WinXP setup in MSDOS mode 1

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

I have a Quantum 10G HD. Its formatted and has an active boot partition. I also have hooked up as a slave, my Maxtor (thats having registry "issues" and wont boot as a master). When I boot up to a DOS prompt and go to the CDROM and type setup, it says that the program cant be run in MSDOS mode. Im a bit confused tho. When I look at the setup notes it says this:
If your computer has a blank hard disk ((((which is what I have)))) or your current operating system isn't supported, you need to start your computer by using the Windows XP Professional CD. ((((does this mean to go into my CMOS and chg the where I look for an operating system to look in my CDROM first?)))) Some newer CD-ROM drives can start the installation from the CD and automatically run the Windows XP Setup Wizard.
To install a new copy by using the CD:
1. Start your computer by running your current operating system, and then insert the Windows XP Professional CD into your CD-ROM drive. ((((this is where Im confused - my disk is blank, it doesnt have an operating system on it yet))))
2. If Windows automatically detects the CD, click Install Windows. The Windows XP Setup Wizard appears.
If Windows doesn't automatically detect the CD, click Start,
and then click Run. ((((I need an operating system to click on anything)))) Type the following path to the setup file, replacing 'd' if necessary with the letter of your CD-ROM drive: d:\setup.exe
3. Press ENTER.
4. When prompted to choose an installation type, select New Installation, and then click Next.

I was told to go to the XP's disk and folder I386 and run winnt.exe (

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-

US;q278104&GSSNB=1) if I was trying to setup the Home Edition. But Im trying to install the Prof Edition.
I havent tried that yet. Any ideas or am I just having a major brainfreeze?
Q

 

[wacks]

* first, is that a FULL INSTALL CD or just an UPGRADE?

anyway, even the OEM version (FULL INSTALL) requires an existing OS. meaning, you must have at least Win98 (basic install)in your computer then run the CD.

* i tried that yesterday coz i just formatted my hard drive. I install a basic WinMe (without any added application) then, install WinXP PRO.

* dont worry about the DRIVERS coz it will automatically detect your hardware and go online for Windows Update.

 

[Guest_imported]

Sounds like you want to do a clean install of Win XP?
You are correct that the setup.exe doesn't work in DOS... it's not supposed to.
The easiest thing to do is use the install disks... you can get an image of them at

http://bootdisk.com

I hope this helps.
DrD

 

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

OK, so I guess when they say its a full install, it is a full install but in a way, done like an upgrade (since you NEED to have an operating system already there).
1 question
WHYYYY?????
Full install should mean fm a BLANK disk, not one with an operating system already on it. Or is it because I have an OEM version?

 

[Prospect34]

Changing the boot order in CMOS is exactly what they are talking about.Change to cdrom, save settings, System will boot to CD, run setup.

 

[Squadcar7]

What wacks has to say is not true. Here's how you install Windows XP. First of all, you don't need a new hard drive, partitioned hard drive, or existing OS. Windows XP will take you through those steps in setup. The OEM version, or full install, will require you to go into your BIOS setup utility and set BIOS to boot from CD. After reboot, you'll go through the POST process, and the motherboard will proceed with IRQ configs and such, sort of complicated. Then you'll usually see something about Boot Emulation or something. I don't remember the exact message, but I do remember the "Hit any key to boot from a cd." That only lasts for a few seconds, so you have to stay on your toes. Don't spend time looking for the Any key, just hit enter, it'll work fine. --)
Then Windows XP will run through a lot of driver loading, and take you through the setup process, establishing and NTFS partition, and formatting, and then setting up Windows XP. Pretty self explanatory after that...

 

[ie6user]

Only if you're having an older machine (bios, anyway), you might be unable to boot from CD. In that case, you should get the (6!) setup floppies from MS (well, the images, that is, the diskettes you'll have to supply yourself..)

Go to

http://support.microsoft.com/support/misc/kblookup.asp?id=310994

- here you'll find links to various languages and home/pro diskette generators...

Ofcourse - if you *are* able to boot from CD, that would be _a lot_ faster and simpler...
---
saybibi();
//john
#include <stddiscl.h>

 

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

OK OK OK Check this out.

With my other snail machine (133mhz - 56K modem), I found what I stopped looking for. Microsoft does give a description on how to boot fm MSDOS. Its here -->

http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307848

I tried this method but it says to start SMARTdrive to make things go faster. SMARTdrive, fm what I remember, is in the Windows directory - which I dont have yet. So I told it to continue without smartdrv active. The website above says that without it active, the part that copies files to the hard drive will perform slowly. Well that was an understatement. I began the process. I left the room for 30+ minutes. Came back, the lights were still blinking but I thought it had stalled. I restarted it again. When I did that, it showed all the files it erased - so it wasss working. OK I started it again. This time I left the room for 1 hr. Came back and it was stillllll in the same spot copying. I decided Id get a copy of smartdrive off my snail machine and see if when I boot with my WinME startup disk with that on it, would it work? Unnnnfortunately my snail machines LS120 was having &quot;issues&quot; and wouldnt copy the file.
Question: Can I run the SMARTdrive program fm the boot disk - its only 45K so it should fit.
But now, Im not sure how old or should I say how new my BIOS needs to be to boot fm my CDROM, but I will try that first.
If Im too old, Ill just give the file copying a LOT of time to do what it has to.

IM GETTIN THERE!!!!

 

[ie6user]

You could run smartdrv from the boot disk (provided it's a &quot;valid&quot; one for the OS on the boot disk; just try it, and if it fails either add SETVER.EXE to the bootdisk (come back here if you need to), or get a matching pair of the OS and SmartDrv...

Actually, I never tried it this way - but assuming your harddisk is already formatted, it should work.. though personally I'd invest some time to see if you can get your system to boot from the CD, and otherwise get the setup diskettes from Q310994.. although that is 6 disks, I guess it is still faster [less slow] than copying the entire i386 directory (which is basically which WINNT does in your case) w/ real mode CD-ROM drivers...

You might speed things in your way up a bit by including indeed smartdrv (w/ more than the default &quot;8 0&quot; memory settings, if I recall correctly) [the 8 MB being relevant here, the 0 is when running windows]), and giving MSCDEX more than the 2 default buffers for directory segment caching...; but then again, you might run out of conventional memory, and you might loose out too much if you go for a 64k old-style EMS frame.. so better just try it and see how far you get...

Anyway - good luck, and keep us posted on the results.. ---
saybibi();
//john
#include <stddiscl.h>

 

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

I HAVE SUCCESS!!!!
First thing I tried was to switch my CMOS to boot to the CDROM. Eureka!!!! Not a single problem after.
Will someone pleeeease tell me why Microsoft doesnt make the &quot;switch the CMOS to CDROM first&quot; information more prominent?????
Thank you everyone!!!
(the fun is just beginning.......)
Q