Re-install XP

[thewolfe]

Re-install XP

I am working on a friends Dell Deminsion 4400 with WinXP. She is having lots of problems including CTRL/ALT/Delete doesn't work, Windows Update will not function, can't install new hardware.......

I first wanted to see if i could re-install XP.

With the Dell Re-install CD it gives me an option to "re-install" or New Install. Nothing regarding "repair.

So I started the re-install and get about half way through and get the following message:

Fatal error

An error has been encountered that the prevents windows set up from continuing.

Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. This setup log file should contain more information. Press OK to view this set up log file.

Here is what the Systems Setup catalog says:

Warning:
Set up failed to remove the product catalog IEEXCEP.CAT

Warning:
Setup failed to remove the product catalog wmplayer.cat

Warning:
Set up failed to remove the product catalog SP1.CAT

And on and on and on.

Any ideas short of formatting?

 

[StormBringer]

ctrl-alt-del not working would make me think of looking for virii. Did you do that before reinstalling. If there is a virus there, reinstalling will not correct it and may be part of the reason for the error

 

[thewolfe]

The latest..................

Now I have reformatted C: and made the partition w/ "Large Disk Support".

When I start the installation by going to the Windows XP CD and drilling down to I386\winnt.exe I get the following messages.

Windows XP setup

"Setup needs to know where the Windows XP files are located. Enter the path where Windows XP files are to be found."

The path that's shown is E:\I 386.

I pressed enter and it says:
"setup did not detect SmartDrive on your computer. SmartDrive will greatly improve the performance of this phase of Windows setup. You should exit now, start SmartDrive, and then restart setup. See your DOS documentation for details about SmartDrive."

Then as I continue I get the following message:
"Windows XP requires a hard drive volume with at least 383 MB of free disk space. Setup will use part of the space for storing temporary files during installation. The drive must be on a permanently attached local hard disk supported by Windows XP, and must not be a compressed drive.

Setup was unable to locate such a drive with the required amount of free space

Setup cannot continue. Pressed enter to exit."

QUESTIONS:
1. Do I install Smartdrv and the one partition I have created?
2. What are they asking for re: "Windows XP requires a hard drive volume with at least 383 MB of free disk space" and how do I do that?

I'm no longer thewolfe I'm now overmyhead.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

What did you format the harddisk with, and which type is it? FAT32, NTSF?
What size is that C partition now?

 

[thewolfe]

We got lift off!

I Wiped everything off the HD and tried to boot from the WinXP CD and it did.

I now have WinXP installed. The only thing I have to do know is go through the "Activation" process unless there's a work around for that.

Thanks to all who joined in.

Blessings,

TheWolfe