install xp from i386 folder

[p27br]

Hi,

I have a PC with W2K and one with XP Pro. I want to do a fresh install of XP Pro on the W2K machine, overwriting W2K.
I copied the i386 folder to a CD and firstly tried booting up from the cd in dos mode and running WINNT.EXE from the i386 folder in on the CD but I receive an error message : unable create swap. the c: drive is not accessible from the dos prompt.
then i tried running WINNT32.EXE from a dos window within W2K, the install started fine, but after the system reboots and starts the install, it asks for the Windows XP Professional CD. When i press enter nothing happens and I have to quit with F3. Now I have a fual boot option between XP and 2000 which I don't want.
Do I have to adda parameters to the WINNT command so that it finds the files on the CD ?
How can I make this work ?
Or how can I remove the dual boot option ig it's not possible to install XP like that ?
I tried finding boot.ini but there isn't such a file in W2K

cheers

 

[bcastner]

I would boot with a Win98SE boot diskette containing FDISK, or a Win98SE CD and use FDISK to remove all existing partitions.

Then boot with an XP CD.

By using the MS-DOS installation method, you are skipping several native steps in the XP install.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348pport.microsoft.com/?id=87535

If I was concerned about booting to CD, I would identify the existing OEM manufacturer of the hard disk drive under Device Manager, head to their web site, and download their installation/setup/diagnostic diskette image and use that to clean the hard drive.

Set the BIOS startup options for the computer to boot from CD, and just boot from the XP install CD.

 

[linney]

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

307848 - HOW TO: Start Setup from MS-DOS in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307848&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[p27br]

that's if you have the full version of xp, but my old pc has an acer recovery disk with an image of xp. i want to install xp on my new pc, and it won't work with the recovery disk, so i read somewhere it's possible to use the i386 folder to do an install.

 

[westredd]

you could create a proper XP boot CD by following instructions for this website

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=295

This website shows you how to integrate a service pack into the XP install CD which you might as well do while you are at it.

The website says that you need a copy of the original XP CD, but I am sure that the I386 folder is enough to work from for this.

 

[linney]

There are licensing and other ramifications which should be considered in this situation. Your OEM install is only for that original machine.

Should you purchase an OEM license version of XP?
faq779-4004

My advice is to purchase a retail version of XP.

 

[p27br]

linney

thanks for the link. You're right, I think I'll get a new OEM version, Idon't mind having to do a fresh install when i get a new version.

thanks to all for helping