I cant get Win XP pro installed

I started to install windows XP PRO over the old O/S and deleted old files during install. When it started to load the system died and now when I put the cd in I get an error that files are missing. examp <window root> \system32\hal.dll Please let me know what I have to do to load this I am very novice as you can tell.

 

Boot to the XP CD and format the hard drive and load WinXP on the clean drive. If you want to save some data first, you'll need a 2nd PC or a 2nd hard drive.

hopperdave2000

 

When I boot to the cd its telling me I am missing files.. I dont need any data but when I was installing it didnt finish so thats where I think I am having an issue. Is there anything I could download from a good PC to help load it?

 

Hmmmmm... is the CD scratched? If something is telling you that files are missing from the CD, then your CD is probably damaged. You should be able to boot to the XP CD, press Enter at the first question (where it mentions the Recovery Console). The next question you'd press Esc to install a fresh copy, you'd then delete the partition, format and reload. If you have a floppy drive, you can boot to a Win98 or ME boot disk, run fdisk, delete the partition and then boot to the XP CD and you won't have to go thru as many steps.

hopperdave2000

 

I was just thinkin.... alot of times, when WinXP is installing, and it says it can't find or copy or install a file, it's due to bad RAM. If you have extra RAM or more than 1 RAM stick in the PC, try swapping them around. Sometimes even removing and replacing the RAM can fix it; maybe one is a bit loose or there's some dust build-up causing a wierd short. I've seen it before! Try moving the RAM to different slots too, maybe one of the slots has gone flakey on you. Just a thought

hopperdave2000

 

thanks I will try that. I opened the inside earlier before I posted and it was loaded an older computer... Its actually starting to copy files again but slow hard drive might be going. I will try moving the ram if it doesnt load. thanks for your help.

 

Just be sure to unplug the power cord before moving any RAM stcks around!
GOOD LUCK!

 

just got an error setup cannot copy Hostname.exe when I hit esc to skip file every file after that says the same thing.. looks like I might have to throw it out the window. where is the Ram stick located remember im novice LOL

 

On the motherboard, you'll have at least 2 slots (maybe as many as 4) that are usually black and about 5 inches long. The RAM sticks clip into these slots and are about 1 inch high and they stick out perpendicular from the mother board. If you could provide the make/model of the motherboard (or the PC), I could provide a link to the manual for you to download and read. Usually these manuals are full of diagrams and trouble-shooting tips.

hopperdave2000