Endless Paradigm

Full Version: Help me install Windows XP!
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I'm having a plethora of problems when attempting to install this godforsaken OS, and it's driving me mad!

I have no CD drive, so I'm doing it all via USB, using usb_prep8.

I get XP on the flash drive just fine, but when I try to use the GUI install, it gives me some error about hal.dll, which I've read is a problem with the boot.ini or whatever.

When doing the text install, it works fine, reboots the computer, then gives me this crazy error:
Quote:Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected boot pocky. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

And I have no idea what that means. I've tried both usb_prep8, and usb_multiboot10, and neither has worked. I've also tried an untouched SP3 CD, and my own nlite creations, no change.

My partitions are as follows:
20GB ext4 - Ubuntu
20GB ntfs - Windows
20GB ext3 - Slax Remix (not there yet, empty partition now)
238GB extended:
    233GB ext4 - /home
    5GB swap
[Image: ieTvE.png]

This is driving me completely mad, it shouldn't be this damn difficult to install Windows. (more reason for me to hate goddamn Windows Erk )

Please help me fix this! I need Windows so I can play some damn games!

And no, don't tell me Wine, or Cedega or VM or whatever. The games I want to play just barely run fine in Windows, so they all run like spoon in Wine, Cedega, a VM, etc.
How do you do a GUI install without starting from Windows?

You can check the created boot.ini after the text install portion when it reboots (boot into a Linux partition).
ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]How do you do a GUI install without starting from Windows?

It's one of the install options? GUI install for noobs and text install for the uber peepol. lol.

ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: [ -> ]You can check the created boot.ini after the text install portion when it reboots (boot into a Linux partition).

yeah, but why would the boot.ini be screwed before I've even got Windows installed?

I've used this disc, and usb_prep8 to install Windows before! D:

edit: well here's the boot.ini

Code:
[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


My knowledge of the interworkings of Windows is minimal, but it looks fine to me.

also:

Code:
tacticalbread@toothpaste:~$ ls -a /windows
.  ..  boot.ini  NTDETECT.COM  ntldr  PAGEFILE.SYS  WINDOWS
tacticalbread@toothpaste:~$ ls -a /windows/WINDOWS
.                  Driver Cache  L2Schemas           regedit.exe   twain.dll
..                 ehome         Media               repair        twunk_16.exe
addins             explorer.exe  msagent             Resources     twunk_32.exe
AppPatch           explorer.scf  msapps              security      vmmreg32.dll
clock.avi          Fonts         msdfmap.ini         system        Web
Config             Help          mui                 system32      winhelp.exe
Connection Wizard  hh.exe        Network Diagnostic  system.ini    winhlp32.exe
Cursors            ime           pchealth            Temp          win.ini
Debug              inf           PeerNet             twain_32      WinSxS
_default.pif       java          Provisioning        twain_32.dll
tacticalbread@toothpaste:~$ 


Looks normal for a not-yet-installed Windows to me.

When I tried dual booting I always had a hard time with partitions until i use GParted it made stuff alot easier. I also had problems with the boot loader and i always had to always reinstall ubuntu's grub loader because windows never wants to recognize the ext3 partition.

By the way what game are you try to install that's worth all this mess? lol
Incadude Wrote: [ -> ]When I tried dual booting I always had a hard time with partitions until i use GParted it made stuff alot easier. I also had problems with the boot loader and i always had to always reinstall ubuntu's grub loader because windows never wants to recognize the ext3 partition.

yeah, that's not my problem. Boot loader does get screwed upon 'installing' XP, but I've re-installed grub to the MBR so many damn times, it's a mindless job for me now lol (I even wrote a script that does it all for me lol, that's how many times I've done it). And Gparted is what I used to create/resize/move/whathaveyou my partitions.

Incadude Wrote: [ -> ]By the way what game are you try to install that's worth all this mess? lol

A number of games; KotOR, Starcraft (which runs fine in Wine, the only one), Diablo II, Baldur's Gate II, Arcanum, Planescape, etc. :p
I'm using the tutorial for WinToFlash guide here for installing winxp

http://komku.blogspot.com/2009/09/wintof...ws-xp.html
krystabegnalie Wrote: [ -> ]I'm using the tutorial for WinToFlash guide here for installing winxp

http://komku.blogspot.com/2009/09/wintof...ws-xp.html

Thanks for that, I'll check it out.

Windows only program, but I've got a VM dedicated to this lol. :p

EDIT: Well that partially worked. Allowed me to finish installing the half-finished install I had going on already.

But I still get that stupid error when booting Windows, I have to boot from the USB drive, and select the 'boot disk 1, partition 2' option for it to load Windows.

Ah whatever. I'm going to be using it seldomly, and it works.

But I still hate Windows with a bloody fudgeing passion. lol.
To my understanding, windows controlls and protects the boot partition screen, so if windows isn't on the primary partition, then you won't be able to boot to it at all, but your flash drive has it installed primary, so that's why it can do it fine, so yeah sorry to be the bearer of bad news Erk
dark_mirage Wrote: [ -> ]To my understanding, windows controlls and protects the boot partition screen, so if windows isn't on the primary partition, then you won't be able to boot to it at all, but your flash drive has it installed primary, so that's why it can do it fine, so yeah sorry to be the bearer of bad news Erk

And I'm not about to move my partitions around again!

Fuck you Windows! Fuck you a whole fudgeing lot!
put windows on the primary partition and make sure its flagged as the boot partition. you're going to lose grub when you install windows, but that's easy to get back. just make sure you have an ubuntu live cd with the version of grub you're running BEFORE YOU INSTALL WINDOWS. its easier that way

and why slax?
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