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Thread ID: 31676	2003-03-28 20:57:00	Reformat and install XP	Sanco (683)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
131773	2003-03-28 20:57:00	I am trying to install WinXP on my pc. I have not re-formatted yet, but I have tried re-booting with cd rom in dos. Well in the command prompt I can change my cd rom drive from E to F, type in Dir/w with the WinXP cd inserted in the cd rom and yes I can see the cd and the contents and setup.exe is part of it. But when I type in setup.exe it says that that operation cannot be done in dos!!!! What should my next move be? Thank you in advance for your help.	Sanco (683)
131774	2003-03-28 21:23:00	Sanco, can your computer boot from CD? If so, turn on CD Booting, put the Windows XP CD in and boot from the CD - the XP installation program will start and allow you to format and install from there. I'm not sure that you can start XP setup from DOS. Mike.	Mike (15)
131775	2003-03-28 21:27:00	I always copy the install directory onto the hard disk I am installing onto. Then you don't need CD drivers at all (yes, I know you can see your CD). It's the i386 directory, and I strongly suggest you copy it. What you need to use it either winnt.exe or winnt32.exe. winnt.exe will install from the Dos prompt, winnt32.exe from Windows. Give winnt.exe a go. Check the winnt /? options first, you could skip disk checking and things if you want it to go faster. robo.	robo (205)
131776	2003-03-28 21:40:00	Hi Sanco, If there is any data on the C drive that you wish to keep back it up (ie copy) to a different partition or burn it to a CD. Things to copy are address book files etc. A real pain if you have lots of addresses and forget to have a copy of that :) Remember that all software you have on your C drive will be lost and need to be reloaded.	Gorela (901)
131777	2003-03-28 21:42:00	I do not know whether my pc can boot from cd. How do I find out and where do I find the option?	Sanco (683)
131778	2003-03-28 22:38:00	The easiest way to find out if your computer can boot from the CD-ROM is to put your Win XP in the drive and reboot the computer. :-) Watch the screen carefully because if it can boot from it you will want to press the key indicated to cancel booting from it unless you are ready to do the installation. Even then you can still opt out so don't panic if you miss it! If nothing happens and Windows starts up as normal then you will have to go into the BIOS to change the boot sequence.	Susan B (19)
131779	2003-03-28 22:57:00	Robo> I think you were right.. I was just browsing thru my XP CD and saw those.. but didnt click? See here: support.microsoft.com Tells ya all you'll need :D Cheers Chilling_Silence	Chilling_Silence (9)
131780	2003-03-28 22:59:00	Hi, I agree that its better to copy the setup files onto your hard disk. Its seemesly faster than the response time as with of a CD... At least when you install straight from the HDD, you shouldn't encounter messages that you have to install the CD each time your pc wants a driver. Its the WINNT.EXE you want to use if you are planning to doing a installation from a dos environment anyway hope this helps.....	The Student (3269)
131781	2003-03-29 00:03:00	Guys...............you are absolutely legendary!!! I have not done anything yet but with all the info I now have, I will get into it soon. Well, wish me luck, and if you don't hear from me within the next few days, don't worry, it just means that I had to chuck the pc out of the "windows" and get something newer! Thanks again guys.	Sanco (683)
131782	2003-03-29 04:23:00	> The easiest way to find out if your computer can boot > from the CD-ROM is to put your Win XP in the drive > and reboot the computer. :-) However you may have to change the BIOS first so that it says to boot from the CDRom first because if it is set to boot from C first then it will not even worry about the CDRom and just boot as normal.	Big John (551)
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