Installing old Windows XP on a Dell Inspiron Mini?

[Ant]

Hello.

I am trying to install Windows XP cleanly onto an used Dell Inspiron
Mini (no idea what model it is; do not have its boxes, manuals, discs,
etc.), but its installation keeps failing at cdrom0\i386\asms. The error
said it cannot find it, but it is there on the CDs (tried slipstreamed
SP2 and SP3, other brands, other burns from other software and drives,
etc.). I have to install from an external CD/DVD drive.

I researched on Google, and it seems like this a common problem (error
message) but none of their suggestions worked. One interesting
suggestion was to press shift-F10 keys when the error occurs so I did
that to bring up a command prompt/cmd.exe. From here, to do registry
edits with regedit but regedit.exe fails to run (not installed yet I
think). I also couldn't find the drive (only found the HDD). It seems
like during the blue text installer, the drive exists but after
rebooting to GUI installer, it forgot the external USB CD/DVD drive?

I cannot make a new partition/drive, to install from another drive on
the same HDD) because the netbook only has 7 GB excluding its 100 MB
system drive (Dell stuff).

I had no problems installing Windows 7 though. Any ideas? Thank you in
advance.
--
"He who storms in like a whirlwind returns like an ant." --Borneo
/\___/\
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
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Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Sébastien Tellier -
Divine

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Is there a hidden Recovery partition?

 

[BillW50]

In Ant typed on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:44:58 -0700:

Hello.

I am trying to install Windows XP cleanly onto an used Dell Inspiron
Mini (no idea what model it is; do not have its boxes, manuals, discs,
etc.), but its installation keeps failing at cdrom0\i386\asms. The
error said it cannot find it, but it is there on the CDs (tried
slipstreamed SP2 and SP3, other brands, other burns from other
software and drives, etc.). I have to install from an external CD/DVD
drive...

Windows XP will not completely install from an USB drive unless it is
SP2 or higher. So slipstreaming to at least SP2 would be a good thing to
do. Did you try with nLite yet? It is pretty easy, but requires .NET20
to be installed on the machine that you use to make the slipstream. Does
this help?

As a side note: Windows 2000 requires SP4 to be successfully installed
from USB.

 

[LVTravel]

Hello.

I am trying to install Windows XP cleanly onto an used Dell Inspiron Mini
(no idea what model it is; do not have its boxes, manuals, discs, etc.),
but its installation keeps failing at cdrom0\i386\asms. The error said it
cannot find it, but it is there on the CDs (tried slipstreamed SP2 and
SP3, other brands, other burns from other software and drives, etc.). I
have to install from an external CD/DVD drive.

I researched on Google, and it seems like this a common problem (error
message) but none of their suggestions worked. One interesting suggestion
was to press shift-F10 keys when the error occurs so I did that to bring
up a command prompt/cmd.exe. From here, to do registry edits with regedit
but regedit.exe fails to run (not installed yet I think). I also couldn't
find the drive (only found the HDD). It seems like during the blue text
installer, the drive exists but after rebooting to GUI installer, it
forgot the external USB CD/DVD drive?

I cannot make a new partition/drive, to install from another drive on the
same HDD) because the netbook only has 7 GB excluding its 100 MB system
drive (Dell stuff).

I had no problems installing Windows 7 though. Any ideas? Thank you in
advance.
--
"He who storms in like a whirlwind returns like an ant." --Borneo
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: Sébastien Tellier -
Divine

Where did you get the XP install CD? If it is branded with a manufacturer's
name it may be bios locked to a particular model computer. If OEM it can't
legally be transferred either to another machine.

 

[Ant]

Yes, 100 MB. Why? Is that a problem?

Is there a hidden Recovery partition?

--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and
Kira from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
/\___/\
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Ant]

Windows XP will not completely install from an USB drive unless it is
SP2 or higher. So slipstreaming to at least SP2 would be a good thing to
do.

Please kindly reread what I said in my original post about slipstreamed
SP2 and SP3 CDs.
--
"It's like stepping on ants... I don't step on ants, Major." --Odo and
Kira from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Ant]

Where did you get the XP install CD? If it is branded with a
manufacturer's name it may be bios locked to a particular model
computer. If OEM it can't legally be transferred either to another
machine.

It's retail.
--
"He who runs from the white ant may stumble upon the stinging ant."
--Nigeria
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Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[BillW50]

In Ant typed on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:17:24 -0700:

Please kindly reread what I said in my original post about
slipstreamed SP2 and SP3 CDs.

I read it fine the first time, you said you tried. So what does that
mean? You tried and failed or what? It that is what is sounds like to
me. As without SP2/3 correctly slipstreamed into the install, it will
fail to see files on the CD after the install resets the USB ports. As
you had stated, the file is really there on the CD, is it not?

 

[Ant]

I read it fine the first time, you said you tried. So what does that
mean? You tried and failed or what? It that is what is sounds like to
me. As without SP2/3 correctly slipstreamed into the install, it will
fail to see files on the CD after the install resets the USB ports. As
you had stated, the file is really there on the CD, is it not?

