Installing Windows Xp

nakul86 · February 24th, 2005, 02:22 AM

Hey all..

I want to know how to delete all directories except for my downloads directory and install windows xp whose setup files are in my DOWNLOADS directory ... i tried it before .. i have a boot cd .. so i went to dos and then deleted "Windows" , "Documents And Settings" and "Program Files" directories .. and then went to my downloads directory and then when i typed setup for my Windows Xp ... it says "This program cannot be run in DOS mode and requires windows" .. i mean how du u actually install a operating system like WINDOWS XP ... whose setup is on the comp itself..AND I have tried overwriting and installing .. my COMP becumes a mess...so i just wanna delete everything on my comp except for the windows xp setup files .. and install XP ... ANYONE KNOW HOW TO DO THIS ..???

it's just lucky i had Windows ME setup files too .. so i installed Win ME .. but i really need WIN XP back ..PLEASE HELP ...

Lookin' for help...
Nakul86

DoctorReno · February 24th, 2005, 08:41 AM

If I understand what you want to do why not just burn the files in your download directory to CD and put them in later.
Contrary to what they say you can install XP using DOS but in my experience it is slower and more cumbersome. You also need to download and install a small DOS program called (I believe, Speeddisk) put it on your say 98se bootdisk and launch it before you begin the installation. There are a few more hoops to jump thru and I or others can explain them in detail if you want.

If you just want to wipe everything on the drive and do a clean fresh install of XP I would recommend you get a free utility like Killdisk, you can donload it free. download it to a location on your HD. Then put in a known good blank floppy in and double click on the Killdisk creator on your HD and it will create Killdisk on the floppy. Remove the floppy and restart your machine and when prompted to enter setup do so and set your boot priority to boot from floppy first. Save the setting. Insert the killdisk floppy and restart the machine. It should load Killdisk. Follow the instructions and zero fill the entire drive. Depending on the size of the drive this may take several hours. When it is completed eject the floppy. Restart the machine and at the setup prompt enter setup and change the boot sequence to boot from CD first, save the setting. Insert the XP Cd and restart. It should boot from the CD and walk you thru installing XP. Since the drive is zero filled it will recognize the drive as RAW which is in essence the closest you can get to a brand new drive fresh outta the box never used. The program will allow you to create partitions and format them and then it will continue with the installation of XP. This method does not require any boot floppies and Fdisk etc. It's clean sweet and very easy and intuitive to understand.
Good luck and post back with any other questions and your results.

nakul86 · February 24th, 2005, 08:41 AM

well i used to have a windows xp pro cd ... but far too many scratches on it .. it doesnt even read properly .. and gives me a corrupt installation .. SO is there any other way i can install WINDOWS XP ... may be make a windows startup disk ...or something..

still looking for help ..
nakul86

reiss · February 24th, 2005, 08:50 AM

winxp bootdisk - http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downl..._boot_disk.exe

DoctorReno · February 24th, 2005, 08:55 AM

If you know anyone else with an XP Pro CD just burn a copy of theirs.... maybe even 2 and put one away someplace safe. All the CD's are the same and it is is not a copywrite violation to copy the CD. It is the unique key that you own that is important. If you have a legit valid key it will work on any XP Pro CD.
As for the scratches many techs swear by the polish called brasso. Should be able to get it at any hardware store. put a little bit on a clean cloth and wipe in circular pattern. DO NOT wipe back and forth across the CD.

It may sound silly but I have some massively scratched CD's and I have always been able to get them to work by taking them to the sink, put a drop or 2 of liquid dish soap on them and then using luke warm water and using my thumb (wash it very clean first) and rubbing the soap and warm water in a circular motion all around the CD then rinsing it very well under the water. Then dry with a good soft absorbant cloth. I don't know why it actually works except that posibly some water remains in the scratches and temporarily makes them more optically readable. Like I said I have some massively scratchd disks and it always has worked ...knock on wood.

But ultimately for future use find a friend with XP PRO Cd and burn a copy
Good luck and post back your results.

nakul86 · February 24th, 2005, 09:09 AM

thanks senoirs .. for d reply..
now i dont have a cd writer .. so i cant burn the xp pro installation files on my comp to a cd... well i've seen my friends doing this before ..even they had their instalation files on their comps .. so they connected their harddisks to some other comp as a secondary hardisk ... then copied all their stuff on to the primary harddisk and then they did setup from the primary harddisk itself.. and when the SETUP asks for a place to install windows XP .. they simply typed in their secondary harddisk LETTER ... and the installion was done to their harddisk's ...and then removed these harddisk and put in back in their own CPU's ....how efficient is this .. or is there any other method ..

REally need helP...
nakul...

nakul86 · February 24th, 2005, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reiss

winxp bootdisk - http://www.answersthatwork.com/Downl..._boot_disk.exe

hey thnx for the reply...

but after extracting .. i get a FDM extension file .. now how du i open it .. or wut du i du with it..

cheers again ..
nakul

DoctorReno · February 24th, 2005, 10:03 AM

I have to question the method you described of copying files from one HD to another. Perhaps it is me misunderstanding what you are doing.
First both HD's would have to be on the machine that was going to be the machine that would be running this installation of XP or the antipiracy feature of XP, WPA would kick in and not let XP run. The HD with XP setup files would have to be the Primary Master drive and jumpered as Master. The blank HD would have to be the Primary Slave drive and jumpered as slave. I guess it would be possible to copy the setup files to the slave drive and instruct XP to set up on that drive. I have never seen it done this way but it may just work... I am not totally certain. Normally all Windows OS's have to boot from the C: drive so there may be a boot conflict with what you describe. Personally, I would try copying just the setup files to the slave drive and then shutting down the machine and removing the Master drive from the machine completely and then jumpering the previously slave to master and putting it on the Primary Master IDE connector and then restarting the machine and see if XP will then continue with the installation on the new drive. Later you could add the other drive as a slave and copying any data files you have on it to the C: drive. Then I would format over the slave drive and use it for storage or whatever you have in mind for it.
I don't know if this makes sense to you or not. If you have questions get back.

I still think the best way would be to find a friend with a good XP CD and aburner and going that route but I'm all ears if there is a possibility of your method working.

Interesting idea you have.... try it and post back your results. Good luck

DoctorReno · February 24th, 2005, 12:40 PM

Thanks for correcting my misinformation Steve. I was on the right track but it's been a long time since I've used Smartdrv.exe and had forgotten the correct name. And yes it makes all the difference in install speed. Again, remember that you must launch Smartdrv.exe before you start the installation. good luck

nakul86 · February 25th, 2005, 01:03 PM

thnx for the reply..
NOW
well i got this smartdrv.exe ... and now i make a boot floopy .. i restart and put the floppy in .. and it reads and comes to " A: " ... now when i type " C: " .. whch is my HDD Letter .. it shows me the same directory contents as my floppy ... all i CAN access now is A: ... B: ... and C: ( My HDD supposedly ..<><? ) and N: ..tht's for my cd drive .. now where is my actual drive gone ... and even if it is showing me C: then howcome it's not showin me my actual HARDDISK Contents in it... sumthin fishy ..? ..so i run fdisk and it does show me my HDD Listed There ..and there is nuthin else listed .. Then why is this problem arising ... because i was planning to use smartdrv and then delete all the other directories on my comp .. except for my WINXPSETUP Dir .. and run WINNT.EXE ... as ppl have suggested .. and hence install winxp ...now how du i view or get back my actual drive contents when booting from a stratup disk to DOS...???

Things have to get complicated ..
still need of help..

nakul