Howdy all...

Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
New:
Abit mb
Sony CD/DVD burner
NO floppy
Maxtor HD
1 gig ram


Up till the wee hours with problem.

Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.

XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install itself, then
we get error about not finding I386, somekind of manifest error (forgive me
but don't remember the exact errors since we tried it so many times, and Im
now kinda burned out on this).

For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386 was, we
tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that. We are stuck in
somekind of half-installed loop.

I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't work. We
don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought this might
work..nope.

This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were messing with
this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get this installed.

Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?

Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we don't have
a Floppy A drive?
Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro disk if
I need to also.

We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you with.

Flustered and under the gun (of course...nothing ever goes right when you're
rushed)

TNX
R.

Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
> Howdy all...
>
> Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
> New:
> Abit mb
> Sony CD/DVD burner
> NO floppy
> Maxtor HD
> 1 gig ram
>
>
> Up till the wee hours with problem.
>
> Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
>
> XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
> itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
> manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
> since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
> this).
>
> For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
> was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
> We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
>
> I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
> work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought
> this might work..nope.
>
> This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were
> messing with this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get
> this installed.
>
> Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
>
> Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we
> don't have a Floppy A drive?
> Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
> I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro
> disk if I need to also.
>
> We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you
> with.
>
> Flustered and under the gun (of course...nothing ever goes right
> when you're rushed)

Your analysis (somewhere near the halfway point) sounds about right.

Either a bad/dirty CD or a bad CD drive.

Clean the CD with a soft/static-free cloth.
Blow out (gently) the CD drive with canned air.
Try a different CD drive - even if just a temp replacement from another
computer.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

Ok I'll try that next. I just didn't want to be chasing too many
ghosts...someone had told me that XP will lock me out of installing after a
certain amount of attempts at installing.

Just in case... how can I reformat if I wanted to start clean clean?

tnx


"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23xH0mvICGHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > Howdy all...
| >
| > Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
| > New:
| > Abit mb
| > Sony CD/DVD burner
| > NO floppy
| > Maxtor HD
| > 1 gig ram
| >
| >
| > Up till the wee hours with problem.
| >
| > Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
| >
| > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
| > itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
| > manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
| > since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
| > this).
| >
| > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
| > was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
| > We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
| >
| > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
| > work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought
| > this might work..nope.
| >
| > This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were
| > messing with this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get
| > this installed.
| >
| > Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
| >
| > Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we
| > don't have a Floppy A drive?
| > Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
| > I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro
| > disk if I need to also.
| >
| > We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you
| > with.
| >
| > Flustered and under the gun (of course...nothing ever goes right
| > when you're rushed)
|
| Your analysis (somewhere near the halfway point) sounds about right.
|
| Either a bad/dirty CD or a bad CD drive.
|
| Clean the CD with a soft/static-free cloth.
| Blow out (gently) the CD drive with canned air.
| Try a different CD drive - even if just a temp replacement from another
| computer.
|
| --
| Shenan Stanley
| MS-MVP
| --
| How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
| http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
|
|

For reformatting visit my website http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Click the
Win XP Faq button and take a look at questions 7, 41 and 85

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this post. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post..



"Rob Giordano (Crash)" <webmaster@siriussystems.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23FEkR1ICGHA.2040@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Ok I'll try that next. I just didn't want to be chasing too many
> ghosts...someone had told me that XP will lock me out of installing after
> a
> certain amount of attempts at installing.
>
> Just in case... how can I reformat if I wanted to start clean clean?
>
> tnx
>
>
> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%23xH0mvICGHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> | Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
> | > Howdy all...
> | >
> | > Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
> | > New:
> | > Abit mb
> | > Sony CD/DVD burner
> | > NO floppy
> | > Maxtor HD
> | > 1 gig ram
> | >
> | >
> | > Up till the wee hours with problem.
> | >
> | > Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
> | >
> | > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
> | > itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
> | > manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
> | > since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
> | > this).
> | >
> | > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
> | > was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
> | > We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
> | >
> | > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
> | > work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought
> | > this might work..nope.
> | >
> | > This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were
> | > messing with this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get
> | > this installed.
> | >
> | > Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
> | >
> | > Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we
> | > don't have a Floppy A drive?
> | > Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
> | > I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro
> | > disk if I need to also.
> | >
> | > We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you
> | > with.
> | >
> | > Flustered and under the gun (of course...nothing ever goes right
> | > when you're rushed)
> |
> | Your analysis (somewhere near the halfway point) sounds about right.
> |
> | Either a bad/dirty CD or a bad CD drive.
> |
> | Clean the CD with a soft/static-free cloth.
> | Blow out (gently) the CD drive with canned air.
> | Try a different CD drive - even if just a temp replacement from another
> | computer.
> |
> | --
> | Shenan Stanley
> | MS-MVP
> | --
> | How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> | http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> |
> |
>
>

Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:

> Ok I'll try that next. I just didn't want to be chasing too many
> ghosts...someone had told me that XP will lock me out of installing
> after a certain amount of attempts at installing.
>
> Just in case... how can I reformat if I wanted to start clean clean?

> | Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
(various snippages)
> | > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
> | > itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
> | > manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
> | > since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
> | > this).
> | >
> | > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
> | > was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
> | > We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
> | >
> | > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
> | > work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I
> | > thought this might work..nope.

There is no limit to the number of times you can do the XP installation.
You will not be "locked out".

Most failures to install an operating system are because of faulty
hardware. Here are some suggestions for you:

1. Swap out the CD drive for a known-working one. If that solves the
issue, fine. If not...

2. Test the RAM. Marginal/flaky/bad RAM is one of the most common
culprits. I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you have
to get the program from a working machine. You will either download the
precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or the .iso to
make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll need to have
third-party burning software on the machine where you download the file
- XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job. In either case,
boot with the media you made. The test will run immediately. Let the
test run for an hour or two - unless errors are seen immediately. If
you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3. It doesn't sound like your hard drive has any problems, but you could
always test it to be sure. Test the hard drive with a diagnostic
utility from the mftr. Download the file and make a bootable floppy or
cd with it. Boot with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive
has physical errors, replace it.

4. Here's a link to instructions about doing a clean install. You do not
need a floppy drive since all XP CD's are bootable. You may need to
change the boot order of the machine in the BIOS.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm - Accessing the BIOS
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks John,

7 & 41 - I never get to the license agreement because XP is not fully
installed and I guess because I'd previously accepted the license agreement?

85 - I never get to the EULA or the reformat hd..when it gets to Boot from
CD it just (even if no cd in drive) will go to the that black Windows XP
screen then a "setup will continue" screen then prompt to install CD, then
the error loop...cant break out of this loop.

arrgggg....


"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:urDIndJCGHA.3580@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
| For reformatting visit my website http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org Click
the
| Win XP Faq button and take a look at questions 7, 41 and 85
|
| --
| John Barnett MVP
| Associate Expert
| http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
|
| The information in this post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
| either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
| reliability or content of this post. The Author shall not be liable for
any
| direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use
| of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this post..
|
|
|
| "Rob Giordano (Crash)" <webmaster@siriussystems.invalid> wrote in message
| news:%23FEkR1ICGHA.2040@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
| > Ok I'll try that next. I just didn't want to be chasing too many
| > ghosts...someone had told me that XP will lock me out of installing
after
| > a
| > certain amount of attempts at installing.
| >
| > Just in case... how can I reformat if I wanted to start clean clean?
| >
| > tnx
| >
| >
| > "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
| > news:%23xH0mvICGHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
| > | Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > | > Howdy all...
| > | >
| > | > Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
| > | > New:
| > | > Abit mb
| > | > Sony CD/DVD burner
| > | > NO floppy
| > | > Maxtor HD
| > | > 1 gig ram
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > Up till the wee hours with problem.
| > | >
| > | > Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
| > | >
| > | > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
| > | > itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
| > | > manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
| > | > since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
| > | > this).
| > | >
| > | > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
| > | > was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
| > | > We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
| > | >
| > | > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
| > | > work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought
| > | > this might work..nope.
| > | >
| > | > This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were
| > | > messing with this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get
| > | > this installed.
| > | >
| > | > Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
| > | >
| > | > Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we
| > | > don't have a Floppy A drive?
| > | > Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
| > | > I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro
| > | > disk if I need to also.
| > | >
| > | > We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you
| > | > with.
| > | >
| > | > Flustered and under the gun (of course...nothing ever goes right
| > | > when you're rushed)
| > |
| > | Your analysis (somewhere near the halfway point) sounds about right.
| > |
| > | Either a bad/dirty CD or a bad CD drive.
| > |
| > | Clean the CD with a soft/static-free cloth.
| > | Blow out (gently) the CD drive with canned air.
| > | Try a different CD drive - even if just a temp replacement from
another
| > | computer.
| > |
| > | --
| > | Shenan Stanley
| > | MS-MVP
| > | --
| > | How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
| > | http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
|
|

Ok cool.

