Installing Windows Question....

[artistwantab]

I am putting a new hard drive in a computer.

I have the registration key for windows but not the disk. I downloaded a copy and was prepared to transfer via Coolmax hard drive adapter.

Two problems....

Using power iso to run it says...

The CD-Rom is from an older version of windows then the one you are using.

Set-up Functionatlity from this disk will be disabled.

Then when I tried formatting the hard drive it wont do it via coolmax and I tried to find a way to get into dos to do it but I can't.

I guess my question is how do I install windows this way.

I would prefer NOT to burn a copy to a CD and run via cd because I don't own a cd burner and would prefer not to by one just for this job.

[artistwantab]

BTW....I am trying to install the Windows 2000 on another hard drive via my lap top which has windows 7 and once all the data is transferred I would then install the hard drive on the desk top.

[artistwantab]

Change of plans....

Turns out my laptop has a built in CD-Burner so I was able to transfer all the files to a cd.

I put the cd in.

Changed the bios so it would see the cd first.

Still wont start.

Says "error loading operating system."

Now I have no clue.

[foogoo]

Windows 2000 is a bit old and I can't recall, but it might not be bootable. Older OSes need a boot disk, called a floppy (look it up kids) to initiate an install.
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Or the disk you downloaded was a file copy of a CD that did not include the boot file.

[artistwantab]

Thanks.

I followed these instructions....

Or, one can use Winimage to just create a single bootdisk.

To download one single bootdisk so I could then transfer it to a cd. sadly it is still giving me the same error.

Error loading operating system.

<Sigh>

BTW...I am sorry I put this in the HARDWARE section of the forum. I thought my problem was related to me using coolmax to transfer everything.

Please any other suggestions.

[Just Playin]

Originally Posted by artistwantab

Change of plans....

Turns out my laptop has a built in CD-Burner so I was able to transfer all the files to a cd.

I put the cd in.

Changed the bios so it would see the cd first.

Still wont start.

Says "error loading operating system."

Now I have no clue.

I recall that the Windows 2000 CD was indeed bootable. Was your file a disc image such as an ISO file? If so, you can't just burn the data to a disc. In order to preserve booting info in the image, you must follow the proper burning procedure for disc images:
http://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/iso-burner.htm

[artistwantab]

Well that might explain a lot. It was an iso.

I will go through the steps and see if it works.

Originally Posted by Just Playin

I recall that the Windows 2000 CD was indeed bootable. Was your file a disc image such as an ISO file? If so, you can't just burn the data to a disc. In order to preserve booting info in the image, you must follow the proper burning procedure for disc images:
http://www.poweriso.com/tutorials/iso-burner.htm

[artistwantab]

Well I tried it an no luck.

I opened the ISO in PowerIso and followed the instructions and still have the same error.

I even tried just burning the ISO to the disk also but the same error.

I even disabled the hard drive in case it was looking for the hard drive first and now have this error.

boot failure; system halted

God I miss DOS.

[sach2]

Not to dissuade you from doing a new install but if you are just replacing the desktop HD and the old HD has a working OS then you could just clone the old HD to the new. Is this an option or does the desktop not have a working old HD with a running version of 2000?

[artistwantab]

Correct.

I would prefer not to use Win 2000 but I bought a bunch of all desktops to use in the warehouse as workhorses.

They have no hard drive but have the serial for win 2000 for each desktop so rather then buy operating system disks I figured I would just use win 2000.

I have a question. If I am the ONLY user but have a few desktops in various parts of my warehouse. Do I need a registered copy for each one?

[sach2]

I don't know any way to install from the laptop.

I'd test the newly burned CD by trying to boot it in the laptop. Just see if it starts the Win2000 install screens. Obviously, you won't be installing just want to know if the CD is bootable.

[artistwantab]

The CD-Rom is from an older version of windows then the one you are using.

Set-up Functionatlity from this disk will be disabled.

I tried that first think I could install it on the hard drive using a cool max's hard drive adapter but it gave me the above warning.

[artistwantab]

It seems there is a good chance that my Hard Drive size is not supported by the controller or my bios need to upgraded.

The smallest I have is 165+ GB.

So here is what system I am trying to get to work. If anyone can give me an idea what to look for to confirm this.

Dell Dimension 4400 Setup
Bios.....ao3
Intel Pentium 4
1.6 ghz processor

[tgell]

If all of these computers can boot from a USB flash drive, would you want to install by connecting the flash drive to each computer and installing windows 2000? When you double click the Windows 2000 iso does power iso say the iso is bootable? Should be in the lower left.

Edit: Did you test the CD in your laptop to see if was bootable as sach2 suggested?

[artistwantab]

Originally Posted by tgell

If all of these computers can boot from a USB flash drive, would you want to install by connecting the flash drive to each computer and installing windows 2000?

No I would want each computer to be independent of each other.

When you double click the Windows 2000 iso does power iso say the iso is bootable? Should be in the lower left.

Yes it does bootable image.

Edit: Did you test the CD in your laptop to see if was bootable as sach2 suggested?[/QUOTE]

Ahhh.....I misunderstood. I did reboot and it did start to install windows 2000 properly.

[foogoo]

NM.. late posting

[artistwantab]

Originally Posted by foogoo

NM.. late posting

Yes....It says bootable image and also worked properly when I tried on my laptop.

[tgell]

I am not sure I understand. If the Windows CD is bootable, why not just put it in the desktop computer that is supposed to get 2000 and install. I am missing something. The disk does not boot in the desktops?

[sach2]

Doesn't seem to be booting from CD when in the DELL.

With the CD in the drive, during the Dell screen press F12 and choose to boot from CD. Give the exact error message.

[artistwantab]

I tried that before and still received the same error.