Yes, the \i386\asms and its files are there. I already tried installing
them (slipstreamed SP2 and SP3 CDs) on regular desktop PCs without any
issues. I wonder if XP is just too old for this netbook since installing
Windows 7 had no problems?
--
"All good work is done the way ants do things: Little by little."
--Lafcadio Hearn
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/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[BillW50]

In Ant typed on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:40:45 -0700:

Yes, the \i386\asms and its files are there. I already tried
installing them (slipstreamed SP2 and SP3 CDs) on regular desktop PCs
without any issues. I wonder if XP is just too old for this netbook
since installing Windows 7 had no problems?

When you tried on a regular desktop PC, you didn't use the USB CD drive,
did you? If not, that would make perfect sense. As non-USB drives don't
require SP2/3 to install correctly, only USB drives do. Thus why I
believe your slipstream for whatever reason didn't work.

 

[Daave]

Hello.

I am trying to install Windows XP cleanly onto an used Dell Inspiron
Mini (no idea what model it is; do not have its boxes, manuals, discs,
etc.), but its installation keeps failing at cdrom0\i386\asms. The
error said it cannot find it, but it is there on the CDs (tried
slipstreamed SP2 and SP3, other brands, other burns from other
software and drives, etc.). I have to install from an external CD/DVD
drive.
I researched on Google, and it seems like this a common problem (error
message) but none of their suggestions worked. One interesting
suggestion was to press shift-F10 keys when the error occurs so I did
that to bring up a command prompt/cmd.exe. From here, to do registry
edits with regedit but regedit.exe fails to run (not installed yet I
think). I also couldn't find the drive (only found the HDD). It seems
like during the blue text installer, the drive exists but after
rebooting to GUI installer, it forgot the external USB CD/DVD drive?

I cannot make a new partition/drive, to install from another drive on
the same HDD) because the netbook only has 7 GB excluding its 100 MB
system drive (Dell stuff).

I had no problems installing Windows 7 though. Any ideas? Thank you in
advance.

Do you have a SATA hard drive? Do you have the necessary drivers for it?

Are you trying to install XP Home or XP Pro?

What OS did the Inspiron Mini come with? If it came with XP, simply use
the hidden recovery partition.

If it came with Vista, you may be out of luck. That is, although any
Dell XP installation CD (Home or Pro, but because of your 7GB hard drive
limitation, a genuine Dell disk at the SP3 level would be a godsend)
could work, the hardware might not support it. Go to Dell's support site
and you will learn whether or not there are any XP-specific drivers for
your model. Be careful if your Dell XP CD isn't at SP3 and if you plan
on slipstreaming because the process is a bit trickier than with regular
XP CDs.

(Then again, there might be potential licensing issues, too.)

 

[David B.]

What is the reason for the clean install? These errors are generally caused
by a bad CD, bad CD drive, bad hard drive, or bad RAM.

 

[Ant]

When you tried on a regular desktop PC, you didn't use the USB CD drive,
did you? If not, that would make perfect sense. As non-USB drives don't
require SP2/3 to install correctly, only USB drives do. Thus why I
believe your slipstream for whatever reason didn't work.

That was with the external USB CD/DVD drive. How can I verify if
slipstream was good or bad?
--
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Ant]

Do you have a SATA hard drive? Do you have the necessary drivers for it?

Maybe? I don't much about this netbook (new to it too). I will have to
find the hardware datas from Windows 7 installation since that worked.

Are you trying to install XP Home or XP Pro?

Pro SP2/3.

What OS did the Inspiron Mini come with? If it came with XP, simply use
the hidden recovery partition.

No idea. Hidden recovery only has diagnostics. Hence, 100 MB only.

If it came with Vista, you may be out of luck. That is, although any
Dell XP installation CD (Home or Pro, but because of your 7GB hard drive
limitation, a genuine Dell disk at the SP3 level would be a godsend)
could work, the hardware might not support it. Go to Dell's support site
and you will learn whether or not there are any XP-specific drivers for
your model. Be careful if your Dell XP CD isn't at SP3 and if you plan
on slipstreaming because the process is a bit trickier than with regular
XP CDs.

(Then again, there might be potential licensing issues, too.)

Bummer, even with retail XP CDs?
--
"This is what metaphor is. It is not saying that an ant is an elephant.
Perhaps; both are alive. No. Metaphor is saying the ant is an elephant.
Now, logically speaking, I know there is a difference. If you put
elephants and ants before me, I believe that every time I will correctly
identify the elephant and the ant. So metaphor must come from a very
different place than that of the logical, intelligent mind. It comes
from a place that is very courageous, willing to step out of our
preconceived ways of seeing things and open so large that it can see the
oneness in an ant and in an elephant." --Natalie Goldberg
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( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Ant]

What is the reason for the clean install? These errors are generally
caused by a bad CD, bad CD drive, bad hard drive, or bad RAM.

