Dell Inspiron 640m issue

J

James79

Member
A client of mine wants me to install windows xp on this dell laptop. The issue I'm having with it now is that when I put the windows xp pro cdrom in, it comes with this error "The file I386\Ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error code is 7" So I did some research and one of the two causes that would bring up this error is either there is incorrect information in the bios or their is a faulty ram stick. So I did the memory test on both memory sticks, the both pass. I took one stick out and left the other out and vice versa and it still comes up with the same problem.

I'm lost here. Also when I POST the laptop it also says there is no boot sector on the internal drive, could that also bring up the error message on the windows installation setup. Any suggestions?
 
What service pack is slipstreamed onto the XP CD? If it's anything less than SP3 I'd make a new disc with all the service packs installed (Use N-Lite to do that).

If the CD does have SP3, then go into the BIOS and try changing the SATA operation from RAID to ATA/Compatible.
 
its service 2..even if I had service pack 3..it still wouldn't work. I think it needs a new hard drive..because a boot sector not on a hard drive..that sounds like hard drive failure if you ask me.

The bios is very limited..I can't change it to raid..its set in stone already..it sucks
 
Download the HDD manufacturer diagnostic and run it.

Did it have an OS on it before you tried to install XP or what?
 
No operating was preinstalled..the person had did a format on the drive. I'll try to hdd diagnostic and see what it tells me. Thank you for your suggestions.
 
running the diagnostic test now...if it passes..you think the fixboot dos command will fix the no boot sector on the internal drive error?
 
James79 said:
running the diagnostic test now...if it passes..you think the fixboot dos command will fix the no boot sector on the internal drive error?
Click to expand...

Not if the drive was wiped. If the drive was wiped then there is nothing on it.
 
okay I just created a partition 2gb using fdisk, that gets rid of that error but now the same here is still showing when I'm in windowx xp install phase. The error "file I386\Ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error code is 7" is the last thing to get rid. The memory is supposedly okay via memory test.
 
1: Is the disk scratched or dirty?
2: Try resetting the BIOS to optimum defaults. Double check confirm you CANNOT change the SATA mode. (There should be a sub-tab under Drives called SATA operation. If it's in AHCI/RAID change it to ATA)
3: Is this a genuine copy of XP or is it pirated?

James79 said:
The bios is very limited..I can't change it to raid..its set in stone already..it sucks
Click to expand...

I work on Dell's all the time and know the BIOS like the back of my hand. See answer two above.
 
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The disk is somewhat scratch but when I run the setup on this computer (typing from my keyboard) is runs perfectly fine without that error. I loaded the defaults in bios already and yes the Windows XP is a genuine copy, no piracy here. Also I have an old hp dv6915r laptop that hasn't been used in a while, so I decided to take the ram out of there and install them on the dell laptop..memory works but same error.
 
Just to verify, does the installation copy all the files and then reboot, only to give you the no boot sector error? Or you don't even get to formatting and copying files?
 
No it does not copy the installation file and reboot. It just goes to three things, press f6 for drivers, f2 for ASR (Automated System Recovery) and the last one loading files Windows Executive..and then the error File \i386\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error code is 7, Setup cannot continue. Press any key to exit.

Now for the bios. Let me give you more info..Its system=MXC061. The listed category in bios are, system, onboard devices, video, security, performance, power management, maintenance, post behavior, wireless. The close one to loading back to factory defaults is under maintenance which gives you the option to select load defaults ( Load the factory default values for all setup fields. overwriting any changes you may have made)

So basically the system category..all of the options are non changeable..the other categorys are changable but nothing pertains to change the hard drive type, such as ata, sata, raid, or even acpi ahci, etc.
 
voyagerfan99,

I figured it out (windows xp is installing as I'm typing right now). I had use good old dos 6.22 via bootable dvd disk and run winnt.exe from the i386 folder :) I think the probably is the dvd drive of this laptop is on its way out. It seems to be partially work and partially not. That's my guess.
 
James79 said:
voyagerfan99,

I figured it out (windows xp is installing as I'm typing right now). I had use good old dos 6.22 via bootable dvd disk and run winnt.exe from the i386 folder :) I think the probably is the dvd drive of this laptop is on its way out. It seems to be partially work and partially not. That's my guess.
Click to expand...

That was the other thing I was going to suggest. Glad you finally got it working though.
 
lol still with the same errors having copying the files except with the folder directory win~nt\ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded..I don't know what to do.
 
to install dos on the hard drive..you need the floppy disk right..or is their an iso image file that you can download and burn to a dvd and then install it on the c: drive?
 
Oh that's cool :) But I'm just thinking..this same exact windows xp disc that was running on my desktop went through installation phase without that error so I don't think its the cd..its hardware related
 
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