Windows XP will not install

[Chris]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
get an error that reads:

Setup cannot copy the file: (Always a different file name)
To retry press Enter
If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows XP
CD is in the CD ROM.
To skip this file, press ESC.
Caution if you skip this file, Setup may not complete and
Windows XP may not work properly.
To quit Setup, press F3

I press enter and sometimes it will copy and other times
I have to press the Escape. So I can get thru the whole
setup transfer, but when it starts installing XP it
crashes right away at 39 minutes with a fatal error
because I am missing files.
I have tried 2 different copys of XP with the same
results. Then for kicks I tried my Windows Melliumn from
my old dell and it install OK. But that version blows!
I also tried upgrading from the Melliumn version and I
get the same results.. Any help? Bout to lose my mind!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Greetings --

What was the original problem that prompted your need to
re-install the OS? It may well be that a hardware problem needs to be
resolved before you can continue.

Problems copying files or corrupted files during installation are
most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware; in order of
likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the motherboard. On much
less frequent occasions, a bad CD or defective CD drive can also cause
this.

The fact that you can successfully install WinMe is cannot be read
as an indication that your hardware is OK. WinXP, like WinNT and
Win2K before it, is quite sensitive to borderline defective or
substandard hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and hard drives)
that will still support MS-DOS and/or Win9x/Me.


Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH


"Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1d4201c47c85$8631ed10$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
> Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
> the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
> get an error that reads:
>
> Setup cannot copy the file: (Always a different file name)
> To retry press Enter
> If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows XP
> CD is in the CD ROM.
> To skip this file, press ESC.
> Caution if you skip this file, Setup may not complete and
> Windows XP may not work properly.
> To quit Setup, press F3
>
> I press enter and sometimes it will copy and other times
> I have to press the Escape. So I can get thru the whole
> setup transfer, but when it starts installing XP it
> crashes right away at 39 minutes with a fatal error
> because I am missing files.
> I have tried 2 different copys of XP with the same
> results. Then for kicks I tried my Windows Melliumn from
> my old dell and it install OK. But that version blows!
> I also tried upgrading from the Melliumn version and I
> get the same results.. Any help? Bout to lose my mind!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

>-----Original Message-----
>Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
>Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
>the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
>get an error that reads:
>
>Setup cannot copy the file: (Always a different file
name)
>To retry press Enter
>If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows
XP
>CD is in the CD ROM.
>To skip this file, press ESC.
>Caution if you skip this file, Setup may not complete
and
>Windows XP may not work properly.
>To quit Setup, press F3
>
>I press enter and sometimes it will copy and other times
>I have to press the Escape. So I can get thru the whole
>setup transfer, but when it starts installing XP it
>crashes right away at 39 minutes with a fatal error
>because I am missing files.
>I have tried 2 different copys of XP with the same
>results. Then for kicks I tried my Windows Melliumn
from
>my old dell and it install OK. But that version blows!
>I also tried upgrading from the Melliumn version and I
>get the same results.. Any help? Bout to lose my mind!
>.
>Try going into your BIOS and disabling any time of BIOS
caching or video card caching and set the video card RAM
window to a low number like 32 or 64 Mb if possible and
also do not overclock. Then go through the Setup process
again and when it comes time to format, do the long
format with NTFS. As soon as the formatting process is
done, turn off your computer. Start the setup process
again and when it comes time to format, do a Quick Format
with NTFS and let setup continue. I had the exact same
problem once and I think that's how I solved it. Good
luck.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

I've seen this exact same scenario (twice) where it was bad RAM causing the
files not to copy

"Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1d4201c47c85$8631ed10$a501280a@phx.gbl...
> Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
> Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
> the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
> get an error that reads:
>
> Setup cannot copy the file: (Always a different file name)
> To retry press Enter
> If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows XP
> CD is in the CD ROM.
> To skip this file, press ESC.
> Caution if you skip this file, Setup may not complete and
> Windows XP may not work properly.
> To quit Setup, press F3
>
> I press enter and sometimes it will copy and other times
> I have to press the Escape. So I can get thru the whole
> setup transfer, but when it starts installing XP it
> crashes right away at 39 minutes with a fatal error
> because I am missing files.
> I have tried 2 different copys of XP with the same
> results. Then for kicks I tried my Windows Melliumn from
> my old dell and it install OK. But that version blows!
> I also tried upgrading from the Melliumn version and I
> get the same results.. Any help? Bout to lose my mind!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

| "Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
| wrote in message news:1d4201c47c85$8631ed10$a501280a@phx.gbl...
| Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
| Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
| the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
| get an error that reads:
|
| Setup cannot copy the file: <SNIP>

I agree with "John E. Carty", and "Bruce Chambers". As for some
related documentation see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base
articles:

- KB310064 - HOW TO: Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During
Installation When You Upgrade from Windows 98 or Windows Me
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;310064

According to KB310064 (section titled "You receive a file copy
error while the Setup program is running") some causes of this
behavior are: CD-ROM is scratched, CD-ROM drive is not working
correctly, multiple CD-ROM drives, computer is over-clocked,
damaged or mismatched random access memory (RAM), Ultra direct
memory access (DMA) turned on, third-party memory manager, a
virus on your computer

- KB257954 - Random Files May Not Be Copied During
Text-Mode Setup
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;257954

According to KB257954, some other causes (not listed in KB310064)
of this behavior are: PC133 SDRAM is being used in a computer
that requires PC100 SDRAM.

