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Winnt.exe install problem

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by Grout58, 2007/04/12.

  1. 2007/04/12
    Grout58

    Grout58 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hey all,

    I trying to install windows xp on a laptop without a cdrom. I have a 40 gig drive and made a 30 gig partition and an 8 gig partition. I copied the i386 folder to the 8 gig partition. I booted up from a 98 boot disk and ran winnt.exe from the i386 folder. This began the installer and it completed fine. When I go and reboot it says no operating system. Anyone know why this is?
     
    Grout58,
    #1
  2. 2007/04/12
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Just exactly how did you get the i386 folder onto the second partition? That dir MUST be copied from the XP cdrom, not copied from a previous installation.
     
    TonyT,
    #2


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  4. 2007/04/12
    Grout58

    Grout58 Inactive Thread Starter

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    I took the hdd out of the laptop and connected it by usb to my pc and made the 2 partitions using disk managment and copied the i386 folder from the xp cd.
     
    Grout58,
    #3
  5. 2007/04/12
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Take out the hd again and verify the correctness of the file c:\boot.ini and verify that xp actually installed onto the 1st partition and not the second one.
     
    TonyT,
    #4
  6. 2007/04/12
    Grout58

    Grout58 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Should I just say hell with the second partition and just make one and copy a i386 folder there?
     
    Grout58,
    #5
  7. 2007/04/12
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    see above
     
    TonyT,
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  8. 2007/04/12
    TopFarmer

    TopFarmer Well-Known Member

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    Must assume you are using FAT32 partition type and not NTFS. There should be not problem with the way you did it, I've done it the same way before, just be sure to select to install on the correct partition.

    I am also assuming the error you get is on the first reboot, if it is after XP has completed its 2-3 reboots, disregard below.
    My guess is you did not set the first partition Active. Use the win98 boot floppy and at the prompt A: FDISK select option #4, does it show the first partition Active ? IF not press ESC and select option #2, and make Active. When done remove floppy and reboot.
     
    TopFarmer,
    #7

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