Stuck in an XP setup loop, can't exit...help!

Please help me!

Hi there

I was installing additional components of XP home edition...recovery console, and during the installation the setup gives out a couple of error messages:

An error has been encountered that prevents setup from continuing.
One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup could not be installed.
The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.

System setup log - (c:\windows\setuperr.log)

Error:
SXS.DLL: Syntax error in manifest or policy file "D:\I386\asms\10\MSFT\WINDOWS\GDIPLUS\GDIPLUS.MAN" on line 4

Error:
Installation failed: D:\I386\asms. Error message: The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.

Fatal Error:
One of the components that Windows needs to continue setup could not be installed.

The operation was canceled by the user.


So I restarted my pc but the message displayed said restarting setup. I also pressed f5 to boot in safe mode but the message said cannot setup in safe mode, restarting setup. I have tried rebooting numerous times but I can't seem to get out of this loop. It continues even after powering off and rebooting again.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance
Alison :cry

 

Can you restart the recovery process?
Boot from XP CD and follow the options until asked if you want to install a new copy of XP or repair your current copy.
Choose repair.

 

Nope! The only options available are tab to enter the post, del to enter setup and esc to enter the bios. But no matter what I do as soon as I exit, it carries on to restart the setup!

I think I may just cut my hands off after gouging out my eyes:cry

 

Hi . i'm also stuck in this loop. it sucks. did you ever find a solution?

 

I did eventually solve this by using another copy of Windows XP home edition. Just be sure to select the repair and enter your own product key. Hope you get out of it soon

 

Reading agangelus' reply, it would appear that his problem (and perhaps yours as well) was that part of his XP disc became unreadable.
You might try (carefully) cleaning your install disc and trying again.

 

Yep, that was pretty much the problem. The original disc was quite scratched so some of the information wasn't being read, therefore I used another xp disc (which wasn't so scratched) with my own product key and this solved the problem. I did initially try cleaning the original disc, but it was probably a little too scratched. :-D

Agangelus is a girl by the way, hence the avatar :wave

 

agangelus

My apologies for the gender faux pas.
:-o

 

LOL No worries, just thought I'd mention that there are girly geeks out here too

Ali

 

Well I got a new cd and that worked. thanks everyone.

 

Hey, just glad I could help