Install "issues" Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Install "issues" in the Windows Vista forums; OK heres my issue. Someone took my original Windows XP installation disc. Luckily, I had a copy saved. Unfortunately, one of my kids cracked the disc. I have a computer ...

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

OK heres my issue.
Someone took my original Windows XP installation disc. Luckily, I had a copy saved. Unfortunately, one of my kids cracked the disc.
I have a computer that had Windows XP Professional on it but I got a blue screen problem. Through troubleshooting, I see the only way to fix that problem is to use the system recovery, which now I cant. Soooo, I downloaded the Vista .iso file from Microsoft. I even purchased a new 160G hard drive to clean install on.
I started by formatting with my Windows XP setup discs. I got to a certain point where I had to reboot. Then I got a "NTLDR missing" problem. I got the NTLDRfix patch from http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm.
I put it on the floppy and ran it at startup.
When I put it in with my old bluescreen drive, I eventually get the same bluescreen.
When I put it in the new drive that should ONLY be formatted, I get the TRY THIS 1st, 2nd, 3rd... screen like the article says I would. But after I click on the first one, I get <WINDOWS>\system32\hal.dll file is missing.
I cant get the Vista .iso DVD disc to do anything.
ANY help would be greatful!!!
Thanks,
Q

[felix8406]

TheOneNonlyQ,

The “NTLDR is missing” means the “Master Boot Record” is missing; however, that’s not really the problem at this point; the issue is that you don’t have an operating system to install…one CD is broken, one missing and the Vista DVD is not working.

Let’s first discuss the DVD: you said that the Vista ISO DVD doesn’t do anything. First, did you burn the ISO file correctly; you cannot just copy the files you downloaded into a DVD. You must use a program that can take the ISO image and convert it into a CD, but you must tell the program that or it will copy the files instead. If you don’t have a program that can burn an ISO try: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm. (I’m assuming you have a 2nd PC that’s working, because you were able to download the ISO file)

Assuming that the DVD was burned correctly; do you know if your BIOS is setup to boot from CD/DVD? Start your PC, it should bring a prompt telling you to press Delete or F2 or any other key to enter Setup. Press that key; if you miss it the first time, then press Ctlr+Alt+Delete keys to restart and try again. Set CD/DVD-Rom as your first boot option, but also make sure your hard drive is setup as 2nd or third, depending if your PC has one or two hard drives installed.

You really don’t need to format the hard drive to install Vista, the installation will do it for you, but if you do need to format a hard drive, you can use your second PC. Just install the new hard drive as a secondary in the PC that’s working and format it through My Computer, then reinstall it as the primary in the PC that’s not working. (make sure you enable the correct pins on the back of your hard drive to make it primary or slave). However, your main objective is to get your DVD working as I mentioned previously, because you are going to need an operating system.

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

WONDERFUL!!!
First lemmie say.......Im not blond, I did read the Microsoft warning that said I needed a special program to copy the file to a DVD disc. I ASSumed that it wouldnt copy at all if the program I used couldnt copy .iso files correctly. WRONG I used a regular program to copy it. I will get that isorecorder program and copy it again correctly and start my thinking process again.
(I was wondering why there wasnt a link to make setup discs for Vista)
Ill be working on this tonight.
Thanks a lot!
(maybe there was some confusion between the gray hairs thinking they were blond )

No offense to any natural blonds!!!

[felix8406]

I'm not going to say that most programs will make a CD from an ISO, but most major programs will. But if you are not too familiar with the different type files, or it's something you never done, then it'll be a little more complicated. Some programs will automatically make you the DVD, for others you may have to go to utilities and choose the "Burn Disk Image" utility. There's a possibility that the program that you have can burn the ISO, check the options.

[crabby]

As you aren't 'blonde' Here are the easy steps to install Vista:

1. Grab the .iso
2. Use a piece of burning software to burn the .iso to a DVD (lowest speed is best)
3. Insert DVD and try and open it inside an operating system to check that it has copied correctly (look around the DVD aswell to make sure files look OK)
4. Reboot
5. Enter your BIOS by pressing f2, f10 or Del (depending on your PC) and make sure that its is setup to boot from CD first
6. Once you have setup your boot preferences, boot into the Vista DVD
7. When asked where you wish to install the operating system click 'drive options' which will allow you to format any/all of the drives you want. Then select the drive to install to and go for it

A couple of side notes....