Ripping apart one of the other machines to get another CD drive.

I'm thinkin (hoping) you're right abt the CD even though it's new (but it's
still seems strange that it'd go halfway and crap out).

I'lll be back later and let you guys know how we made out...

THANKS !

Rob
"Malke" <notreally@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:u8lTtkJCGHA.740@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
|
| > Ok I'll try that next. I just didn't want to be chasing too many
| > ghosts...someone had told me that XP will lock me out of installing
| > after a certain amount of attempts at installing.
| >
| > Just in case... how can I reformat if I wanted to start clean clean?
|
| > | Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| (various snippages)
| > | > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
| > | > itself, then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of
| > | > manifest error (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors
| > | > since we tried it so many times, and Im now kinda burned out on
| > | > this).
| > | >
| > | > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386
| > | > was, we tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that.
| > | > We are stuck in somekind of half-installed loop.
| > | >
| > | > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't
| > | > work. We don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I
| > | > thought this might work..nope.
|
| There is no limit to the number of times you can do the XP installation.
| You will not be "locked out".
|
| Most failures to install an operating system are because of faulty
| hardware. Here are some suggestions for you:
|
| 1. Swap out the CD drive for a known-working one. If that solves the
| issue, fine. If not...
|
| 2. Test the RAM. Marginal/flaky/bad RAM is one of the most common
| culprits. I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you have
| to get the program from a working machine. You will either download the
| precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or the .iso to
| make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll need to have
| third-party burning software on the machine where you download the file
| - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job. In either case,
| boot with the media you made. The test will run immediately. Let the
| test run for an hour or two - unless errors are seen immediately. If
| you get any errors, replace the RAM.
|
| 3. It doesn't sound like your hard drive has any problems, but you could
| always test it to be sure. Test the hard drive with a diagnostic
| utility from the mftr. Download the file and make a bootable floppy or
| cd with it. Boot with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive
| has physical errors, replace it.
|
| 4. Here's a link to instructions about doing a clean install. You do not
| need a floppy drive since all XP CD's are bootable. You may need to
| change the boot order of the machine in the BIOS.
|
| http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm - Accessing the BIOS
| http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install
|
| Malke
| --
| Elephant Boy Computers
| www.elephantboycomputers.com
| "Don't Panic!"
| MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
> Howdy all...
>
> Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
> New:
> Abit mb
> Sony CD/DVD burner
> NO floppy
> Maxtor HD
> 1 gig ram
>
>
> Up till the wee hours with problem.
>
> Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
>
> XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install itself, then
> we get error about not finding I386, somekind of manifest error (forgive me
> but don't remember the exact errors since we tried it so many times, and Im
> now kinda burned out on this).
>
> For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386 was, we
> tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that. We are stuck in
> somekind of half-installed loop.
>
> I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't work. We
> don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought this might
> work..nope.
>
> This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were messing with
> this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get this installed.
>
> Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
>

Possible, but on the low-end of the likelihood scale.


> Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we don't have
> a Floppy A drive?
> Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?


The presence or absence of a floppy drive is immaterial. In fact, boot
diskettes are things of the past, as all legitimate WinXP CDs are bootable.


> I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro disk if
> I need to also.
>
> We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you with.
>

Actually, if we know what you've already tried, we won't waste your
time asking you to repeat troubleshooting steps.

Problems copying files or corrupted files during installation are
most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware; in order of
likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the motherboard. On very
rare occasions the installation CD is the problem.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

I've tried booting with xp boot cd. I still am stuck in half installed loop.

Swapped the CD device with one from another machine, and I get same
thing..."fatal error...manifest error at top of page", then no keypad
entries are accepted.

Reset machine.

During boot up it goes through the mem test and then more boots stuff...then
it tells me that the machine is running in
Safe Mode and to check the BIOS

When I check the BIOS the 1st boot is CDROM, 2nd is Hardrive, 3rd is
Removable...but I've also tried different
variations of this sequence with no different outcome.

During the boot up it finds the hardrive and the CDROM - but it seems to be
ignoring the CDROM..I think. We've also tried plugging the CD into the other
jack on the mb, and same for the SATA hd.

Bios also has setting for A: as a Floppy (which there isn't one) but I've
tried disabling or changing to none, with nothing notable happening.

