Can't Install WinXP

I am having trouble intstalling WinXP onto my computer.  My dad gave me two hard drives from his computer to add to mine becuase my hard drive crashed.  He used RedHat Linux and I really don't have the time or the desire to learn a new OS.  Everytime I put the WinXP CD in the CDRom it gets going but there is always an error.  There is always a file that is corrupted.  I am not sure which file it is.  Sorry.

So is RedHat screwing up my computer or what?

I also created a boot disc and that didn't work.  Sometimes it reads the CD and Some times it doesn't . Same with the A drive.  Last I checked it wasn't reading either of them even though it just read them 5 minutes before.

I am so frustrated.

No matter what that cause is, I really need some help.

Thanks in advance,
Molly

[Moderator]

Red Hat didn't ruin anything.

If your computer can boot from the CDROM (this is set in the BIOS) then restart the machine with the XP CD in there and press a key when it says to.

Some details on your computer make/model would be helpful. Knowing the specific error would also be helpful. Letting us know if this is a REAL Windows CD or a copy or download would be extremely helpful. Has this XP been installed on another system?

Ok.  I will tell you what I know.

I have a real CD of Windows.  Yes, it has been installed on a computer before.  The one that crashed was the one I got the XP for.  BTW - It is XP Professonal.

I won't boot from the CD.  I switched out CDRom Drives.  I even switched out Windows discs (my boyfriend has one also).

My boyfriend got 6 floppy boot dics that worked after I erased the hard drive (with Kill Disc).  Now it is asking for me to enter the XP Professional disc but it won't recognize it.  I just keeps repeating the need for the Windows Disc.

Oh.  I moved the hard drive from my "new" tower to my "old" one because my boyfriend thought that my motherboard was going out (from the error).  I am sorry that I don't have that error.  It went away when I moved the hard drives.  One is 40GB and the other is 120GB.  In the Tower I have them in now, it has 256MB of memory.  This computer was made by my friend and dad.

If there is anything else you need to know, please tell me and I will see if I can find out.

If it won't boot from the CDROM, will it boot from a floppy?  If so you can use >Smart BootManager< to boot from the CD.

this is not really a reply but i'm a new user here and can't figure out how to create an original post.  sorry!

here's my question: i just successfully completely erased my laptop HD using driveerase pro.  the good news is the product works. the bad news is, the laptop is rebooting from the startup floppy i created but won't let me do anything else past that.  evidently, the computer has forgotten it has a cd-rom drive, so i can't reinstall windows.

i know there have been similar questions posted here and i have followed the advice provided in response to those posts but my problem is i can't get out of the little A:\ except to go to C:\, and not much more.

Can anyone provide specific steps i can take to get to a point where I can reinstall the operating system?

Thank you.

@ MollyKemp:
Have you correctly set the device boot order in the BIOS? Set it to Floppy-CDROM-HDD0 or similar.
Have a look at this post and create the bootdisk as instructed.
Boot the problem machine from it, run Delpart and elect to delete all partitions. Reboot or switch off.

If your CD boot problem was cured by setting the boot order correctly, boot from the XP CD and continue as normal, electing to create the partition(s) when asked.
If you still have to boot from floppy, ensure that you have the correct disk set:
[highlight]XP Home bootdisk set[/highlight]
[highlight]XP Professional bootdisk set[/highlight]

Hello Guys!

I would like to ask an addition question with regards to "Can't Install WinXP". I have a HP laptop, Vista OS, with FUJITSU MHZ2160BH G2 Hard Disk and I want to change the OS to XP Pro but it wont let me do it, I was able to load the Disk, was able to Boot the Disk but when it was checking its components, there was some kinda error and I dont know whats the error about, its something like some components are missing or need to install something... I'm Hoping you guys can help me, Thank you so much!

Try to first debug and than try install the win xp os it will definately work for debugging steps search in on google

Hijosdelongi, make your own post please, this topic has been dead for about nine months.

Oh, and welcome to Computer Hope.

The reason you can't load XP is you probably don't have any of the drivers for it.  Your system probably doesn't have drivers available for it, so you may be out of luck.  We can discuss in your new thread.

Oh I didn't know that, Thank you much!

And, can you teach me how to post a new topic or message?

Thank you!

Just use the 'New Topic' button once you find the correct subject for your problem.  It's up at the top of all the other topics in the list.

The same problem I am facing with my laptop, it always gives me the message that some file is corroupt or halts and setup doesn't continue any more.

The same problem I am facing with my laptop, it always gives me the message that some file is corroupt or halts and setup doesn't continue any more.

Read the above 3 posts!

[Moderator]

The thread necromancing is now officialy outta control...

have you tried installing windows 7? it will give no error and very easy to use