OEM install problems

Reading in various locations about purchasing OEM software due to cost I purchased Win XP Home as an OEM installation. I have checked the Disc and everything physically possible and it is genuine. However when I try to install it the setup flags up various files that couldnt be installed. I have run the Set up disc numerous times on various sizes and makes of HDD. I have formatted before and during and run it as a new install on a drive with an existing OS on it (Win ME) I am pretty much at a lose for what to do next. Although it installed enough to boot up into the Desktop due to the various missing files it obviously didnt Look Operate or Work in the way it should. I have an old HDD with a corrupted XP Home installation on it and I hoped to copy acrross the necessary files but it doesnt seem to work. I know that there is a specific process to installing and OEM os and of course this is lesson learned when it comes to cutting cost in areas that I have less knowledge that is maybe necessary. That being said I dont feel it is beyond me to install correctly. When I run the setup initially should I ensure that only required Hardware is connected e.g Graphics card Disc drive and floppy. Then reconnect these after installation is complete. or is there a site or thread that is able to talk me thruogh the process to ensure I do it all in order. All the HDD's that I have used either formatted or with an OS on it already belong to me and are authentic. I am unclear what could cause the Installation conflict as each time I run it I am told different file names that havent installed meaning that sometimes they do and sometimes they dont. Doesnt make sense.

 

re Spec of Dust

Thanks for the advice. I will be honest it wasnt quite what I was looking for as an answer, but I will use the information as best I can. Obviously if there are any further suggestions then I would certainly be interested.

 

install XP

first of all , Is this disk you have a upgrade disk or a setup disk? Very first thing you need is a Windows 98 boot disk WITH CD SUPPORT... Next fdisk everything,
and start with a fresh install. Now after you have wiped everything insert your
XP setup disk and remove the boot disk. The xp setup disk should start and then just follow the instructions. And No , do not remove anything...
You can email me if you like, I install All kinds of OS's every day.

 

If it boots up to the Desktop without any error messages, I consider that a successful install. Like you, I am always struck by how different a new install looks and how differently it operates as opposed to my old comfortable system that has morphed into something that I tweaked to my liking. Perhaps that's what is bothering you also.

If that's not the case, perhaps if you can go into more detail about what isn't working correctly or what doesn't look proper to you, then maybe someone can advise you better. It would help if the specific file names were known for those that refused to copy.

Another possibility would be that you need to install the drivers for your motherboard. That is especially important if you have integrated sound or video on the board. Without the proper video drivers you will have a very strange looking display since XP will default to the VGA driver with a very low resolution and a limited color range. If that's the case, visit the web site for the maker of your MOBO and get the latest drivers.

Incidentally, you are correct in thinking that you should disconnect any unnecessary peripheral devices when install the system. You can install them later in any order that you choose. Be prepared to supply the necessary driver disks if needed. Having devices hooked up during an install can cause the file copy errors you mentioned. Play it safe and disconnect everything but the mouse and keyboard.

 

Well, it's kind of a hard thing to run down. First thoughts on this type of thing are always the possibility of a defective or dirty CD or possibly the drive itself needs cleaning or possibly it has mechanical problems of some sort.

An OEM CD shouldn't require any special steps to install. If it's one that you bought online from some store like Newegg or the like, it's no different than any other Windows CD. The difference between it and a retail one has more to do with licensing restrictions than anything else. If it was one that came from one of the various computer companies (Dell, Gateway, etc.) it would be a different story.

So, what I'd try first would be this. If you have a friend who has a retail or OEM WinXP disk, one bought from a store, not a computer manufacturer, maybe you could borrow it and see if it will install properly. You wouldn't be able to activate it and you'd have to remove it eventually but it would tell you if your drive is OK. If it installed correctly, one would have to assume that there's something wrong with your disk. If you had similar problems with it, the drive is probably having problems. An alternative would be to try using another drive to install it (if you happen to have another one).

You say Windows does run but doesn't look right and doesn't run like it should. Can you explain what's not right with it once it's installed? I'm wondering if it's just perhaps the looks and feel that's not right and all you need to do is maybe install drivers, change some settings, etc.

 

Just to muddy the waters a bit - there are different kinds of OEM disks. Some (like Dell's) are locked to the hardware being used - so you won't be able to successfully install it on other systems.

Can you give us a link to the particular OEM disk that you ordered? That may reveal some incompatibilities.

