setup cannot continue because the version of windows on your compu

[John]

I put the "Reinstallation CD" in the drive.
My boot sequence is set to the cd drive (I've even disabled the hard drive
in setup and windows still boots bypassing the cd)
When the screen says "press any key to boot to cd"... i press Enter (or
spacebar or any other key)
and still Windows boots...

I have tried uninstalling XP SP2 and trying the sequence all over to no
avail.

I thought it was just a fluke on one pc but now i have two that are giving
me this grief!

I have even created a "slipstream" cd which integrates the version of XP
that is on my reinstallation cd with XP SP 2... it is a bootable cd but
still
won't boot to it.

very very frustrating!!

I get the feeling there's something wrong with your keyboard. You think that
you've pressed a key but the system doesn't detect it. Try a different
keyboard.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Are you pressing a key when the message displays "Press any key to boot from
the cd...." ?

 

[PD43]

I get the feeling there's something wrong with your keyboard. You think that
you've pressed a key but the system doesn't detect it. Try a different
keyboard.

You need to update your "feeling" drivers.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

When you launch Setup from Windows the drive tools are not available because
you have started at stage 2 (graphical stage). Also, the C: drive will not
format while the existing OS is running. That's why you have to boot from
the cd at machine startup in order to format the drive.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just a fresh copy of Windows XP purchased directly from Microsoft - it did
not come with any PC.




Nope, i PRESSED... nothing wrong with the keyboard. Remember it is happening
on 2 different PCs (albeit both of them are the same GX260 animal)

A USB keyboard? Read here:
http://www.techarp.com/showfreebog.aspx?lang=0&bogno=226

 

[laurie_g]

uh, YES!

Are you pressing a key when the message displays "Press any key to boot from
the cd...." ?

 

[laurie_g]

When you launch Setup from Windows the drive tools are not available because
you have started at stage 2 (graphical stage). Also, the C: drive will not
format while the existing OS is running. That's why you have to boot from
the cd at machine startup in order to format the drive.

Yes, I know that... that is what I am trying to do... but it will not boot
FROM THE CD to get me into the delete partition/create partition/install
stage.

 

[laurie_g]

Just as I thought, it's not a recovery disk. By "recovery disk" I meant a
CD/DVD that contains factory shipped image that you can restore onto HD.


I've never seen that problem either. I've always been able to use Dell
reinstallation CD to partition, format and install WinXP regardless what
data is in the HD.


Ummm... do you mean you boot to Windows XP (on the HD), pop reinstall CD in
the drive, autorun kicks in and you try to install Windows??

tried that... can't reformat that way. I need to be able to boot from the cd
but it keeps bypassing even after i press any stupid key.

found a new slipstreaming site for Dells that Daave recommended... still
working on gathering some of the files i need... keep fingers crossed!

 

[Daave]

tried that... can't reformat that way. I need to be able to boot from
the cd but it keeps bypassing even after i press any stupid key.

found a new slipstreaming site for Dells that Daave recommended...
still working on gathering some of the files i need... keep fingers
crossed!

Although slipstreaming will come in handy when you want to perform a
repair install, it won't address your issue of not being able to boot
from the CD (whether it's your original reinstallation CD or the newly
created slipstreamed one).

Did you catch Ken's post? It sounds like your using a USB keyboard. Just
try a PS/2 keyboard and see what happens.

 

[John]

found a new slipstreaming site for Dells that Daave recommended... still
working on gathering some of the files i need... keep fingers crossed!

I don't see how that's going to solve your issue. The setup CD you got from
Dell is fine. Are you sure it's not the keyboard? There are at least 3
replies (including mine) who think the culprit is your keyboard.

 

[PD43]

I don't see how that's going to solve your issue. The setup CD you got from
Dell is fine. Are you sure it's not the keyboard? There are at least 3
replies (including mine) who think the culprit is your keyboard.

They are ALL wrong

 

[laurie_g]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FRICKEN KIDDING ME!!!

I changed my keyboard and voila!!
I have NEVER ever gone through this before. Most all of the machines i've
worked on have had wireless keyboards and i've never had a problem.

well you learn something every day!

Thanks Ken, YOU ROCK!

 

[PD43]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FRICKEN KIDDING ME!!!

I changed my keyboard and voila!!

OMYGAWD.

 

[Richard in AZ]

Bill in Co.
Not all Dell PCs came with a restore option through the second partition.
Many came with only diagnostics through the hidden partition.
Then you do have to use the Dell System Disk to imitate the restoration.

To Laurie: It the disk you are using an off pink in color. Then it is the correct disk.

 

[PD43]

Bill in Co.
Not all Dell PCs came with a restore option through the second partition.
Many came with only diagnostics through the hidden partition.
Then you do have to use the Dell System Disk to imitate the restoration.

LOL

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FRICKEN KIDDING ME!!!

I changed my keyboard and voila!!
I have NEVER ever gone through this before. Most all of the machines i've
worked on have had wireless keyboards and i've never had a problem.

well you learn something every day!

Thanks Ken, YOU ROCK!

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[mae]

| For the nth time, you don't normally need a CD to restore the Dell to the
| factory condition. When you boot up and press Ctrl-F11, it will execute
| that program. Just keep in mind if/when you do this, you'll lose
| everything added since that time, so it's pretty much a last resort.

Not for my old Dell.
I only have a burgundy reinstallation disk.

mae

| PD43 wrote:
| > laurie_g <[email protected]> wrote:

 

[Bill in Co.]

For the newer Dells, then.
And if you've made any changes in partitioning, you may have to run MBRFIX
to even get that to work, anymore (at bootup).

 

[Daave]

For the newer Dells, then.

Not for the Dell Vostro my colleague purchased a few months ago. It came
with an XP Reinstallation CD.

 

[Bill in Co.]

Not for the Dell Vostro my colleague purchased a few months ago. It came
with an XP Reinstallation CD.

Very strange, since I got my Dell Inspiron in January. Are you positive
there isn't a Ctrl-F11 option at bootup?

N.B.: If you've done any repartitioning, or anything that changes the MBR,
that option will be gone (i.e:, those keystrokes will be ignored at
bootup) - unless you can fix it with MBRFIX (or whatever).