Problem Clean Installing XP

[Tundraswan]

I've been trying desperately to install XP from DOS using the boot disk method but I always get an error when executing the setup.

I used the XP boot disk from

http://www.bootdisk.com

and I went to the *:\i386 folder on the WinXP installation CD (in DOS), I typed "winnt" and executed it. The familiar blue coloured setup screen appeared, but with an error message:

"An Internal Setup error has occurred

Could not find a place for a swap file

Setup cannot continue"

Any ideas to how I can solve this problem?

TIA

 

[wolluf]

Why are you installing from dos? Booting PC from the XP install CD is the best way. If you have a problem booting from Cd, you could try the 6 floppy startup disks to initiate the installation. You can download them from same site

http://www.bootdisk.com/original.htm.

I've not installed XP from dos - but various posts suggest you need smartdrv installed for it to run properly. I wonder if you also need formatted drive space (does your drive have this - or is it new/blank waiting to be partitioned/formatted)?

 

[Tundraswan]

Answers to questions: -

My PC can't boot from CDROM, my hard disk is formatted to NTFS and has 900mb of free space.

Sorry for not including such detail initially, hope this clears things up.

Thanks, again.

 

[wolluf]

900mb of free space is not enough for XP to install into.

 

[rew]

if you want to boot from a floppy disk then goto microsofts home page and download the xp disk set from them! its 6 disketts long and works a treat

 

[linney]

HOW TO: Start Setup from MS-DOS in Windows XP (Q307848)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/8/48.asp

Just to fit the XP operating system on your drive you will need about 2GB of space. Just copying the setup files requires 383MB of space.