Windows Installation Failure

[Guest]

I'm unable to get Windows XP Home Edition to install while trying to perform
a clean install on a newly formatted hard drive.

Each time I try to install, it gets to the point where 51% of installation
files have been copied, then indicates it cannot find any additonal files to
be copied starting with msihnd.dll.

I've tried restarting several times - same problem. If I keep trying to
enter, the system eventually crashes. If I hit ESC to ignore the above file,
it immediately can't find the next file msimain.sdb, and the next
msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

Any suggestions on how to complete the install?

 

[Dave Patrick]

The CD-Rom drive might have failed. You didn't tell us how you were trying.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I'm unable to get Windows XP Home Edition to install while trying to
perform
| a clean install on a newly formatted hard drive.
|
| Each time I try to install, it gets to the point where 51% of installation
| files have been copied, then indicates it cannot find any additonal files
to
| be copied starting with msihnd.dll.
|
| I've tried restarting several times - same problem. If I keep trying to
| enter, the system eventually crashes. If I hit ESC to ignore the above
file,
| it immediately can't find the next file msimain.sdb, and the next
| msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.
|
| Any suggestions on how to complete the install?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply and advice Dave. I should have been clearer. I am
installing from my original Windows XP upgrade CD. Here's what's happening:

1. Install the CD and boot from CD
2. System installs the necessary files then asks if I want to perform an
install or repair an existing install, I select new install.
3. I get the license agreement and accept using F8
4. The system asks for a qualifying prior operating system for the upgrade
to continue. I remove the Windows XP install CD and place the Windows ME CD
in the drive. The system recongnizes it, then asks if I want to format the
partition for NTFS. I say yes and it asks me to re-insert the Windows XP CD.
5. The system does a NTFS format, inspects the drive, then starts copying
files.
6. When it gets to 51%, if fails. The first file it can't find is
msihnd.dll. No matter how many times I retry, it can't find it. If I try
repeatedly, I get a blue "crash" screen with the following:

Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage
to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for
any Windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or
software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you
need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer,
press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD0200668, 0x00000000, 0x804E70D5, 0x00000000)

If I hit ESC instead of retry on the missing file, it faults immediately
trying to find file msimain.sdb. After that, msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

The CD-Rom drive might have failed. You didn't tell us how you were trying.

To do a clean install, boot the Windows XP install CD-Rom. Setup inspects
your computer's hardware configuration and then begins to install the setup
and driver files. When the Windows XP Professional screen appears, press
ENTER to set up Windows XP Professional.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

Read the license agreement, and then press the F8 key to accept the terms of
the license agreement and continue the installation.

When the Windows XP Professional Setup screen appears, all the existing
partitions and the unpartitioned spaces are listed for each physical hard
disk. Use the ARROW keys to select the partitions Press D to delete an
existing partition, If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must
then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the System
partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this
step for each of the existing partitions When all the partitions are deleted
press F3 to exit setup, (to avoid unexpected drive letter assignments with
your new install) then restart the pc then when you get to this point in
setup again select the unpartitioned space, and then press C to create a new
partition and specify the size (if required). Windows will by default use
all available space.

Be sure to apply SP2 or at least these two below to your new install before
connecting to any network. Internet included. (sasser, msblast)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...be-3b8e-4f30-8245-9e368d3cdb5a&displaylang=en

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-043.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS03-049.mspx

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| I'm unable to get Windows XP Home Edition to install while trying to
perform
| a clean install on a newly formatted hard drive.
|
| Each time I try to install, it gets to the point where 51% of installation
| files have been copied, then indicates it cannot find any additonal files
to
| be copied starting with msihnd.dll.
|
| I've tried restarting several times - same problem. If I keep trying to
| enter, the system eventually crashes. If I hit ESC to ignore the above
file,
| it immediately can't find the next file msimain.sdb, and the next
| msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.
|
| Any suggestions on how to complete the install?

 

[Dave Patrick]

What drive controller? If your drive controller is not natively supported
then you'll want to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and
very important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent
drive controller detection. This may also be characteristic of bad RAM

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks for your reply and advice Dave. I should have been clearer. I am
| installing from my original Windows XP upgrade CD. Here's what's
happening:
|
| 1. Install the CD and boot from CD
| 2. System installs the necessary files then asks if I want to perform an
| install or repair an existing install, I select new install.
| 3. I get the license agreement and accept using F8
| 4. The system asks for a qualifying prior operating system for the upgrade
| to continue. I remove the Windows XP install CD and place the Windows ME
CD
| in the drive. The system recongnizes it, then asks if I want to format
the
| partition for NTFS. I say yes and it asks me to re-insert the Windows XP
CD.
| 5. The system does a NTFS format, inspects the drive, then starts copying
| files.
| 6. When it gets to 51%, if fails. The first file it can't find is
| msihnd.dll. No matter how many times I retry, it can't find it. If I try
| repeatedly, I get a blue "crash" screen with the following:
|
| Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area
|
| A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage
| to your computer.
|
| If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
| computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
|
| Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
| this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for
| any Windows updates you might need.
|
| If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or
| software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you
| need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your
computer,
| press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.
|
| Technical information:
|
| *** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD0200668, 0x00000000, 0x804E70D5, 0x00000000)
|
| If I hit ESC instead of retry on the missing file, it faults immediately
| trying to find file msimain.sdb. After that, msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

