How do I install XP on clean drive?

[kev7555]

Trying to install XP on a clean hard drive but the system bios will not let me change the boot sequence to boot from CD.

It is set to boot from A, C

Older ASUS M-board, AMD K-6 family


-Kev

[colecifer]

if its older its quite possible that your bios doesn't suppourt booting from a CD you'll have to get a boot floppy and work from there.

[kev7555]

OK, I got it set to boot from CD Rom (the option IS available in the BIOS but when it tries to boot from CD it says: Invalid system disk, replace disk and press any key. After repeating it shows: Boot from CD ROM: _ and nothing else happens.

[kev7555]

I should mention this drive is formatted for ME. How do I start clean with XP?


-Kev

[colecifer]

is this a burnt copy of XP or an original? You're having an interesting problem. Maybe one of the more experience members knows something i don't

[Karnevil9]

It should not be a problem. The windows XP disk should just start to load. If it finds another OS system on the drive or if the format is different it will find that and ask you if you want to change.

Make sure there are no floppy drives in the system when you start to boot, and hit the enter key after it gives you the boot from CD: question.

[kev7555]

It does nothing after the boot from CD question. No keys have any effect.

It's a legitimate XP PRO CD. Same one I loaded this operating system with.

I now set it to boot from D first and it says invalid system disk, replace the disk and strike any key to continue.

Yeah, this one has me stumped.

It never actually gives the usual:

Boot from CD?
Boot from hard disk?

options.

[Markoman01027]

Does the BIOS even recognize the CD-ROM drive?

When you insert in the CD and the system boots, do you see any activity with the CD-ROM light?

[kev7555]

Yes the BIOS sees the drive and the drive runs when the CD is loaded but the light on the drive goes off after just a few seconds.

This drive is only FORMATTED for ME, it has no actual OS loaded. I guess I could do it the hard way and actually load a bare-bones OS and then let XP go through the steps as outlined earlier.

At least then the drive would operate. Seems like a lot of trouble to go through just to get the reader to read!!

-Kev

[kev7555]

Everything hardware-oriented works fine.

It's about 75 % complete loading a compact version of WIN 98SE right now. When that boots up for the first time. I'll just put in the XP disk and go from there.

I'm still pissed I couldn't get it to run from the bottom though...

-Kev

[kev7555]

OK, got XP all installed on this old machine (ASUS P5A-B, AMD K-6 family, 550 MHZ) ands it runs but WILL not connect to the internet.
When I go into device manager it does not see my netgear FA120 fast ethernet adapter, but both the LED's on the adapter are on as if it is connected and functioning?!?.

It shows: Microsoft Loopback Adapter but no Netgear.

I removed the adapter and re-started, now there are no network adapters shown in device manager.

Went through all the steps in add hardware wizard, NetGear not shown in "show all devices". Clicked "have disk" and pointed it at the drive and file for XP and the wizard just comes up blank and let's me click "have disk" again, over and over, going nowhere?!?

HELP!



-Kev

[Statica]

Where did you get the driver disk from? Make sure you get the latest one from Netgear's site (www.netgear.com); the latest driver is version RC3. Read the text file within the HELP\WinXP directory for information on installation on an XP system.

[kev7555]

OK, I'll try that. The disk came with the network adapter. It is Netgear Adapters CD version 3.1.

It has a file for the FA120, WinXP.

Stupid of me to attempt running XP on this old machine but I just couldn't resist...


-Kev

[kev7555]

Loaded most current utilities for ASUS board, checked all thru device manager. USB open host controller is working and shows no conflicts, same with root hub.

Wnidows still does not see my network hardware, no network adapters in DM. Downloaded RC3 for FA120 but can't get driver to load if Windows won't even see the hardware.

Stumped.


-Kev

[Karnevil9]

Are you loading the network drivers after the card is in or before. Is it a PCI card. Some drivers require that you install drivers before the device is installed. Others the other way around.

[kev7555]

OK, as per "proper posting etiquette" I am relating the steps used to resolve this issue.

Am I a greenie? Yes.

By-passing the basics (something we should all remember not to do), I've spent the last 24 hours messing about with this problem whenever I had the time.

Windows could not see my network hardware because the PCI card holding the USB ports was not seated properly in the slot.

This computer has been around this shop running Windows 98 SE on my LAN for quite some time. I must have jostled the card loose when lifting the machine up on the bench or something.

A lot of time to solve a problem that only took 60 seconds to repair.

I should know better.

My son now has a computer that runs XP beautifully, all updated, loaded with anti-virus anti-spyware, etc., and connects thru wireless to the LAN.

It is no longer in my hair (what's left of it).


-Kev

[kev7555]

Maybe one of the moderators should send me back to 3-bit...

[Karnevil9]

Hey, sometimes we all overlook what should have been the most obvious. It is a learning experience. You got it going and that is what matters. Good job.

[Statica]

Most importantly thanx for posting your resolution... and congratulations on getting it fixed.