And on the subject of faulty RAM, here's what another user with
the same problem had to say about it:

----- Begin Original Message -----
From: "Jim Smith"
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/privacy.mspx
Subject: Re: Setup cannot copy the file ....
Date: Fri, 26 Jul 2002 12:28:18 -0500
Message-ID: <eP0xboMNCHA.1776@tkmsftngp12>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.win2000.setup

I have found this to me a RAM problem, not a CD or HD problem.
The CPU decompresses the files on the CD and writes them to the
HD, if RAM is flakey, files will not be decompressed correctly
and when setup does a verify, it fails. I fought with this
problem for almost a day before I replaced my RAM and it went
away.

----- End Original Message -----

And on the subject of testing RAM, Microsoft has released a
software memory diagnostic tool (mtinst.exe) that you can use to
tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors.
For more information , and to download this tool, visit the
following Microsoft Web site:

Microsoft Online Crash Analysis - Windows Memory Diagnostic
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Also, while Microsoft Windows XP is not specifically listed in
the Applies To section of the following Microsoft Knowledge Base
article AFAIK this behavior may be a result of incorrect NTFS
permissions on the partition on which Windows XP is installed

KB319344 - "Setup Cannot Copy the File" Error Message During
In-Place Upgrade of Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?Product=winxp&scid=kb;en-us;319344

 

[Chris]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

>-----Original Message-----
>Greetings --
>
> What was the original problem that prompted your
need to
>re-install the OS? It may well be that a hardware
problem needs to be
>resolved before you can continue.
>
> Problems copying files or corrupted files during
installation are
>most often caused by defective or sub-standard hardware;
in order of
>likelihood, either RAM, the hard drive, or the
motherboard. On much
>less frequent occasions, a bad CD or defective CD drive
can also cause
>this.
>
> The fact that you can successfully install WinMe is
cannot be read
>as an indication that your hardware is OK. WinXP, like
WinNT and
>Win2K before it, is quite sensitive to borderline
defective or
>substandard hardware (particularly motherboards, RAM and
hard drives)
>that will still support MS-DOS and/or Win9x/Me.
>
>
>Bruce Chambers
>--
>Help us help you:
>http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
>http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever
count on
>having both at once. - RAH
>
>
>"Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message
>news:1d4201c47c85$8631ed10$a501280a@phx.gbl...
>> Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
>> Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files
for
>> the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
>> get an error that reads:
>>
>> Setup cannot copy the file: (Always a different file
name)
>> To retry press Enter
>> If you are installing from a CD, make sure the Windows
XP
>> CD is in the CD ROM.
>> To skip this file, press ESC.
>> Caution if you skip this file, Setup may not complete
and
>> Windows XP may not work properly.
>> To quit Setup, press F3
>>
>> I press enter and sometimes it will copy and other
times
>> I have to press the Escape. So I can get thru the
whole
>> setup transfer, but when it starts installing XP it
>> crashes right away at 39 minutes with a fatal error
>> because I am missing files.
>> I have tried 2 different copys of XP with the same
>> results. Then for kicks I tried my Windows Melliumn
from
>> my old dell and it install OK. But that version blows!
>> I also tried upgrading from the Melliumn version and I
>> get the same results.. Any help? Bout to lose my mind!
>

Is it possible to have a virus on my computer somewhere
besides the hard drive? (Like in my ram, bios or
something?) If so how do I clear everything out? Im
starting from scratch so it does not matter.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

|:| "Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
|:| wrote news:1d4201c47c85$8631ed10$a501280a@phx.gbl...
|:| Im trying to reinstall my Windows XP that came with my
|:| Dell computer. When it starts transfering the files for
|:| the SETUP, no matter at what % of the transfer is at I
|:| get an error that reads: Setup cannot copy the file: <SNIP>

|: "Bruce Chambers" <bruce_a_chambers@h0tmail.com>
|: wrote in message news:ujHNyoIfEHA.3964@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
|: <SNIP> Problems copying files or corrupted files during
|: installation are most often caused by defective or
|: sub-standard hardware; <SNIP>

| "Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com>
| wrote news:22ab01c47d00$6eae5f90$a601280a@phx.gbl...
| Is it possible to have a virus on my computer somewhere
| besides the hard drive? (Like in my ram, bios or
| something?) If so how do I clear everything out? Im
| starting from scratch so it does not matter.

While it is possible to have virus that affects the MBR and Boot
Sectors I would suspect all of the other causes before first. To
determine if you have a boot sector virus, run a current
virus-checking program, and if needed, disinfect your computer.

For some information see the following Microsoft Documentation,
SECTION: Viruses That Affect the MBR and Boot Sectors, and its
subsections (accessed from the TOC):

Windows XP Professional Resource Kit Documentation
Part VI | System Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Disks and File Systems
SECTION: Viruses That Affect the MBR and Boot Sectors
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prkd_tro_huuv.asp

And you can find peer-to-peer support for Security Technologies
in the following newsgroup:

Security: Virus Discussions
microsoft.public.security.virus

The following page has links you can click to access the
newsgroup with your Web browser, or with a Network News Transfer
Protocol (NNTP)-based newsreader such as Outlook Express.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Security Technologies Newsgroups
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/community/newsgroups/security/default.mspx

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics (More info?)

Greetings --

No, this isn't possible. Or at least, nothing could have gotten
into your BIOS without your active co-operation. RAM is cleared every
time the PC is powered down.

Bruce Chambers
--
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH


"Chris" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:22ab01c47d00$6eae5f90$a601280a@phx.gbl...
>
>
> Is it possible to have a virus on my computer somewhere
> besides the hard drive? (Like in my ram, bios or
> something?) If so how do I clear everything out? Im
> starting from scratch so it does not matter.
> >