Cancel windows instalation?

L

lynx6200

New Member
I changed out my motherboard and than tryied to do a windows repair install. However, the re-install keeps coming up with an error about an incorrect parameter (ive tried several xp disks with no luck, im using pro). This leaves me at a point where I can access my hard drive directly as every time I boot to it, it starts the re-installation. I can hook it up as a slave to access it, but would like to boot from it.

Does anyone know a way I can do this, I would have to cancel the windows instalation some how, and dont see any way to do this as of yet.

(Note: I've tried booting to several xp cd's (including a home version), and staright to the hard drive.)

Thanks
 
hook it up as slave take what you want off it and format it from within windows then hook it up as master and install windows make sure you dont have any usb devices hooked up when installing windows
 
Thanks, thats what I was doing, apparently my only option. I guess theres no way to recover the drive as a master drive, leaving windows in place wiht my files (in other words, canceling the auto install)?

Thanks
 
The first thing that could have been done there was set the drive as a stand alone master and boot to the recovery console. At the command prompt there you simply type "Fixmbr" and press enter. Following that you boot from the drive to see if the master boot record has been repaired. That would see Windows load normally requiring you to then install the new board's drivers.

This depends on the condition Windows was in when the board was swapped. The idea of the repair install is to allow for fresh detection of the new hardware(new board) and repair of the mbr at the same time. You would have to use the original installation disk in order to preserve the current installation of Windows. With another copy you may be able to delete the current installation without deletion of the current partition as well.
 
I went into the recovery console and did the "fixmbr" but this didnt solve the problem. Next thing I did was boot to the hard drive, and it started the windows instalation again.

I did talk to microsoft who thinks I may have a bad cd, so Ill try to find one I can borrow, but uintil than are there any other options to get my hard drive working, canceling the aut install?

I can load the hard drive as a slave to access it, so maybe theres some files I can delete from it so it wont keep running the auto install?

Thanks
 
You could try starting the system restore process manually depending on how long you have been seeing this and how far back your restore points go. But I would first backup even if only temporarily anything you want off of the drive. You may have to delete the current partition in order to see good installation of Windows go on the drive.

It sounds like the installation files copied for setting up Windows need to wiped. Instead of the recovery method you would go to install XP and then choose the option to delete the current installation. You may slide by with a fresh install rather then deleting the partiton as well. You last option after a total backup would be the wipe of the drive to get things running again.
 
Well, I finally got it backup on running. After researching the few resources out there about this, I ended up hooking it up as a slave drive to copy over the 'I386' folder from the xp cd to the slave drive. Than hooked it back up as primary, let the installer run, and chose the new folder i created on the hard drive, 'I386', when it asked for the cd (the asms file). This worked out great, and it finished the installation off the CD. Hope this helps anyone else out there with a similar problem.
 
You were a little more fortunate there with the installer able to go to the folder for the one file needed. At other times that won't work due to the amount of files needed. It shows that you "did not" have a bad cd afterall. Check it over anyways for any sign of scratches and finger marks. Make sure you get the latest drivers installed for the new board.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top