help with installing Windows XP Pro

[gorath]

Here's my situation: I've been trying to reinstall Windows XP Pro on my PC. It wasn't booting from the CD, so I had my friend download a 6-disk bootable floppy set for me. I booted from the floppies, inserted the discs one by one as instructed, and formatted the hard drive. All of that was successful.

So then the Windows files started copying, and it was successful up until 73%, when it said, "can not install system.chm."

So it won't work. Does anybody know what's up with that, and how I can make it work? Where I'm sitting right now, I have no idea how to get my PC up and running again. I'm typing this on my mac laptop.

Help! Thanks.

[TheChronoRogue]

ugh... mac laptop... I feel for you man

If you own a license to WinXP i dont see the problem with copying a friend's copy of the disc and trying again. It could be a disc. Or you could call up Microsoft and tell them you have a defective disk or who ever u bought ur comp from.

[Taz]

Restart the install, If I remember correctly, XP installations when they fail, pick up the failure point and try to continue where they left off. I guess that means running through the floppies again
good luck

[gorath]

I'll keep trying and report back.

Here's the honest truth about my Windows XP Pro CD -

I had Windows XP home edition. I lent it to my friend. He lost it. My computer crashed. He gave me a copy of his Windows XP Professional so that I could get my computer up and running again. But it's not working.

I know people on message boards tend to frown on this sort of thing, but I did honestly have a licensed copy of Home Edition, and I REALLY need to get my PC up and running. I don't have the money for a new Home Edition CD from a store. So this is pretty much what I have to do.

So...you think it's an error with my friend's CD?

[gorath]

By the way, will MS give me a new Home Edition CD if I can prove to them that I had the software legitimately and it got lost? I still have the serial number and documentation and everything.

[sm8000]

I've had problems doing installs of Win2k from my CD similar to yours - "cannot install thisfile.ext" several times. I eventually adopted a habit of placing a heavy object on my Enter key to retry installing the file, and eventually it works.

[pawprint]

By the way, will MS give me a new Home Edition CD if I can prove to them that I had the software legitimately and it got lost? I still have the serial number and documentation and everything.

If you can get ahold of a copy of Winxp home, then you are all set, because you still have the serial number to activate it. Do you have the 25 digit product key to install and active XP thou? Also, if your computer is under warranty, you might need original software that can only be used with your system. Call dealer/company if this is the case. You also need to active{not to be confused with register } XP before the 30 day window expires.
cheers, ~pawprint~

[VHockey86]

Im pretty sure its not illegal to just donwload a copy of windows home if you own a copy of it, so long as you dont install your product key on more than 1 PC

[Telexen]

Perfectly legal, though you need to use your own key as MS gets that with the activation

If you have that stupid booklet it came with though just send it to them...

Maybe scan it with a little more proof (like a paper saying Hi Microsoft! I'm <insert name> and this is my proof I've lost my CD)

[Micro Bean]

It could also a problem with your ram I Know a few people who had problems installing WinXP and when they changed there rams they had no errors at all. Maybe if you another stick of ram try that see if that helps