WinXP deleted the files when I uninstalled them.. It was
worth a try though.

Any other thoughts would be most appreciated.

-Timberwolf

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Ok.. Well, the cd is a burnt cd.. Student MSDN subscription from my
local college.. The cd is labeled "VRMPFPP_EN".. The cd it asks for is
"Windows XP Professional SP2"... So, it doesn't specify the name of the
CD itself just what should be on the lable.. Don't know why the guy
that handles this stuff would not make the cd name match a true install
disk, however, as far as I know this doesn't affect the installation at
all as long as the file being searched for can be found in a "valid"
location or folder.. i386 pretty much anywhere on any PC will carry the
"validity" in a normal install, don't know why it wouldn't here, plus,
this is the cd I installed from and as far as I remember, I think I
actually had a problem getting it installed (was 6 months ago and I've
slept).. I think I ended up having to WinME boot and manually copy the
install to my HD, however, it doesn't seem that there is a copy of it
still on the HD anywhere.. I'm guessing after the install I figured if
I needed anything I'd just get it off the CD. Now mind you, the cd is
not warez, so please don't ask, it was from an MSDN student software
subscription my college has.. And again.. I really wish the PHD between
the keyboard and the chair could have taken the time to name the cd
properly..

As far as the files already being there.. Well, I searched the hd for
the files while I was doing the install and found nothing on the HD
(c:\windows / c:\windows\system / c:\windows\system32) anywhere.. So,
I'm guessing WinXP deleted the files when I uninstalled them.. It was
worth a try though.

Any other thoughts would be most appreciated.

-Timberwolf

The label of the CD matters a great deal. If the installation process
asks for the CD labelled "xxx" then you have to give it CD labelled
"xxx", not "xxy". In other words, you ***must*** obtain the CD
you used when installing your version of WinXP. Whether it is
a burnt CD or an original is irrelevant.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hi,

Most likely your OS CD does not include SP2.

If that is the case, slipstream SP2 into your OS CD.

Use AutoStreamer or nLite to make the process pretty easy.

AutoStreamer:
http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t223562.html

nLite:

Universal Windows Slipstreaming and Bootable CD Guide
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49

 

[Timberwolf]

Ok, I thought I said this before, maybe you missed it or maybe I didn't
post it. The install doesn't ask for a specific CD.. However, I figured
I might as well try, so I used Torgeir's suggestion of slipstreaming to
make a new ISO with the "WXPCCP_EN" name to see if it would take the
original cd name, then as well made one for the original cd name, just
to kill two birds with one stone, neither one worked (Used DAEMON tools
to virtual drive add them to test them so I wouldn't waste any cds). As
for knowing what the cd name should be, I have no clue. I installed
with the original cd name and it's not working, the install doesn't
specify a cd, it only asks for the general cd labeled "Windows XP
Professional SP2"..

I am utterly confused at this point.. Any other ideas would be greatly
appreciated.

-Timberwolf