Hi,

I have a few old Dell computers and I'm trying to install some OSs.

With a blank HDD, I thought you have to choose the CDROM as boot device and this would do.

But a message comes up: "DISK BOOT ERROR INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER". I've tried with no less than 10 OS disks but none works! 2 of them are even OEM versions...

The best I can get with a preinstallation of XP is a command line with "D:i386/system32/" but then I'm stuck! I don't know what to do!

Same with a bootup floppy disk, I get "A:" but then??? On any of the machines I can retrieve the D: (were should be the CDROM)...

Ofreeb

Hello ofreeb. Nice to see u back.

Ok to boot from a floppy u must choose in the bios the floppy option if you have it eg. Floppy - CD -HDD
If you dont have this option then You will need to boot a disk from cd Download the UBCD From here
http://www.portal.itsallpc.co.uk/mod...op=getit&lid=4 click the link it should start

It is an 80mb iso file mount the iso file on CD and boot it remember to choose the cd option in the bios first.

You can then from this load a boot disk for windows via this CD allowing you access to msdos on a RAM Drive.ÂÂ! The drive will be probably X but it will tell you what drive is your CD. navigate through dos to the cd if D is your last HDD then E will be your CD
Find the setup file.
If you are not very good in Dos then there are 2 dos navigators on the Disk to help you navigate through dos with speed and ease. Let me know how u get on if you get stuck tell me where here thanks loz

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"preinstallation of XP"

please tell me are these os sytems that you have on cd full os sytems or just preinstallation CD's

if the HDD is Blank then you should start up the pc and go in the biose normly the F2 key not always thow

you should themn find the boot up devieces and set it to boot from CD ROM Drive first then save and exit

it should come up with somthing about inserting the cd or saying cant find os please insert disk etc etc.

but if the HDD Drive has a os on it could still find it and start up if this happens place the os CD in the drive turn of the pc (the correct way) then restart it should say press any key to boot from CD and thats it

Remember select and partition the hard drive

Remember do a full install not a quick one

and you should be ok :-)