"Khono82" <Khono82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:14BB8752-C28C-458A-B080-5B132994429D@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Khono82" wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > "SkyBlade" wrote:
> >
> > > When I reload the OS on a PC I usually delete all the partition(s) and
> > > recreate them. In the setup section of WinXP when you choose which
drive you
> > > want to install the OS on you also have the option of deleting and
recreating
> > > the existing partitions. In your case I think it would be a good
idea. You
> > > will lose all the data on that drive when you delete and recreate the
> > > partition. Oh and you'll have to format the new partition before you
can
> > > install windows. Setup will also step you through that.
> > >
> > > L8r
> > >
> > >
> > > "Khono82" wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Khono82" <Khono82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:41F6DC6B-377C-4B67-8927-87EDD3325AE9@microsoft.com...
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Khono82" <Khono82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > > > > > news:A82BC057-4900-43ED-A2CE-3C35666D3150@microsoft.com...
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > What exactly happens when you reboot the second time round
> > > > > > > > > without the WinXP CD in the drive?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > The machine attempts to reboot but fails and displays "BOOT
FAILURE:
> > > > > > > INSERT
> > > > > > > > SYSTEM DISK AND REBOOT"
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When you complete the first cycle of the WinXP installation
> > > > > > > then you have a basic version of Windows loaded, including
> > > > > > > the usual boot files. The message you get indicates that the
> > > > > > > boot environment is flawed. Here are the things that are
> > > > > > > required - tick them off one by one and post the results.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > 1. The boot files must reside on the primary master disk.
> > > > > > > 2. They must reside on the active partition of that disk.
> > > > > > > This must be a primary partition, not a logical drive.
> > > > > > > 3. The following hidden files must reside in the root
directory
> > > > > > > of the active partition:
> > > > > > > c:\ntldr
> > > > > > > c:\ntdetect.com
> > > > > > > c:\boot.ini
> > > > > > > 4. The machine must have a Windows Master Boot Record (MBR).
> > > > > > > 5. The active partition must have a Windows boot sector.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > I don't want to spend the time yet to go in detail into each
of
> > > > > > > these points. Here are the first two points:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Point 1: If you've built the machine yourself then you can
> > > > > > > easily check this yourself.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Point 2: Boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk from
www.bootdisk.com,
> > > > > > > then run fdisk.exe to check and/or set the active partition.
Fdisk
> > > > > > > will also tell you if this is a primary or logical partition.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > I booted from a Win98 boot disk and viewed the info. It states:
> > > > > > Current fixed drive: 1
> > > > > > Partition: 1
> > > > > > Status: A
> > > > > > Type: NTFS
> > > > > > Mbytes: 19085
> > > > > > Usage: 100%
> > > > > >
> > > > > > If I type dir from C:\> the following is returned:
> > > > > > ATTRIB.EXE
> > > > > > CHKDSK.EXE
> > > > > > COMMAND.COM
> > > > > > DEBUG.EXE
> > > > > > EDIT.COM
> > > > > > EXT.EXE
> > > > > > EXTRACT.EXE
> > > > > > FORMAT.COM
> > > > > > HELP.BAT
> > > > > > MSCDEX.EXE
> > > > > > README.TXT
> > > > > > RESTART.EXE
> > > > > > SCANDISK.EXE
> > > > > > SCANDISK.INI
> > > > > > SYS.COM
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I don't know how to check the hidden files, if there's a MBR, or
if the
> > > > > > active partition has a Windows boot sector.
> > > > >
> > > > > There is something strange here. You write
> > > > > "If I type dir from C:\> the following is returned"
> > > > > but since your boot disk runs Win98 and since
> > > > > your system partition is NTFS, you cannot see
> > > > > drive C:! Did you perhaps report the contents of
> > > > > drive A:?
> > > > >
> > > > > I note that you did not report if this disk is the primary
> > > > > master disk or perhaps the secondary master disk. When
> > > > > you do, explain how you checked this.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > The disk is the primary master. The CDRW is the secondary master.
> > > >
> > > > From the A: prompt I typed C: to switch to the C: drive. Then I got
the C:\>
> > > > prompt. Then I typed dir, which returned what I reported. I did
notice during
> > > > the XP setup a message stating that there is already an operating
system on
> > > > the drive you are installiing to and warning that if I continue the
contents
> > > > will be destroyed and the Windows directory overwritten. I chose to
proceed.
> > > > Maybe I should format the drive?
> >
> > Thanks for your reply. I deleted all of the partitions and recreated
them
> > during install and had XP setup format the disk. All seemed to go well.
> > However, the same sequence of events occured as setup proceded. Setup
> > proceeds through the messages "Setup is examining your
> > computers hardware configuration..." then "Setup is copying files..."
then
> > "This
> > portion of setup has completed successfully. Press enter to reboot your
> > machine. Setup will continue after restart."
> > When I reboot, the setup process begins again from the message
> > "Setup is examining your computers hardware configuration..."
> > Frustrating. The only difference is that now if I change to the C: drive
and
> > type dir, it returns "Volume in drive C is MS-RAMDRIVE. Directory of C:
File
> > not found. 1,487,872 bytes free"
>
> [quote author=Dr Stu link=topic=91243.msg655752#msg655752 date=1134672950]
> check these are both jumpered correctly and on their own cable
>
> WD drives are jumperless when a single drive on one cable. check full
> capacity is seen by BIOS
>
> [/quote]
> I think this is it! I had the HDD jumpered as master, but when I removed
the
> jumper setup continued past where it was looping back. Thanks much, I was
> becoming vexed.

Thanks for the feedback. It seems that the very first condition
I listed was not met: That the disk is seen as the primary master.

i have the same problem w/ my computer. it is like a constant circle. i have
changed the jumper on the HD to be the master, but it still give me the same
thing... what can i do?

"Erik" <Erik@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F146D4EB-1904-4EEE-B907-4BBFBFEEC52B@microsoft.com...
> i have the same problem w/ my computer. it is like a constant circle. i
have
> changed the jumper on the HD to be the master, but it still give me the
same
> thing... what can i do?

I recommend you start a thread of your own, describing
in detail your environment, the history of your machine
and what error messages you see.