Question

Problem Formatting Hard Drive & Reinstalling Windows XP

Asked by: alexswebsite

I wanted to instal a clean copy of Windows XP Professional, so I backed up everything I needed from my hard drive, and booted to the Windows XP cd. Everything went fine until it got about 25% through copying the files to install XP, then it says I can't copy the file dvdplay.exe.  It asks if I want to try again, but when I do, it fails again.  If I skip the file it goes on to try to copy the next file.  However, none of the next 75% of the files copy, and therefore the installation fails.  I've tried installing multiple times, and with different copies of the XP cd to no avail.

Any advice please?

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Asked On
2004-09-06 at 21:15:38ID21121003
Tags

xp

,

hard

,

windows

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
9

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Answers

 

by: tosh9iiiPosted on 2004-09-06 at 21:59:58ID: 11993824

When install WIndows XP, did you install it over your previous installation or did you delete the partition, create a new one, and install it on that?

 

by: alexswebsitePosted on 2004-09-06 at 22:23:34ID: 11993914

I deleted all partitions, and created a new partition during the installation.  I tried Quick and non-Quick NTFS....

 

by: nobusPosted on 2004-09-07 at 01:21:46ID: 11994680

check if your RAM is fine, and compatible with your motherboard
test it at ::  http://www.memtest.org/    with memtest86+
compatibility : goto crucial or kingston site

 

by: alexswebsitePosted on 2004-09-07 at 07:35:29ID: 11997153

Thank you, I will try the memory test tonight.  Are you thinking that the result could be that I'd need to replace my RAM?  

FYI:  My computer is a 3-year-old Dell laptop.  Is there any reason that the RAM would suddenly stop working (the computer worked before I decided to re-format it)?  Could the RAM and Motherboard suddenly become incompatible??

Thanks again,
Alex

 

by: nobusPosted on 2004-09-07 at 07:44:22ID: 11997250

If it worked for 3 years, it is compatible, but it can go bad anytime, as each device can go bad. you can also try another Cd-rom drive. Mostly, copy errors relate to bad ram, that's why i suggested it. you can also try 1 stick at the time, if you have more than 1 in your system.

 

by: Andy128Posted on 2004-09-08 at 14:47:57ID: 12011270

Just a thought- Try disconnecting everything in the computer except the HD and CD drive then try to install. (This means removing all LAN/modem cards, disconnecting the floppy-everything!)  This worked for me once.  Best of luck.- Andy

 

by: alexswebsitePosted on 2004-09-08 at 15:03:06ID: 12011366

Thanks, I'll give that a try.  When I left home this morning, memtest86+ had been running for over 12 hours and was not done, but it had gotten that far with no errors, so I'm guessing that's not the problem.  I'm going to try installing one more time, and if that doesn't work, I'll try disconnecting everything.

-Alex

 

by: nobusPosted on 2004-09-08 at 23:25:09ID: 12013415

you can also make a copy of the XP cd, and run the install from it.

 

by: alexswebsitePosted on 2004-09-08 at 23:38:16ID: 12013481

Thanks for the help everyone. I split the points because none of these answers actually solved the problem.  I was able to make it work by choosing to install xp using the current partition rather than reformatting and repartitioning.  I had been reformating every time I was trying to install.  When I said just install it, after a few minutes setup said it had repaired something, then after restarting copied and installed all of the files.

Thanks!  It's good to have a working computer again!
alex

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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