 

thank you all

I will try to reply to everyone, sorry if i miss something. The OEM dsk was ordered from Dabs.com and was a full OS not an upgrade. The main problem with the initial installation is that it is "unable to install" various files and folders after about the 56% mark (though this varies slightly). In relation to the condition of the DSK I checked for marks scrathces dents the lot prior to 1st attempt and it was clean. I noted down the files that wouldnt load thinking that once it botted up (if it booted up) I could copy accross to the correct locations from another installation. However the lack of files were just enough to prevent start up and it would just loop. So I tried again (after all not everything works 1st time and I am patient) this time the install failed on a completely different set of files. This procedure I repeated about 5 or 6 times and each time the files were different. on the last occasion it left me with a message saying unable to update registry so unable to load and apparently there is a file missing named vgaoem.fon. i have searched for this file type on other xp machines and cannot find it to copy it accross.
With regards to the installation process I have used a pre formatted HDD, one that is formatted using the disc, one with ntfs and one with FAT. I have removed excess hardware and tuner cards etc and also tried is an an upgrade from a windows millenium OS that I had on an old PC. Nothing has worked. To go back to the "didnt look right" thing, I understand about the graphic settings and It wasnt that the G\card needed updates or anything it simply looked on that one time it booted up as if certain things were missing. None of the XP style was there. it was as if it was set to classic but had no option to switch. I had all the driver updates i needed for the graphics and all els on a flash drive and even after updating it didnt make a difference. This however was a null point shortly after as I was blue screened out. The Blue screen had occured during a couple of previous install attempts but restarted ok after. as i say the most current "problem" is the missing vgaoem.fon file which im told (by the all knowing installation) is the reason Windows is unable to load. I have looked for this file on other PC's in the system, system32 and fonts folders and although i can find the vgaoem.drv this .fon file is playing a great game of Hid'n'seek. Sorry if i have gone on, and also apologies for taking so long to respond to you offers of advice. In response to Centurian I have just got hold of a 98 floppy with CD support and will try it that way. However I am not sure of how one helps the other hopefully Centurian can explain it to me. As suggested I will try to contact Centurian but if he/she should be reading this then all the better. Thanks all

 

I believe you have a memory problem with that machine - very typical behavior.

 

My thoughts exactly Rockster. Download Windows Memory Diagnostic and run it to check. Also, you might want to open the case and reseat the memory modules. Probably not that lucky but you never know. Or, if you have more than one module, you can remove one and try the install again (assuming you have enough left to do the install). If it still fails, put that one back in and try again. I think I'd run the memory diagnostic tool first though. If it shows problems, then start removing them to try to run the problem one down.

The fact that it always fails on different files, the blue screen, the registry problem, ME fails to install too, all it is somewhat indicative of a memory problem of some type. Plus the fact the the Rock said so is another real good indicator.

 

testing the memory

I will download and run the Mem Diagnostic at the weekend. I have not used it before but I have looked up about it. what errors should I be looking for on the report. I beleive it runs various reports and can theoretically go on for a long time. should it take 10 mins or 10 hours (as an example) and is there a specific test and error that when i see the results i can say "ah yes the memory is indeed stuffed ". I presume it will test the Graphics card memory and anything else similar. will I know what i am looking at when it runs? sorry to be a pain with the questions.

 

To be honest, I've used it but have never had any errors reported so I'm not sure just what it will say if you have some. It does however, report no errors when it's finished so my guess is it will be obvious.

As to how long it takes, if I'm remembering correctly, you can select how many times you want it to run the test. If you don't get any errors the first time I'd run it again and let it make a few passes. It can take quite a while to run it so you'll want to do it when you don't need the computer. Maybe do it overnight. It's up to you. I believe it only tests your ram. No video or anything like that.

 

Memory testing results

I think its knackered I ran the Microsoft test and it showed up multiple errors when completing test 3 LRAN. it showed me the address and then the expected result and the found result. the 1st was 35584e49 - 35785e49. Each of the failed tests showed a similar discrepancy, each found result was higher in value than expected. I stopped it after 7 and also ran the extended test a couple of times just to be sure. did that twice with the same repsonse. No other errors were found though just the LRAN. I guess since day one all my problems have been the one thing that a couple of repair places have missed completely, the memory module. Looks like im going to ordering some new bits. if anyone has anything to add by all means otherwise thanks all

 

Not all memory is created equal - buy quality. Investigate what your motherboard manufacturer recommends. Corsair, OCZ, Patriot, Geil, Apacer, Buffalo are among the better brands.

 

New Memory

Well I searched, Bought, Installed and used some new Memory modules. Windows OEM, Installed perfectly 1st time. I have been left with very slight feelings of doubt however and no matter how well it seems to work I am almost waiting for that 1st blue screen but I am still happy as a p** in you know what. Thank you all for suggestions and observations. I have been posting on WindowsBBS for a while now with various problems and to finnaly feel that i have solved the problem is a big relief. I will of course be tentative in my approach but it works and that is the main thing.