RE: Trying to re-install Windows XP

[RoHe]

Natuakuc4 is reading my mind! emoticon.Surprise.title

Once you told us what system this was, it reminded me of the issue with XP SP1 and pci.sys which caused installation problems and had to be fixed in XP SP2.

[rdunnill]

I used SP1 years ago, but don't remember any specific issues with it. I do remember that the pre-SP1 version couldn't accommodate the then-large hard drives of greater than 137gb in size.

[Philip_Yip]

I used SP1 years ago, but don't remember any specific issues with it. I do remember that the pre-SP1 version couldn't accommodate the then-large hard drives of greater than 137gb in size.

The E520 on CNET reviews came with a 750 GB drive, its probably related to the problem:

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-dimension-e520-core/4505-3118_7-32205750.html

The XP CD needs to be slipstreamed to include Service Pack 3 or preferably XP ditched in favour of Windows 7/8.1.

[rdunnill]

It's possible to install the SP2 version of XP and then add SP3 after the fact. I did that regularly, and in fact I have never used slipstreaming.

[levinll2]

After updating the BIOS I once again booted to the XP disc that came with my dell machine.

Below is the following error message that appeared as the install process began.

[Philip_Yip]

Error 7b as mentioned slipstream service packs and sata drivers. Otherwise XP isn't reading the hard drive correctly during boot and giving you the bsod. I've had similar results in OptiPlex 760s with XP installs. The slipstream method is the easiest was the only other alternative is quickly pressing F6 during the Windows setup and using a floppy disc to load them.

[rdunnill]

After updating the BIOS I once again booted to the XP disc that came with my dell machine.

Below is the following error message that appeared as the install process began.

XP requires a boot device, and if the boot device drivers aren't present on the install disk (and they often aren't), they must be added just as the install disk boots via the boot device drivers wizard (which can be started by pressing the F6 key).

[RoHe]

It's still a 7B error which means SATA Operation (SATA Mode) is set incorrectly in BIOS.

BIOS must be set to RAID Autodetect/ATA in order to install XP. So reboot, open BIOS setup and change that setting. Be sure to save the change before exiting setup.

Then immediately reboot and go back into BIOS setup again. If SATA Operation is not still set to RAID Autodetect/ATA, then the motherboard battery may be dead and needs to be replaced.

[levinll2]

I did as you suggested, and the change is still selected.

However I am still getting the 7B error when trying to re-install XP.

[Philip_Yip]

Have you slipstreamed rye service packs and data drivers?