HELP! (installing OS)

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capthavic

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#1 capthavic
Member since 2003 • 6478 Posts
I'm building a new PC but I'm stuck getting XP installed. When I start up the system I get that initial screen with all the numbers (not sure what it's called) but the prompt to insert a disk doesn't show. Did I do something wrong?
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dyproximy

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#2 dyproximy
Member since 2003 • 1194 Posts
Tell your bios to boot from cd.
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capthavic

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#3 capthavic
Member since 2003 • 6478 Posts

Ok Ill try

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capthavic

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#4 capthavic
Member since 2003 • 6478 Posts

Now I'm stuck onthe mother board screen with the different options and the only thing that works is TAB and that just gets me stuck on another screen.

Am I usingthe wrong XP version or something wrong with my DVD ROM?

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TicTac8745

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#5 TicTac8745
Member since 2007 • 3902 Posts

When your computer boots up, there should be a specific key you can press to load up the boot menu - normally it's F8 or F11.

Next time, when it boot, quickly read the bottom of the screen and it should tell which button to press to open up the boot menu..

Once in that menu - change it to allow the CD drive to boot first...

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chadw_genx

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#6 chadw_genx
Member since 2005 • 229 Posts
You've got to enable the bios to boot from CD like the other person said. If you've done that, double check that the bios boots from CD first and not the HDD. I'm also assuming that since you're installing a new OS, that it's possible your hdd isn't completely partitioned/formatted correctly. Make sure since it's XP that you use the NTFS (it's a file system that is a huge innovative advance from FAT16 and FAT32). Hope this helps :)
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tj1111

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#7 tj1111
Member since 2007 • 25 Posts

NTFS (it's a file system that is a huge innovative advance from FAT16 and FAT32). Hope this helps :)chadw_genx

Except MS is greedy about NTFS and doesn't release any info on it. The only way for people who have a Linux/Windows Dual Boot to get it to work is to get some shoddy program online.

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chadw_genx

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#8 chadw_genx
Member since 2005 • 229 Posts

Except MS is greedy about NTFS and doesn't release any info on it. The only way for people who have a Linux/Windows Dual Boot to get it to work is to get some shoddy program online.

tj1111

Yea NTFS and Linux don't go hand in hand. I used to dual boot between Win XP and SUSE Linux 10.0. To accomplish it, I had two completely separate partitions. The Linux one didn't read or write to the NTFS partition.

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capthavic

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#9 capthavic
Member since 2003 • 6478 Posts

Thanks fot the help! But now it says it can't read the disc or that it's not valid. Do I have to buyXP again or should I get Vista?

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chadw_genx

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#10 chadw_genx
Member since 2005 • 229 Posts

Windows XP Install Disc's have a bunch of .cab files (compressed files that contain the goods) and an image file on them to enable them to boot directly after the BIOS does its POST. Peruse all your BIOS settings keeping in mind the info. that has been divulged thus far on this discussion and you'll figure it out, bud. I'm not leaving you hanging though and neither is nobody else, I imagine. This reminds me of a hip-hop song about leaving somebody stranded in the desert to fend for themself and make themself stronger. Yee-HAAA it's Friday! Think positively, at least you're not in the desert right now. Or are you? If you are, I recommend a very good cooling solution. Cheers ;)