Problem installing XP

[metallithrax]

I'll keep this as brief as possible. I am trying to install XP on some PC's as work and have run into the same problem on the first two. Here is a list of what was done:

1. Both PC's running windows 98 originally.

2. Start to command prompt, format c:.

3. Start from XP CD, setup onto the partition that is there from 98 install.

4. MBR fault.

Next steps:

5. Boot to recovery console, FIXBOOT, FIXMBR, reboot

6. Start from XP CD, delete current partition, setup new partition, format to NTFS(quick)

7. Computer formats C drive, copies files needed by setup and reboots.

8. Computer reboots and then UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME.

Anyone know what I am doing wrong.

Need anymore info, just ask.

[vertigosity]

Sounds like something I've seen on a lot of old Compaqs (some not so old, even) - they just refuse to do it. Win2k works fine, but XP won't (although installing it as an upgrade from 98 or running it from an already formatted DOS partition might work). It might be worth checking for BIOS updates for these boxes if you know the manufacturer. Maybe the disk controller isn't quite properly supported, and needs a driver floppy - either way, something basic is kinda screwy.

[Jesse Carlton]

run chkdsk /r from recovery console on the formatted partition.

also, slipstream sp2, I know on hp's/compaq's it was fixed by ms in the sp's

Edited June 14, 2005 by jester1983

[metallithrax]

I have tried booting from XP boot disc floppies, and get a bios.inf or bootbios.inf error(cannot remember which).

The PC's were built by me a few years ago. They are AMD1200 Duron. I have an the same computer, and installing XP was not a problem. The problem is, I have about 10 to update and need to know what the problem is before I start on the rest.

After trying the first, I thought it might be a HD fault. But the same fault on two HD's?

I ran chkdsk on the 1st one, didn't make a difference. The XP discs I am using include SP2.

[+BudMan MVC]

what exactly is the point of the first part where you boot to a command prompt? And installing to a formated 98 partition?

If you suspect issues with the disks, or having trouble do a FULL format, not quick - this will check the disk for errors.. and mark any bad sectors as non useable, etc..

Just boot the XP CD - delete any partitions that are not required (all of them?) Partition and format using the XP CD.. if you are unsure of issues with the disk, then you should be using the FULL format vs quick.

[metallithrax]

Today I have "zero filled" one of the drives, and tried to install XP with no luck (UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME).

On the other PC I re-installed win98 with no problems. This makes me think it is not the drives, but something I am doing wrong.

Both drives have had a full format, and still no luck installing XP.

It's driving me mad

[JoDaddy]

Have you made sure you have installed all updates for the BIOS and other hardware?

[metallithrax]

  JoDaddy said:

Have you made sure you have installed all updates for the BIOS and other hardware?

586068076[/snapback]

Install how, I know very little about BIOS updating etc.

I have SOT Linux installing on one of the drives at the moment. Doesn't seem to have any problems with that.

[crawling_nanny]

I just had that problem. Its basically a hardware hard disk problem, even though you can format etc. The hard disk is corrupted as it not usuable. Had to get it replaced. Hope that helps.

[metallithrax]

  crawling_nanny said:

I just had that problem. Its basically a hardware hard disk problem, even though you can format etc. The hard disk is corrupted as it not usuable. Had to get it replaced. Hope that helps.

586068192[/snapback]

Don't think it is a hardware problem, as I have re-installed 98 on one of the drives and linux on the other.

[Wilhelmus]

  Quote

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;297185

SYMPTOMS

When you first restart your computer during the upgrade to Windows XP or when you start Windows XP, you may receive the following error message, where aaaaaaaa, bbbbbbbb, cccccccc, and dddddddd are hexadecimal numbers that may vary:

STOP 0x000000ED (0xaaaaaaaa,0xbbbbbbbb,0xcccccccc,0xdddddddd) UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if either of the following conditions is true:

? Your computer uses an Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) hard disk controller, and the following conditions are true:

? You use a standard 40-wire connector cable to connect the UDMA drive to the controller instead of the required 80-wire, 40-pin cable.

? The basic input/output system (BIOS) settings are configured to force the faster UDMA modes.

? The file system is damaged and cannot be moRESOLUTIONTION

To resolve this behavior, use the appropriate mUDMA Controllerller

If your computer uses a UDMA hard disk controller, use the following procedures:

? Replace the 40-wire cable with an 80-wire UDMA cable.

? In the BIOS settings for your computer, load the 'Fail-Safe' default settings, and then reactivate the most frequently used options such as USDamaged File Systeme System

If the second parameter (0xbbbbbbbb) of the Stop error is 0xC0000032, then the file system is damaged.

If this is the case, restart the computer to the Recovery Console, and then use the chkdsk /r command to repair the volume. After you repair the volume, check your hardware to isolate the cause of the file system damage.

To do this, use the following steps:

1. Start your computer with the Windows startup disks, or with the Windows CD-ROM if your computer can start from the CD-ROM drive.

2. When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to select the repair option.

3. If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the Windows installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.

4. Type the administrator password when you are prompted to do so.

NOTE: If no administrator password exists, press ENTER.

5. At the command prompt, on the drive where Windows is installed, type chkdsk /r, and then press ENTER.

6. At the command prompt, type exit, and then press ENTER to restart your computer.

If this procedure does not work, repeat it and use the fixboot command in step 5 instead of the chkdsk /r command.

[metallithrax]

Using 80 wire cable, gone through the repair console etc. This is what I get

[paulladle]

What MOBO is this, please give details and we'll see if there is a BIOS update to fix this?

[allfive6]

Ok what I have found when installing XP on A compaq computer is that you have to set the harddrive to cable select I have no idea why it will not work if set to master but it will not for some unholy reason. Hope this quick fix solves your problem.

[metallithrax]

  paulladle said:

What MOBO is this, please give details and we'll see if there is a BIOS update to fix this?

586068815[/snapback]

It is an Elite K7SEM. As far as I found, there isn't an update from the BIOS i'm using, but if you find one I shall be grateful.

I couldn't connect to the download section of their website earlier, it timed out.

[+BudMan MVC]

  metallithrax said:

Using 80 wire cable, gone through the repair console etc.  This is what I get

586068764[/snapback]

This seems to be exactly the issue your having;

http://groups-beta.google.com/group/micros...843a289627ae000

--

JAS Nov 25 2001, 7:41 pm show options

Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

From: JAS <a...@asdf.com> - Find messages by this author

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 00:39:47 GMT

Local: Sun,Nov 25 2001 7:39 pm

Subject: Disk error on intallation - updating partition information

Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse

I've just spent the better part of several days dealing with this

problem before I figured it out so I am posting the solution here to

save others the grief. I have not seen anything anywhere about this

problem.

Symptom - when installing XP, after you tell xp which partition to

install the disk on or telling it you would like to create a partition

- you get the error message "An error occured while setup was updating

partition information on: xxxxxxxMB disk at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi

[MBR].

I should also add that what precipitated this installation was a

failed upgrade from WinME - the disk was trashed. I think this is a

symptom as well.

Cause - a bad 80 wire Ultra ATA cable. In exasperation, I put in a

new cable and the problem ceased. Evidently, XP deals with the disk

differently than other OSes. I had experienced no problems with

Partion Magice or any dos utilities with the bad cable.

---

Could not hurt to swap out the cable, or change your controller bios to not run the disk in a UDMA mode -- for troubleshooting..

Is the disk on the same IDE as the cdrom? Have you tried CableSelect vs Master?

[metallithrax]

Problem seems to be solved. I cleared the CMOS and everything seems OK.

Thanks for the suggestions.