Re-Install Problems.........

[robqx4]

I have an older "Compaq Presario" Model: 5900Z that I aquired
from a friend which was running windows xp, but originally
had windows 98 running on it.
Anyway, I wiped the hard drive and to start with a fresh copy of windows
and now no matter what I do I get a "Files Needed" box that appears the exact same place during the install (XP it appears after I hit "Typical Install"
2000 Pro it appears during "Start Menu Items") asking
me to "Insert the windows xp pro or windows 2000 pro (I've tried both)
disk into the "D" drive because it needs certain files" etc...
Now, this pop-up box happens 2 times than is gone. No matter which
button I choose "OK" or "Browse" it does nothing. If I hit "Cancel" it goes
away, but I can see that the install will jump forward a bunch of minutes
or skip right through things.
I thought it might be the cd-rom so I hooked up a brand new cd-rom and it did the exact same thing. I thought it might be the disk so I tried a different copy and it did the exact same thing. And obviously I thought it might be the O/S and you can see that I've tried multiple and it does the exact same thing! What the heck is causing this?????????? HELP PLEASE!!!!!

 

[linney]

Does either install complete and leave you with a working operating system?

Do you also have the original monitor, keyboard, mouse etc., maybe if you do there are files required for them (or other Compaq equipment which are not included on the retail CD?

Can you look at the Setup logs to get any clues? The Setup log files are located in the Windows folder with file names that use the following format: Setup*.*
For example, Setupact.log, Setupapi.log, Setuperr.log, and Setuplog.txt are the primary Setup log files.

 

[robqx4]

No, neither leave me with a working operating system.
And no I do not have the original keyboard and mouse etc..
And without a working O/S I don't believe I can view the
"Setup Logs" you asked about. Right?

 

[linney]

The files will be on the partition that you attempted to install the operating system in. You need a way to access these files and read them.

Something like BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

There may even be enough of the operating system installed that access to the files may be possible via the Recovery Console?

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Incidentally how did you format the drive, FAT32 or NTFS? Try the opposite, and if you use FAT32, then if that works you can Convert it to NTFS, or access any logs if it fails via a 9x Boot Disk.