Cant install Windows

**buksida** · July 19th, 2004, 02:22 AM

I've been testing a machine thats got totally messed up software wise so decided the best course of action was to format and re-install. The problem is it wont let me, installation gets as far as 'copying files needed for setup' and always gets stuck on files during this process. Heres what I've tried:

3 different CD drives
Different IDE cables
2 different Windows XP CDs and a Windows 2000 CD
Fully tested the hard disk overnight - no errors
Replaced RAM

What ever I try it always throws up errors when copying the files. Machine spec:

P4 1800
256 DDR 333
Asus P4S533 mobo
Seagate 40Gb HDD

Any suggestions?

**gazzak** · July 19th, 2004, 02:40 AM

Have you formatted the drive first before you try to install the new OS?
If you are booting from CD how far are you getting into the install, (do you get to the licence info screen)?

**NooNoo** · July 19th, 2004, 07:32 AM

cd scratched?

**buksida** · July 19th, 2004, 07:32 AM

Finally got it in there after much messing about, cheers anyway.

**Stalemate** · July 19th, 2004, 09:11 AM

I got the same problem on various machines in the past and it always involved CD drivers used during boot which were not quite 100% functional.

Using a boot floppy with the correct CD drivers allowed me to copy the files to the hard drive and then launch the install process form there instead.