The machine still will try to complete the unfinished installaton of XP. My
son thinks we should remove the hd and put in into my machine and delete
everything off of it and then put it back into the new machine and start
over again. His thinking is that that would wipe out the half finished
install and maybe get us somewhere? Does this make sense? or should we do
that and re-partition/format it instead?

I've lost. I've never had this happen before.

tnx..

rob



"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:eWu88gKCGHA.1180@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
| Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
| > Howdy all...
| >
| > Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
| > New:
| > Abit mb
| > Sony CD/DVD burner
| > NO floppy
| > Maxtor HD
| > 1 gig ram
| >
| >
| > Up till the wee hours with problem.
| >
| > Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
| >
| > XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install itself,
then
| > we get error about not finding I386, somekind of manifest error (forgive
me
| > but don't remember the exact errors since we tried it so many times, and
Im
| > now kinda burned out on this).
| >
| > For a while it would ask to put the CD in or point to where I386 was, we
| > tried this abt 5 times, now it doesn't even ask for that. We are stuck
in
| > somekind of half-installed loop.
| >
| > I even tried using the full XP Pro CD from my machine, that didn't work.
We
| > don't ever get to where it asks for the key...so I thought this might
| > work..nope.
| >
| > This is an xmas present for my daughter so my son and I were messing
with
| > this for a long time. Probably tried 10 times to get this installed.
| >
| > Maybe its a bad CD or the burner is not reading it correctly?
| >
|
| Possible, but on the low-end of the likelihood scale.
|
|
| > Ok...so should we reformat...but how if we're in this loop and we don't
have
| > a Floppy A drive?
| > Should I buy an A floppy drive and try a boot disk?
|
|
| The presence or absence of a floppy drive is immaterial. In fact, boot
| diskettes are things of the past, as all legitimate WinXP CDs are
bootable.
|
|
| > I'm sure the store where I bought the parts will replace the XP Pro disk
if
| > I need to also.
| >
| > We've tried a bunch of other things too, which I won't bore you with.
| >
|
| Actually, if we know what you've already tried, we won't waste your
| time asking you to repeat troubleshooting steps.
|
| Problems copying files or corrupted files during installation are
| most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware; in order of
| likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the motherboard. On very
| rare occasions the installation CD is the problem.
|
|
| --
|
| Bruce Chambers
|
| Help us help you:
| http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
| http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
|
| You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
| both at once. - RAH

Rob wrote on Sat, 24 Dec 2005 15:08:32 -0700:

RGC> Swapped the CD device with one from another machine, and I get same
RGC> thing..."fatal error...manifest error at top of page", then no keypad
RGC> entries are accepted.

RGC> Reset machine.

RGC> During boot up it goes through the mem test and then more boots
RGC> stuff...then it tells me that the machine is running in
RGC> Safe Mode and to check the BIOS

RGC> When I check the BIOS the 1st boot is CDROM, 2nd is Hardrive, 3rd is
RGC> Removable...but I've also tried different
RGC> variations of this sequence with no different outcome.

<snipped>

RGC> I've lost. I've never had this happen before.

RGC> tnx..

RGC> rob

RGC> "Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
RGC> news:eWu88gKCGHA.1180@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
??|> Rob Giordano (Crash) wrote:
??>>> Howdy all...
??>>>
??>>> Attempting clean install of XP Pro on
??>>> New:
??>>> Abit mb
??>>> Sony CD/DVD burner
??>>> NO floppy
??>>> Maxtor HD
??>>> 1 gig ram
??>>>
??>>> Up till the wee hours with problem.
??>>>
??>>> Partitioned hd fine, two partitions C & D.
??>>>
??>>> XP gets up to the point where it's actually starting to install
itself,
RGC> then we get error about not finding I386, somekind of manifest error
??>>> (forgive me but don't remember the exact errors since we tried it so
many times,
??>>> and Im now kinda burned out on this).
<snipped>

I had a similar problem after building a brand new box : cryptic, seemingly
nonsensical error after frustrating error. I must have tried installing XP
Pro 20 times over 2-3 days without success. I don't know how I finally
figured it -- maybe just a lucky guess -- since I was in the same frazzled
brain dead state as you, but I called my RAM maker. Mushkin gave me the
voltage and some other BIOS setting, and, after adjusting my BIOS, XP
installed in 20 minutes or so.

You're having a rare installation experience which is difficult if not
impossible to diagnose without seeing. Check *all* your BIOS settings.
Maybe you'll get lucky, too.

Hang in there, and good luck.
--
Hoppy
General.Disarray@Unrealized.Reality.com
~~