Installing Windows XP

[byrdgirl13]

Ok, I am building a computer for anyone who didn't catch that in the last two or three threads I posted in this forum. ;) I've got it put together and am trying to install Windows XP Pro.

I've formatted the hard drive and Setup copied the installation files (I'm pretty sure that's what they were). When it gets done copying the set of files, Setup restarts the computer with the message that it will continue after the restart. ...It did pull up the Setup page again, but not at a point to continue - it starts all over. If I take the CD out before it restarts (after the installation files copied), I get an error that tells me to insert the system disk and hit enter.

So in other words, it only installs partway, then starts over. What the heck??? :confused2 How am I supposed to install this?

[Wojtek]

I suggest this method:

install 98 with minimum stuff
and up it to XP

[Robert]

Originally posted by byrdgirl13
Ok, I am building a computer for anyone who didn't catch that in the last two or three threads I posted in this forum. ;) I've got it put together and am trying to install Windows XP Pro.

I've formatted the hard drive and Setup copied the installation files (I'm pretty sure that's what they were). When it gets done copying the set of files, Setup restarts the computer with the message that it will continue after the restart. ...It did pull up the Setup page again, but not at a point to continue - it starts all over. If I take the CD out before it restarts (after the installation files copied), I get an error that tells me to insert the system disk and hit enter.

So in other words, it only installs partway, then starts over. What the heck??? :confused2 How am I supposed to install this?

After it installs the setup file and restarts, go into the BIOS and change it so the hard drive is the first device that boots up, instead of the cd-rom.

[Wojtek]

Originally posted by Robert
After it installs the setup file and restarts, go into the BIOS and change it so the hard drive is the first device that boots up, instead of the cd-rom.
Doesnt setup on the cd detect if theres a previous installation start?

I had the same prob with ME and the only way I found to make it install would be to do a 98->ME upgrade.

[byrdgirl13]

Erm...k...yeah the switching boot order in BIOS didn't work, I tried that just before I read the replies. The problem is that it just doesn't see the files anywhere but on the CD. That's how it seems anyway. I tried installing 98 earlier & had some trouble, but I guess I'll try it again...

umm...btw, in the bios, my hdd options (for boot devices) are HDD-0, HDD-1, HDD-2, and HDD-3. When I first loaded the bios it had HDD-0 selected for one of the boot devices. Should that be the primary master IDE device (and therefore my hard drive)? That's how it seems so I left it, but...?? Anyway, i'll try 98 again.


EDIT: to the last reply, yes and no. It recognizes Windows files on the hard drive perfectly, but doesn't recognize/continue the partial installation. Of course, if I leave Setup, it complains that I haven't finished installing Windows yet. :rolleyes:

Another EDIT: Dang it...I don't want the fat32 file system, but I have to if I install 98 before XP. Is there any way to change that after stuff is installed? Or do I always have to clean the hard drive for that? I only want one partition in my hard drive, btw (with all the space allotted to it...)

:cry2:

[Wojtek]

fat32 your hdd and then when installing xp nfts it, theres an option, dont worry.


for the hdd-0 thing, if you have only one hard disk on your computer then it should be the master device on the master IDE cable. If you have multiple hard disks, take them out for now and re-try the Winxp setup, if it fails, try win98 again with only one hdd.

If Still that fails,
I suggest you hook up the hdd in question to the computer you use now as a second hdd and install winxp on it or maybe just copy the whole hdd on it or something.

Try some stuff, best way to learn something else, heh :)

[awayfromforum]

one more thing, if the cable is a cable select cable, make sure its on the blue side is on the mobo, and the last black one is in the HD, and set the HD to cable select.

This solved it for me. And should for you as well. Make the Cd Rom on the second IDE as master, and then boot up, set bios to boot from CD-Rom then HDD-0 and then dont have the CD in the CD rom drive, then see if it continues install.

[byrdgirl13]

Maybe I should have said - yeah, my HDD is master device on primary IDE cable. The cd drive is master device on the secondary cable.

Umm...but now, the Setup won't read the hard drive...but the hard drive shows up in the bios and POST. Agh.