Easier way to install an OS?

[fier]

Hello everybody.

I was given a pc and I was trying to load an XP home edition and deleted a primary partition with W98 thinking that XP would load ok, but it failed.

I had a "NTLDR missing" problem, so managed to load from the recovery console NTLDR, boot.ini and NTdetect.com, but then I got "Windows unable to start because the following file is missing or corrupt Windows\system32\dal.dll".

I read further that this is possibly due to boot.ini being incorrect and needs to be changed. I could probably go and change it, but afraid that there will be some other problem.

Is there an easier way to install an XP or any Windows OS? My bootable CD does not do a thing apart from spinning fast.

Many thanks
fier

 

[micker377]

Is the XP Home an update or complete?

 

[wolluf]

fier - can you clarify what you've done please - its not obvious! (like if your bootable CD isn't booting how did you manage to install anything - as you can't use recovery console unless you have an installation to recover!)

The obvious approach would be:-

preparation - in 98, run the XP compatability app (on the XP CD). If all ok (ie, it will run) and you've downloaded any XP drivers you will need:-

set bios to boot from CD
boot XP install CD
use its tools to remove previous o/s partition and create a new one for XP.
Complete the install.

If CD won't boot - go to

http://www.bootdisk.com

and get the 6 floppy set to start installation.

If there are problmes during the XP install - likely you have a hardware problem (apart from compatibility, XP is more sensitive than 98 to bad hardware )