Oh because I don't want Vista or 7 on this old, slow netbook.
--
"I used to own an ant farm but had to give it up. I couldn't find
tractors small enough to fit it." --Steven Wright
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Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[BillW50]

In Ant typed on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:36:30 -0700:

That was with the external USB CD/DVD drive. How can I verify if
slipstream was good or bad?

Okay I am convinced that it is a good slipstream if it worked on the
desktop with the USB CD/DVD drive.

1) Some BIOS has a toggle to install an OS. Once the operating system is
installed, you are supposed to toggle it back. I am not sure what this
is supposed to do. Prevent MBR modification or lock the USB at 1.1
speeds or something.

2) Could be bad RAM. If you can swap it with some other I would try
this.

3) Could be a bad drive like David already mentioned.

4) Don't think the USB CD/DVD drive or disc is bad. But if this drive
has two USB plugs, try plugging them both in. What make and model is
this drive anyway? Some can have problems on some netbooks.

And no Windows XP should be perfect on this netbook, as long as the
system/boot drive has enough room.

 

[Daave]

Maybe? I don't much about this netbook (new to it too). I will have to
find the hardware datas from Windows 7 installation since that worked.

Go to the Dell Web site (support section) and enter your Service Tag
number. You will be able to determine what all your components are
(including your hard drive). You will be able to determine if there are
XP-specific drivers for your hardware components. If they don't exist,
I'm afraid you won't be able to run XP on this particular PC.

Pro SP2/3.

No idea. Hidden recovery only has diagnostics. Hence, 100 MB only.

You have no idea what OS this PC came with?! Did you buy it second-hand
or get it as a promotional freebie? There should be a Certificate of
Authenticity sticker somewhere on it (the bottom, most mikely). That
will tell you what OS came with it. I'm guessing Vista.

Bummer, even with retail XP CDs?

No, because a retail CD comes with its own license.

 

[Ant]

In Ant typed on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 07:36:30 -0700:

Okay I am convinced that it is a good slipstream if it worked on the
desktop with the USB CD/DVD drive.

1) Some BIOS has a toggle to install an OS. Once the operating system is
installed, you are supposed to toggle it back. I am not sure what this
is supposed to do. Prevent MBR modification or lock the USB at 1.1
speeds or something.

Hmm. Wouldn't that problem occurred much earlier like during XP's text
installer screens?

2) Could be bad RAM. If you can swap it with some other I would try
this.

Hmm. Wouldn't Windows 7 had failed or error'ed?

3) Could be a bad drive like David already mentioned.

Could be, but then Windows 7 would had failed too?

4) Don't think the USB CD/DVD drive or disc is bad. But if this drive
has two USB plugs, try plugging them both in. What make and model is
this drive anyway? Some can have problems on some netbooks.

Only one on each one external USB DVD drives. One was a Lenovo DVD
burner drive and other was an old HP DVD burner drive.

And no Windows XP should be perfect on this netbook, as long as the
system/boot drive has enough room.

Odd.
--
"Number fourteen. The naughty bits of an ant." --Monty Python's Flying
Circus
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| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: (e-mail address removed)
( ) or (e-mail address removed)
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Ant]

Go to the Dell Web site (support section) and enter your Service Tag
number. You will be able to determine what all your components are
(including your hard drive). You will be able to determine if there are
XP-specific drivers for your hardware components. If they don't exist,
I'm afraid you won't be able to run XP on this particular PC.

OK, I will try that later since I do not have the netbook with me.

You have no idea what OS this PC came with?! Did you buy it second-hand
or get it as a promotional freebie? There should be a Certificate of
Authenticity sticker somewhere on it (the bottom, most mikely). That
will tell you what OS came with it. I'm guessing Vista.

It was from someone else for me to install XP. Oh I did see a Dell
authenticity sticker on the bottom of the Dell Mini, but didn't read
what OS it said (if it says it). Yeah, probably Vista.

No, because a retail CD comes with its own license.

OK.
--
"I once heard the survivors of a colony of ants that had been partially
obliterated by a cow's foot seriously debating the intention of the gods
towards their civilization" --Archy the Cockroach from Don Marquis'
"Archy and Mehitabel" book ("Certain Maxims of Archy" poem)
/\___/\
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Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

 

[Daave]

OK, I will try that later since I do not have the netbook with me.



It was from someone else for me to install XP. Oh I did see a Dell
authenticity sticker on the bottom of the Dell Mini, but didn't read
what OS it said (if it says it). Yeah, probably Vista.

I did a little more research. If I'm not mistaken, this Dell probably
did come preinstalled with XP (otherwise, it would have been Linux). The
COA sticker I'm talking about is Windows, not Dell. If the Dell has a
license to run Windows XP, it's a shame you had to waste money on
another XP license (when you bought the Retail CD).

Since there is no optical drive built-in, I'm sure there are certain
issues you need to address first. Since I have no experience with this
model, I suggest you look here:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/windows-xp-netbook-guides/

and here:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/

especially, here:

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/windows-xp/

What is the complete model name? (I've seen references to 9, 10, 10v,
and 12.)