Problems installing XP - 'asms' missing

Hey folks

I'm trying to install XP on a second-hand machine, witha brand new hard drive. The machine's nice and simple - I've stripped it of everything it doesn't need. I've set up the HD as the primary master and the CD drive as the secondary master. Partition created fine, first files copied fine, installation going fine until just after it starts the funky XP graphics and highlights the 'installing windows' tab on the left of the screen. It then almost immediately comes up with a fatal error message: 'One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup could not be installed. Incorrect function.' The error log says D:\I386\asms. (Is that 'I'386 or '1'386??)

Microsoft's website gives some advice for this situation, but only for installing an upgrade. Their remedy is useless because I can't use regedit.

Any bright ideas?

 

Like Robo said, this is usually a CDROM problem.
Double check the cabling, if you have another drive try it, if you have another XP install CD, try that.
What model motherboard and CDROM?
Using 40 or 80 conductor cables? Use a single ended 80 if you have it.

 

Is this a retail XP CD?

Found this in the MSKB HERE - is this the useless remedy you're referring to?

 

robo is absolutely 100% correct.

Perfect answer

 

Good find Alan looks like you hit the nail on the head LOL

 

New CD drive and suddenly everything's happy... Cheers