Failing W2K Install

[SeanC]

I'm trying to reinstall W2K on a PC.

I boot up using a Win98 boot disk and FDISK the hard drive to remove all partitions. I start the install off of the CD, it gets through fine until it starts copying files to the install directory then about 20 or so files won't copy properly, setup says "Setup is unable to copy file blahblah". I retry copying several times, doesn't work so I skip the file.

When the computer reboots to the graphical portion of the setup it doesn't work "can't copy driver for this" "can't copy driver for that"

I tried about 6 times now. I've replaced the ribbon cables on both the CDROM and hard drive, replaced both the CDROM and hard drive, put both devices on the same IDE chain, used 3 Windows 2000 CDs.

System specs:

P4 1.8ghz, 512MB RAM, Maxtor 40GB IDE, Asus mobo (don't know the model of the top of my head, it's at work), Nvidia GeForce2 MX400 AGP video, 3COM 3C905C NIC, LG 52X CDROM.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sean

[SPEEDO]

I would write zeros to the drive to get any data that's left off of the hard drive! Fdisk and Format just don't cut it IMO.

You can download MaxBlast from the Maxtor site if you don't have there boot floppy.

[jmichna]

Original W2K Install CD's or "copies"? Can you use a boot disk with CD-ROM drivers to copy the install files from the CD to a directory on the HD and try to run the install from the HD only?

[sharder8]

Originally posted by jmichna
Original W2K Install CD's or "copies"? Can you use a boot disk with CD-ROM drivers to copy the install files from the CD to a directory on the HD and try to run the install from the HD only?

SeanC --

I've had the same problem on several of my installs. I found the easiest way to solve this was to copy the I386 folder from the CD to the HDD, then run the install. When it can't find the file on the CD, I just point it to the I386 file on the HDD.

Funny thing is, using the same orginal CD on some of my machines has no problem. On others, it has the problem you're experiencing.

Harder

[muno]

Where I study there are several computers that do this, luckily they have a secondary cdrw device which reads the cds fine.

So it might be some cheap cd drive you're using or the disc might be scratched
-M

[SeanC]

Thanks for the fast responses guys. I'm going to try to write zeroes on the drive first, then setup a small FAT32 partition to copy the i386 folder to. They are original and genuine Win2K Pro CDs all of them.

I'll let you know how it works out.

Sean

[SpookyEddy]

I have had similar issues at work and the most common cause seems to be a system being fussy about a less than perfect HD (although I have had the same problem caused by bad RAM on several occasions). Probably also worth checking the installation media and all the cables etc.

Regards

ed

[zen]

An oily fingerprint on the cd will yield the same results.

[akinsey]

I had the same problem with XP installs failing after copying a few files, this was the GoPro XP cd, so it was an authentic cd. I tried 3 difference cd/cd-r combos, 2 different hard drives. I got it to work once on a drive that I reformatted as NTFS, then on trying to reinstall, it wouldn't work (same configuration it originally worked on). Something's finicky and I don't know what, but its really really annoying.

[Armadel]

was to open the cd drawer and wait for the install to complain.
Sometimes it will then be able to read the file.

good luck