Member Avatar for lyn1261

my computer recently crashed so i was using a windows xp pro disk i borrowed from a friend to reformat my computer. However, while windows was installing, during the part where it copies the files, many of the files were unable to be copied. i was able to chose from either retrying to copy the files, skip them, or quit the setup. after retrying failed, i skipped the files. however, when the setup finished windows was unable to open due to missing files. any clue on why this happened and how i could fix it?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Cirrus Tech. Lt

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As and suggested, when setup fails to copy many files the installer or the target drive is having read/write problems. Skipping files leaves an incomplete install, so the fastest rescue path is Repair + targeted file restores; if that fails, isolate whether the problem is the installation media, the CD/DVD drive, RAM, or the hard disk.

Boot the Windows XP CD and press R to enter the Recovery Console. Typical recovery steps are:

  1. Run chkdsk c: /r to find and remap bad sectors.
  2. Run fixboot then fixmbr to repair boot records.
  3. Check the CD drive letter with dir d:\i386 (adjust drive letter). If essential boot files are missing, copy them:
    copy d:\i386\ntldr c:\
    copy d:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\
    For compressed system files use expand, for example:
    expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll
    Adjust filenames/paths to what dir shows, then exit to reboot.

If Recovery Console cannot restore files or copying from the CD to another machine fails, test components to find the root cause: try the same CD in a different drive (or a different drive in the PC), run a memory tester (memtest) to check RAM, and run the HDD manufacturer’s diagnostics. If the CD was burned, reburn the ISO at a low speed and finalize the disc; if the CD is worn/damaged, use a different installation media or a known-good retail disc.

Cautions: back up any salvageable data before repartitioning or reinstalling. Use genuine installation media and the correct product key; patched or incomplete discs often omit needed files and cause the exact symptoms described.

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Member Avatar for chrisbliss18

It sounds like you were using a scratched disk. See if you can get a disk that isn't scratched.

Member Avatar for Cirrus Tech. Lt

Another possible reason is that your copy of Windows Xp Pro is Coppurted.

Find a New Cd, and try Again.

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