 

[Guest]

What drive controller? If your drive controller is not natively supported
then you'll want to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and
very important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent
drive controller detection. This may also be characteristic of bad RAM

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks for your reply and advice Dave. I should have been clearer. I am
| installing from my original Windows XP upgrade CD. Here's what's
happening:
|
| 1. Install the CD and boot from CD
| 2. System installs the necessary files then asks if I want to perform an
| install or repair an existing install, I select new install.
| 3. I get the license agreement and accept using F8
| 4. The system asks for a qualifying prior operating system for the upgrade
| to continue. I remove the Windows XP install CD and place the Windows ME
CD
| in the drive. The system recongnizes it, then asks if I want to format
the
| partition for NTFS. I say yes and it asks me to re-insert the Windows XP
CD.
| 5. The system does a NTFS format, inspects the drive, then starts copying
| files.
| 6. When it gets to 51%, if fails. The first file it can't find is
| msihnd.dll. No matter how many times I retry, it can't find it. If I try
| repeatedly, I get a blue "crash" screen with the following:
|
| Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area
|
| A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage
| to your computer.
|
| If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
| computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
|
| Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
| this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for
| any Windows updates you might need.
|
| If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or
| software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you
| need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your
computer,
| press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.
|
| Technical information:
|
| *** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD0200668, 0x00000000, 0x804E70D5, 0x00000000)
|
| If I hit ESC instead of retry on the missing file, it faults immediately
| trying to find file msimain.sdb. After that, msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

Or it could be that your CD is screwed. Ever thought of that?

 

[robbie_d]

Hi William...
If the surface area of the disc is a bit 'Iffy' - try copying that disc
and booting from the remake... This has worked for me in the past...

Robbie D....

What drive controller? If your drive controller is not natively supported
then you'll want to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and
very important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent
drive controller detection. This may also be characteristic of bad RAM

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks for your reply and advice Dave. I should have been clearer. I am
| installing from my original Windows XP upgrade CD. Here's what's
happening:
|
| 1. Install the CD and boot from CD
| 2. System installs the necessary files then asks if I want to perform an
| install or repair an existing install, I select new install.
| 3. I get the license agreement and accept using F8
| 4. The system asks for a qualifying prior operating system for the upgrade
| to continue. I remove the Windows XP install CD and place the Windows ME
CD
| in the drive. The system recongnizes it, then asks if I want to format
the
| partition for NTFS. I say yes and it asks me to re-insert the Windows XP
CD.
| 5. The system does a NTFS format, inspects the drive, then starts copying
| files.
| 6. When it gets to 51%, if fails. The first file it can't find is
| msihnd.dll. No matter how many times I retry, it can't find it. If I try
| repeatedly, I get a blue "crash" screen with the following:
|
| Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area
|
| A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage
| to your computer.
|
| If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
| computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
|
| Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
| this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for
| any Windows updates you might need.
|
| If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or
| software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you
| need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your
computer,
| press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.
|
| Technical information:
|
| *** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD0200668, 0x00000000, 0x804E70D5, 0x00000000)
|
| If I hit ESC instead of retry on the missing file, it faults immediately
| trying to find file msimain.sdb. After that, msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

Or it could be that your CD is screwed. Ever thought of that?

 

[Guest]

Hi William...
If the surface area of the disc is a bit 'Iffy' - try copying that disc
and booting from the remake... This has worked for me in the past...

Robbie D....

What drive controller? If your drive controller is not natively supported
then you'll want to boot the Windows XP CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and
very important (at setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent
drive controller detection. This may also be characteristic of bad RAM

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Thanks for your reply and advice Dave. I should have been clearer. I am
| installing from my original Windows XP upgrade CD. Here's what's
happening:
|
| 1. Install the CD and boot from CD
| 2. System installs the necessary files then asks if I want to perform an
| install or repair an existing install, I select new install.
| 3. I get the license agreement and accept using F8
| 4. The system asks for a qualifying prior operating system for the upgrade
| to continue. I remove the Windows XP install CD and place the Windows ME
CD
| in the drive. The system recongnizes it, then asks if I want to format
the
| partition for NTFS. I say yes and it asks me to re-insert the Windows XP
CD.
| 5. The system does a NTFS format, inspects the drive, then starts copying
| files.
| 6. When it gets to 51%, if fails. The first file it can't find is
| msihnd.dll. No matter how many times I retry, it can't find it. If I try
| repeatedly, I get a blue "crash" screen with the following:
|
| Page_fault_in_nonpaged_area
|
| A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage
| to your computer.
|
| If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
| computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
|
| Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If
| this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for
| any Windows updates you might need.
|
| If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or
| software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you
| need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your
computer,
| press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.
|
| Technical information:
|
| *** STOP: 0x00000050 (0xD0200668, 0x00000000, 0x804E70D5, 0x00000000)
|
| If I hit ESC instead of retry on the missing file, it faults immediately
| trying to find file msimain.sdb. After that, msinfo32.chm, etc. etc.

Or it could be that your CD is screwed. Ever thought of that?

But if that doesn't work, what will happen?
After this post, I'm checking something else.