Installing Windows 2000

Question

I have to admit I have never done a clean or other install of Windows 2000. I fdisk the HD and nothing is on it. I then put the windows 2000 installation cd in the drive and have the boot sequence to d drive which at post is detected. However, I cannot get 2000 to partition the drive and format it. All I get is some message that commander cannot start. How come 2000 cd does not load the drivers and install like XP? Now, how do I install 2000 using one partition for the entire 30gb drive? I have done a lot of computers over the years but am totally lost with this one.

mombodog · Answer

I would like to see a picture of that.

dbramlet · Answer

I get nothing like the setup link you sent. Makes no sense.

dbramlet · Answer

I will have to look at the exact message tomorrow and post back. I agree, it should be like XP. It starts with error, cannot read the D drive and then I get something like what partition do I want to start like 0, 1, 2,or 3. But seems the main problem is it isn't loading the cd drivers. I took a 30gb HD from a compaq and did an fdisk on it. Then installed it in the computer I want to install 2000 on. But just does not read the cd like XP and the drive is picked up at post. This is a full install version with a legal numbers and not OEM version.

mombodog · Answer

What is the exact error?   'How come 2000 cd does not load the drivers and install like XP?'   It should be just like XP   http://www.windowsreinstall.com/install/win2k/installw2k/page1.htm

dbramlet · Answer

The message I get when trying to boot with the CD? Not sure how to get a picture off a non-partitioned drive? I appreciate your reply and am baffled to say the least. Why do you suppose the CD drive is lost when trying to start with the 2000 cd?

mombodog · Answer

'All I get is some message that commander cannot start.'   You really need to back the cart up and explain Exactly what is happening.

dbramlet · Answer

My cart has been backing on this all the way. As I said, first it does not start the installation because it cannot read the cd drive as if the drivers were not loaded. Then after that happens I get the options to boot to these 3 partitions which none work. Now, I think the commander message came from when I used a one of 2 floppy disk that came with the 2000 cd as if they are compaq disk. I will be more precise when I can look at it again. I found this on the web and may try it.

A lot of people appear to be unaware of the fact that you do NOT need the 4, 5 or 6 setup disks in order to install Windows 2000 and XP. A common Win98 boot disk such as the Boot Disk Essentials diskette below can be used to install these OS's. This is what the Win XP System Setup Disk above does. Here's how to do it:

Start the computer with your chosen boot disk.
Change to the cdrom drive.
Go into the \i386 directory on the cdrom.
Run WINNT.EXE to begin the install process.

mombodog · Answer

Dells are funny on what CD drive is will use for installations, be sure it is connected to the correct motherboard port and is set as master.

What model of Dell is it?

You can even copy the i386 file off of the 2K CD to the windows folder (create it) on the target hard drive (how to do that is another story) then use a win98 boot disk and do the same.

You are assuming the boot disk of choice can find the cdrom when W2k could not.

Message Edited by mombodog on 08-28-2007 11:18 PM

dbramlet · Answer

Problem solved. I got to the point I was thinking this copy of windows 2000 was acting just like illegal software. I did some research and sure enough it is an illegal copy. This was the best looking and most realist copy I have ever seen. Have ordered a legal copy and sure I will not have any problems. Thanks.

Windows General

Installing Windows 2000

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