How to install Windows XP Home Ed on new drive

[Guest]

Okay, I read the other message about the hard drive failing, and that's my
story too. But now I have another question. My computer is about 10 years
old and boots from a restore floppy disk that doesn't seem to work.

I can't get it to recognize my cdrom drive (I had to install a new one
several years ago). How do I create a startup disk that will recognize by cd
or dvd drive and can I restore to a new bigger hard drive than the original?

The reason I know the restore disk does not work is because my hard drive
wasn't working and somehow I managed to get it going again but I want to
replace it before it goes. It just has my os and program files on it, so I
don't have to worry about my data.

 

[Ghostrider]

Okay, I read the other message about the hard drive failing, and that's my
story too. But now I have another question. My computer is about 10 years
old and boots from a restore floppy disk that doesn't seem to work.

I can't get it to recognize my cdrom drive (I had to install a new one
several years ago). How do I create a startup disk that will recognize by cd
or dvd drive and can I restore to a new bigger hard drive than the original?

The reason I know the restore disk does not work is because my hard drive
wasn't working and somehow I managed to get it going again but I want to
replace it before it goes. It just has my os and program files on it, so I
don't have to worry about my data.

The restore floppy diskette may not work for several reasons. The most
typical of them includes: (a) The floppy diskette drive is too old, has
failed and needs to be replaced; (b) The floppy diskette itself is old
and the magnetic media has deterioriated, corrupting it; or, (c) both of
these.

Also due to the age of the computer, approx. 10 years old, the computer
might not be able to boot from the cdrom drive. Check the computer manual.
In all probability, it might need to boot from the floppy diskette drive
in DOS or Win9X with the driver files and configuration setup to access
the cdrom drive. But check this out.

If the computer can boot from the cdrom drive, then installation of XP
is a snap...just boot from the installation cdrom and run setup. OTOH,
if not able to boot from the cdrom drive, then the alternatives are to
have a functioning floppy diskette drive and start XP setup from its 6
startup/setup diskettes.

For the age of the computer, however, ever thought of upgrading to a
more modern model?

 

[Guest]

Thanks, but the floppy drive does work and the diskette works, I just can't
get to the cdrom to run the restore cd. Yes I do want a new system but I
don't know what to buy. I mainly use Photoshop and use a large amount of
memory and would like a system that will last at least 5 years and is
upgradeable since I am a senior citizen and have limited funds in the future.


I have been fortunate to have been able to upgrade this computer until now
but I am having difficulty running some programs such as Corel Paint Shop Pro
because it is too slow.

 

[Ghostrider]

Thanks, but the floppy drive does work and the diskette works, I just can't
get to the cdrom to run the restore cd. Yes I do want a new system but I
don't know what to buy. I mainly use Photoshop and use a large amount of
memory and would like a system that will last at least 5 years and is
upgradeable since I am a senior citizen and have limited funds in the future.

I have been fortunate to have been able to upgrade this computer until now
but I am having difficulty running some programs such as Corel Paint Shop Pro
because it is too slow.

Is there a program on the floppy diskette that will load up the drivers
for the cdrom drive as well as the recovery program itself? I am thinking
of something like the original DriveImage or DriveImage 2 with a runtime
version of DRDos (or Caldera DOS today) along with the additional driver
files to start up an IDE cdrom drive.

Sorry to hear about Corel Paint Shop Pro. When it was still owned JASC, it
ran pretty efficiently.

 

[Guest]

This is what is on the restore diskette:

Volume in drive A:\ is WIN_OPK
Directory of A:\

AUTOEXEC.BAT 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:38:14 PM
CHOICE.COM 6 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
COMMAND.COM 91 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
CONFIG.SYS 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:38:18 PM
EBD.SYS 1 KB 8/16/2000 1:36:52 PM
ERScript.txt 1 KB 4/29/2000 11:14:40 AM
HIMEM.SYS 33 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
IO.SYS 115 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
MAINMENU.TXT 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:00:22 PM
MSCDEX.EXE 25 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
MSDOS.SYS 1 KB 8/16/2000 1:36:50 PM
OAKCDROM.SYS 41 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
restore.txt 1 KB 9/9/2000 1:59:44 PM
second.txt 1 KB 4/3/2000 10:07:24 AM
ZAP_HDD.COM 1 KB 1/4/1999 1:35:54 PM

15 file(s)
Total filesize 311 KB


Unfortunately the original cdrom died so I had to replace it. According to
the device manager the driver used for the new cdrom is cdrom.sys. I'm
wondering if this would work if I copy that to the restore disk. I may give
that a try. I also was told I could change my bootup to start from cd
instead of the floppy but I don't know how to get to where I can change that.


I am reading and searching everything I can think of but in the end I just
may end up taking my computer in and have someone replace the harddrive and
restore my system os for me.

 

[peter]

On the manufacturers website for your new hard drive is usually "cloning"
software which will make an exact duplicate of your old drive onto the new
drive.
then you just swap drive
peter

 

[Guest]

Thank you for your help. I will try that.

On the manufacturers website for your new hard drive is usually "cloning"
software which will make an exact duplicate of your old drive onto the new
drive.
then you just swap drive
peter

 

[Ghostrider]

This is what is on the restore diskette:

Volume in drive A:\ is WIN_OPK
Directory of A:\

AUTOEXEC.BAT 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:38:14 PM
CHOICE.COM 6 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
COMMAND.COM 91 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
CONFIG.SYS 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:38:18 PM
EBD.SYS 1 KB 8/16/2000 1:36:52 PM
ERScript.txt 1 KB 4/29/2000 11:14:40 AM
HIMEM.SYS 33 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
IO.SYS 115 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
MAINMENU.TXT 1 KB 9/9/2000 2:00:22 PM
MSCDEX.EXE 25 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
MSDOS.SYS 1 KB 8/16/2000 1:36:50 PM
OAKCDROM.SYS 41 KB 6/8/2000 5:00:00 PM
restore.txt 1 KB 9/9/2000 1:59:44 PM
second.txt 1 KB 4/3/2000 10:07:24 AM
ZAP_HDD.COM 1 KB 1/4/1999 1:35:54 PM

15 file(s)
Total filesize 311 KB


Unfortunately the original cdrom died so I had to replace it. According to
the device manager the driver used for the new cdrom is cdrom.sys. I'm
wondering if this would work if I copy that to the restore disk. I may give
that a try. I also was told I could change my bootup to start from cd
instead of the floppy but I don't know how to get to where I can change that.


I am reading and searching everything I can think of but in the end I just
may end up taking my computer in and have someone replace the harddrive and
restore my system os for me.

Copying the cdrom.sys file to the floppy diskette and also editing the
config.sys file might make it possible for this floppy diskette to start
the new cdrom drive. But there is no guarantee that the cdrom.sys file
is compatible with the DOS environment. This would be one drawback. The
other is modifying the specific line in the config.sys file that puts the
cdrom driver into play.

As for being able to boot your restore CD from the cdrom drive, it might
be possible by make it the first boot device in the system bios setup, if
it is allowed, but the age of the computer and bios have to be considered.
And it also presumes that the restore cdrom is bootable, i.e., without
having to resort to the startup floppy diskette.

Good luck.