Installing XP from DOS?

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Guest

Hi,

Can I install XP Pro on a formatted FAT32 drive, directly from DOS. If yes,
having inserted the XP Pro CD, which executable do I use?

Or do I have to install a legacy OS first, and then replace it?

Best regards,
Adam
 
Adam said:
Hi,

Can I install XP Pro on a formatted FAT32 drive, directly from DOS. If yes,
having inserted the XP Pro CD, which executable do I use?

Or do I have to install a legacy OS first, and then replace it?

Best regards,
Adam
Click to expand...

Yes, you can. Run d:\i386\winnt.exe.
 
Adam said:
Hi,

Can I install XP Pro on a formatted FAT32 drive, directly from DOS. If
yes,
having inserted the XP Pro CD, which executable do I use?

Or do I have to install a legacy OS first, and then replace it?

Best regards,
Adam
Click to expand...

I don't have my XP CD handy, but if I recall, you simply run d:\setup.exe.
If I'm wrong about that, you should be able to figure it out. Type :

DIR D:\

....which will show you a list of files on your CD (assuming it's the D
drive).
 
Pegasus said:
Yes, you can. Run d:\i386\winnt.exe.
Click to expand...

Also load SMARTDRV.EXE before running winnt.exe, otherwise file
transfers from the CD will be very slow.

Steve N.
 
Steve N. said:
Also load SMARTDRV.EXE before running winnt.exe, otherwise file transfers
from the CD will be very slow.

Steve N.
Click to expand...

I somehow (3 yrs ago) ended up with a boot disk (floppy) which sets the
machine up nicely for clean installs - loads smartdrv, gives the user a
choice of starting the machine with or without CD drive support, etc. Pretty
sure I got it from www.bootdisk.com.
 
Doug said:
Is there some advantage to running that exe, rather than setup.exe in the
root dir of the CD?
Click to expand...

Yes. Setup.exe is a windows program and wont run in dos.
 
Plato said:
Yes. Setup.exe is a windows program and wont run in dos.
Click to expand...

That's odd. I've run setup.exe on several machines in the past, while
installing XP to a freshly formatted HD. Does the CD contain just enough
Windows runtime code to make this work?
 
Doug said:
That's odd. I've run setup.exe on several machines in the past, while
installing XP to a freshly formatted HD. Does the CD contain just enough
Windows runtime code to make this work?
Click to expand...

Then you perhaps, were using a propriatary CD. Just a guess.
 
Adam said:
Can I install XP Pro on a formatted FAT32 drive, directly from DOS.
If yes, having inserted the XP Pro CD, which executable do I use?

Or do I have to install a legacy OS first, and then replace it?
Click to expand...


You've gotten several direct answers to your question, but I just wanted to
add that the normal, and easiest way to do a clean installation is simply to
boot from the Windows CD. You may have to first set the BIOS boot order to
put the CD drive first.
 
Ken Blake said:
You've gotten several direct answers to your question, but I just wanted
to add that the normal, and easiest way to do a clean installation is
simply to boot from the Windows CD. You may have to first set the BIOS
boot order to put the CD drive first.
Click to expand...

Ken, does that offer the option of wiping the disk clean, even if there's a
previous XP installation in place?
 
Doug said:
Ken, does that offer the option of wiping the disk clean, even if there's a
previous XP installation in place?
Click to expand...

NO. YOU will have to use a zero fill app. to wipe the disk clean. Like
it was brand new.
 
Doug said:
Ken, does that offer the option of wiping the disk clean, even if
there's a previous XP installation in place?
Click to expand...


Yes.

But that's not pertinent to his question, since he says he's starting with a
formatted drive.
 
Doug said:
Ken, does that offer the option of wiping the disk clean, even if
there's a previous XP installation in place?
Click to expand...

During the XP setup you will be asked where you want to install it. On the
same screen you can delete an existing partition then recreate it. While
this technically doesn't wipe the hard drive it has the same effect as far
as Windows is concerned.

Kerry
 
Thanks all for your replies. I have some questions....

Ken:- you said "the normal, and easiest way to do a clean installation is
simply to
boot from the Windows CD. You may have to first set the BIOS boot order to
put the CD drive first." How can the PC boot from a CD if it does not have
CD drivers installed (this is a formatted drive)?

Steve N:- If I am only equipped with a DOS Start Up diskette and a Win XP
Pro CD, where would I get hold of smartdrv.exe. I can't see it on either?
 
Adam said:
Thanks all for your replies. I have some questions....

Ken:- you said "the normal, and easiest way to do a clean
installation is simply to
boot from the Windows CD. You may have to first set the BIOS boot
order to put the CD drive first." How can the PC boot from a CD if it
does not have CD drivers installed (this is a formatted drive)?
Click to expand...

I'm not Ken but I'll answer your question. Unless your computer is very old
there should be an option in the BIOS to set the boot order. Make sure it is
set so that the CD drive is before the hard drive. Insert the Windows XP cd
and reset your computer. There are many different ways to get into the BIOS,
most common is to press the Del key or F2 key while the computer is first
starting up. There are also many different BIOS' so how to set the boot
order in yours would be a guess at best. Your computer or motherboard manual
should explain both.
Steve N:- If I am only equipped with a DOS Start Up diskette and a
Win XP Pro CD, where would I get hold of smartdrv.exe. I can't see it
on either?
Click to expand...

I'm not Steve either but if you can't find smartdrv.exe then don't worry
about it. It isn't on the XP disk. It is a DOS/Win9x program. The install
will take a lot longer (up to an hour longer) but it will still work fine.

Kerry
 
Adam said:
Thanks all for your replies. I have some questions....

Ken:- you said "the normal, and easiest way to do a clean
installation is simply to
boot from the Windows CD. You may have to first set the BIOS boot
order to put the CD drive first." How can the PC boot from a CD if it
does not have CD drivers installed (this is a formatted drive)?
Click to expand...


The support is built into the BIOS. Almost every machine built in the last
several years has this capability. Unless yours is a good many years old, it
almost certainly does. Try it and see.
 
The support is built into the BIOS. Almost every machine built in the last
several years has this capability. Unless yours is a good many years old, it
almost certainly does. Try it and see.
Click to expand...

If you can't boot from CD, you need to use the Windows XP boot disks.
You can download the correct set for your XP service pack version from
MS.

How to obtain Windows XP Setup boot disks
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994

Windows setup won't let you install from DOS.
 
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