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Loading XP PRO from MS CD

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by ackerberg, 2007/08/09.

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  1. 2007/08/09
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have a new HD and want to load XP PRO from an MS CD to which I added SP2 using whatever it is called(streamlining?). Will the process start from inserting the CD into a drive? The computer's BIOS first loads from a floppy, then C drive and then the Optical drives?
     
    ackerberg,
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  2. 2007/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You will need to change the boot order in BIOS to CD-Rom > Floppy > Hard Drive. Power up, insert the CD and reboot - the computer will then boot from the CD.

    Sidenote - You may see a message just after the POST screen to 'Press any key to boot from CD' - depends on the make of BIOS.

    BTW 'slipstreaming' is the correct phrase, although I must say that 'streamlining' is rather neat too :)
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    With the new HDD installed, the computer cannot boot. Insert the CD in the tray and hit ctrl-alt-del to restart. Now, it should boot from the CD.

    I recommend removing all external hardware, like scanner, printer and card readers, during the installation. Installing them, one at at time, after the OS is up and running is a better option.

    Also, consider partitioning the HDD in two with a separate data partition (easier to backup the system as well as the data).

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  5. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Installing on a new, unbootable HDD, I don't think changing the boot order is necessary. Reinstalling on a used, bootable HDD would be different.

    I do, however, use the boot order "Floppy - CD - HDD" myself.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #4
  6. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    Should I leave the network wire connected to the computer when I do the installation so it will be able to ask me if I have a LAN? Or should the network cable be attached after the OS is installed?
    Thank you all for the info!

    BTW, the installation of the OS will format the drive to NTFS format rather than FAT 32?
     
    ackerberg,
    #5
  7. 2007/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Suggest you disconnect from network until the installation is complete.
    You should be given the option to choose - I think NTFS is the default.
     
    PeteC,
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  8. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    Everything has gone well so far, except the drive with the OS is called F and my secondary drive is called C.
    I right clicked the drives to change the names but now the OS drive is called C(F) and the other drive is F(C).
    I would like to get rid of the parenthesis and also have the OS drive, C, shown above the secondary drive in Windows Explorer. How do I do this?
     
    ackerberg,
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  9. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I forgot to ask if there are any other HDDs, other than the new one, connected. If so, I would recommend to disconnect all other HDDs until the installation is complete. Drive letter "mixup" is avoided if only one HDD is connected.

    The new HDD is F:, the old is C: which indicates that there are two opticals, D: and E:, right?

    Since changing the drive letter of the system partition is not possible (as you have noticed), I recommend taking it from square one.

    1) Now, you need the correct boot order, Floppy - CD - HDD or CD - Floppy - HDD. If you didn't change it before, do so now in BIOS.

    2) Shut down and disconnect the second HDD (power and data cables).

    3) Insert the Windows CD and restart the computer. Make a clean installation by deleting the current partition(s) and recreating it/them (important to straigthen out the drive letters). Format the new partition(s).

    4) If a single partition was created, it should be C: with the opticals D: and E: respectively. When up and runnig, in disk management, change the drive letters for the opticals to "a letter higher up ". I have chosen X: and Y: respectively.

    5) Shut down, reconnect the second HDD, restart and it should be given the drive letter D:.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  10. 2007/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Hmm - you did not mention that this was a second hard drive and that another drive (with an OS?) was installed. By new hard drive we rather assumed that it was the only drive.

    Windows has seen the other hard drive which would be the C:\ drive and also your optical drive(s) D:\ & E:\ and has designated the new drive F:\

    The only solution to revert this drive to C:\ is to disconnect the second hard drive and format and reinstall on the new drive. The opticals can remain connected - they automatically get shunted down a letter, but any card reader, seen as a drive by Windows, must also be disconnected.

    Changing the name of the drive will not affect the sort order - the drive letter determines that and the new OS is on F:\ drive

    Edit - I see Christer just beat me to the post :)
     
    PeteC,
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  11. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Pete,
    I always thought that I was a slow typist ... ;) ... !

    ackerberg,
    I don't remember if it is vital but in step 3) above, I always reboot after deleting the partition(s). After the reboot, I recreate the partition(s) and format them.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  12. 2007/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Christer ....

    Bet you started first :D
     
    PeteC,
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  13. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Yes, three minutes before you did ... :cool: ... !

    Christer
     
    Christer,
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  14. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    Well, it did not quite work out the way I expected. I disconnected the xtra drive and started over. I was not able to delete the original partition because of the operating system but I was allowed to reinstall windows. Unfortunately the C drive is now called C(F) but it appears after A,D&E and not after A. I went into drive management and tried to change the name to just C and to move it in Explorer so it is under A but I did not have any luck. I wonder if partition magic will allow me to fix this.
    To fix it for sure, I would have to completely reformat the drive and start over with a blank drive that was not named before. Is this worth doing? Do you see any problems leaving it the way it is - or will there be a problem with the name c(F)?
     
    ackerberg,
    #13
  15. 2007/08/10
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I suspect you have made a Repair install which will not affect drive letters at all - the drive is still F:\ to Windows. This will be an irritant when you come to load software as most programs will install to C:\ by default.

    For the sake of a further hour I would start over - you may find my note re. installing XP clean when XP is already on the drive helpful ....
    .
     
    PeteC,
    #14
  16. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    Pete,
    I did not do a repair install. When I hit D to delete the partition I received a message that it could would not delete the partition. I tried this twice.
    I agree with you about installation problems which should be on C, but using the MS disk, I can not delete the partition as you state.
    Also L is not a partition, where did you that? The only drives that show in Explorer are A, D,E and C(F).
     
    ackerberg,
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  17. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Did you let the CD autorun from within a running Windows XP? If so, it would behave the way you describe (not allowing the deletion of the partition). If you rebooted with the CD in the tray, then something is wrong.

    Download Delpart and add/copy it to a bootable floppy, such as a Win98 start disk. Make sure that only the new (troublesome) HDD is connected (to avoid the possibility of a mistake). Restart the computer from the floppy. When up and running, at the command prompt, type in: Delpart.exe > enter. Delpart will launch, detect the HDD and you can delete all partitions.

    When done, remove the floppy, insert the CD and reboot.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #16
  18. 2007/08/10
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    If you haven't got one, an *.exe which will create a Win98 start disk can be downloaded here.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #17
  19. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    I tried to load Adobe Reader and it wanted to use the default location F/......
    So I am going to have to start over from scratch completely reformat this drive.
    How do I do that?
     
    ackerberg,
    #18
  20. 2007/08/10
    ackerberg

    ackerberg Inactive Thread Starter

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    I have the boot disks for Partition Magic. I loaded them and see that I can reformat the drive completely. I will do that in the morning, and let you know how I make out.
    Thanks for all your support.
    Bob
     
    ackerberg,
    #19
  21. 2007/08/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    A little confusion here ....
    No implication that L is a partition - it is the confirmatory key stroke to delete the partition ....
     
    PeteC,
    #20
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