Problem installing Windows XP

I'm assembling a new machine and am having trouble getting Windows XP Pro to
install. Here's what happens:

* I've set the boot sequence to CDROM - HDD - FLOPPY
* I insert the XP CD and reboot
* 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..."


As mentioned, this is a new install of a full version of XP Pro (OEM). The
hardware is as follows:

Motherboard: MSI 661FM3-L
CPU: P4 530J Prescott @ 3.0GHz
RAM: Corsair CMX512-3200C2 512 MB DDR3200 XMS
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar WD200BB-00AUAI
Optical: Acer CD-R/RW 4X4X32

The motherboard, RAM, and CPU are new. The Hard disk and CDRW came out of a
working machine.

I'm currently running Memtest86 with no errors so far.

I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

"Khono82" <Khono82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F9BBA991-66BF-464E-92F8-54CCA24F083B@microsoft.com...
> I'm assembling a new machine and am having trouble getting Windows XP Pro
to
> install. Here's what happens:
>
> * I've set the boot sequence to CDROM - HDD - FLOPPY
> * I insert the XP CD and reboot
> * 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..."
>
>
> As mentioned, this is a new install of a full version of XP Pro (OEM). The
> hardware is as follows:
>
> Motherboard: MSI 661FM3-L
> CPU: P4 530J Prescott @ 3.0GHz
> RAM: Corsair CMX512-3200C2 512 MB DDR3200 XMS
> Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar WD200BB-00AUAI
> Optical: Acer CD-R/RW 4X4X32
>
> The motherboard, RAM, and CPU are new. The Hard disk and CDRW came out of
a
> working machine.
>
> I'm currently running Memtest86 with no errors so far.
>
> I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

What exactly happens when you reboot the second time round
without the WinXP CD in the drive?

"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"

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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?

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?

"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"

"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.