You DO NOT need the XP CD at any point, the Vista DVD can format hard drives as well.

Windows will ALWAYS produce a boot sector on the primary hard drive, even if you dont install the operating system to it. Therefore it is always best to install windows when only 1 hard drive is attached. (This can lead to your missing master boot record problem )

If you still want to use Windows XP there are many ways of obtaining .iso's of that aswell, so you will have your XP cd back! What copy of Windows XP is it?

crabby

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by TheOneNOnlyQ

OK heres my issue.
I started by formatting with my Windows XP setup discs. I got to a certain point where I had to reboot. Then I got a "NTLDR missing" problem.
Q

Hopefully all the suggestions we provided help you to solved the problem. I have a question, you mentioned Win XP setup discs. I used then once, many moons back, but they didn't work well so I made DOS startup disk instead. Anyway when you used the discs and entered the format C: command, was there any instructions telling you to use the /s switch, e.g. format C: /s?

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

Ive used the startup discs several times. I dont remember anything about a /s switch. I do remember with the new 160G (and I think with my 40G a while back too) hard drive, it told me something about needing to partition it a certain way because of its size. Other than that, it seemed to have worked normally. I "think" I went through all 6 dics before I got the NTLDR problem - its been a while.
(I sorta get absorbed when I have a problem with one of my machines at home. I tend to spend 5 or 6 hours straight working on it. And before I know it, half the day is gone. And with 3 children, a husband, FT employment and school PT, those 5 or 6 hours are precious. Thats why since it was 74 degrees outside, I opted out of getting absorbed in it last night and instead put the rest of my Christmas lights up and played hide and seek with the family outside. Life is short!)

[felix8406]

Originally Posted by TheOneNOnlyQ

WONDERFUL!!!

(I was wondering why there wasn't a link to make setup discs for Vista)

The setup boot disks were supposed to be used in PCs that could not use a bootable CD-ROM. They included mscdex.exe to copy the CD-Rom driver...many people that created a bootable disk using WinXP could not get their CD-ROM to work because the mscdex.exe was missing.

If a PC supports booting from a CD-ROM the disk or disks are not needed for installation of WinXP. Microsoft stopped support for installation using the setup disks a while back, requiring the PC to start the setup from the CD-ROM.

[TheOneNOnlyQ]

Alrighty then.
I redid the Vista .iso disc thanks to Drop to CD (Dro to DVD) by way of CNETs download.com. (btw, I couldnt use the ISO recorder Im assuming because it only burns to DVD in Vista. It only wanted to burn to CD using my other Windows XP machine.)
SO - I booted to the DVD with the new Vista disc. I got a Windows Boot Manager screen. Unfortunately it said:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix this problem
1. Insert installation disc and restart
2. Choose language then next
3. Click repair your computer
If no disc contact system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

Status: 0xc0000017
Info: Ramdisk device creation failed due to insufficient memory.



This machine has the following: AMD Sempron 2200+, Base memory 640 kb, Extended memory 95MB, DDR at DIMM(s) 1, and Processor clock of 1500
mhz.
Yes I know, I didnt say how much ram I have. Due to my embarassment, lets just say its not quite the 512 minimum I should have. Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to CompUSA I go.

On a lighter (and perhaps cheaper) note....where might one sayyyy....find and download an .iso of Windows XP Pro????
Q

[crabby]

^^ That 'Windows failed to start' issue means that you HAVENT booted to the disk, and your PC is still trying to boot into windows (which you have removed). Check the disc in your operating system first, you dont want the .iso on the disk, you want the files within the image, when you insert it within windows it should auto start. Remember to check your boot selection in your bios as per my post above so that it checks the DVD first. And also remember to 'press any key to boot from CD'

In regards to your XP request, I need to know what service pack it is, whether it is OEM or retail etc?

crabby