View Full Version : Can you abort an OS reinstall?
I've spent the past 2-3 hours reinstalling Win 2000 on my old computer, hoping to get it once agains functioning smoothly for a backup system. I decided to go with the recommendation (oops, never follow a MS recommendation) to switch from FAT32 to NTFS, and toward the end of the process, I get an error message that NT5INF.CAT cannot be found. Doesn't show up as being on the installation CD, so I tried copying that same file over from Win XP onto a floppy disk and loading it that way, but it results in some mis-signed error. I don't seem to have any option for cancelling or re-starting the installation, so it appears I'm stuck in an endless loop...
Is there a hidden self-destruct button somewhere? %)
I found the following, but it isn't terribly enlightening:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win2000/n1057091143
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 04:46 PM
My suggestion is to start the install over from the beginning. That missing file may be just the first of many things that have gone wrong with this one, and you'll be chasing your tail (figuratively speaking) trying to get it back on track.
Unless the hard drive is somehow screwed up from a failed NTFS conversion, I wouldn't worry too much.
Randall
My suggestion is to start the install over from the beginning.
Problem is, there doesn't appear to be any way to do that. If I try proceeding with an incompatible file or cancelling out of that screen, all it does is reboot and bring me right back to the screen requiring the file... Same for if I shut off the power and bring it back up with or without the Win 2000 CD inserted. Not sure what else there is to try.
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 05:08 PM
What happens if you boot from a Win98 startup disk and then run d:\i386\winnt.exe (where d is your CD drive)?
Randall
Why Win 98? I never used Win 98, so I don't have a startup disc of that lineage...
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 05:29 PM
It's a lot quicker than waiting for the four-disk set of Win2K floppies to load, which may give you the same problem.
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm
Randall
No luck. :( I tried the Win 98 SE OEM boot disk and a Win 2k Emergency Repair disk, but neither would boot up (non-system disk or disk error). Only one I managed to get anywhere with was my old Win 95 boot disk, but I got stuck in DOS. I might have to give that another try...
This is bringing back rather terrifying Windows "Update" flashbacks.
Dan
run d:\i386\winnt.exe
Good grief. I did that via the Win 95 boot disk, and that takes me to a Win 2000 screen saying I need to specify where the Win 2000 setup files are. Unfortunately, the only option it gives me is the floppy drive, with no apparent way to change the default drive.
Wait, I think I got it ... stay tuned....
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 05:53 PM
Your Win95 may not have the necessary CD-ROM drivers, which is why I always use a Win98 disk.
Sounds like the boot disks you created weren't made into system disks somehow. If you put the Win2K CD in your XP machine, the official boot disk creator is bootdisk\makebt32.exe. This is bringing back rather terrifying Windows "Update" flashbacks. Yes, you can get into a real Catch-22 at this stage of the process. Believe me, I've been there.
If the usual methods fail, there's a rather remarkable way to start the installation on another PC if you don't mind dragging your hard drive over to the Dell and playing around with jumpers again.
Randall
If the usual methods fail, there's a rather remarkable way to start the installation on another PC if you don't mind dragging your hard drive over to the Dell and playing around with jumpers again.
Ooh, that sounds like a doozy. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but I'd rather avoid it if at all possible. Win 2k says it's doing its installation thing, so I'll keep an eye on it over the next few hours... I assume everything on the HD is pretty much screwed at this point, so I'll just do a completely new install this time around and wipe the slate clean.
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 05:58 PM
I assume everything on the HD is pretty much screwed at this point, so I'll just do a completely new install this time around and wipe the slate clean. Not necessarily. If there's anything on that drive worth saving, I'd start by attempting an "upgrade" before resorting to a clean install.
Randall
I think I've copied everything over of importance. I started out doing a reinstall only so I wouldn't have to install all the various programs again. I'm not sure this install from floppy approach is even giving me a choice one way or the other, though.
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 06:21 PM
In some cases (not entirely clear on what) it won't give you an upgrade option. Of course, that could also happen if the existing install is so screwed up that it can't even find it.
You may be better off this way given the recent problems you had.
Randall
It stalled out about 40% of the way through on some .hlp file that couldn't be found/copied, but this one at least gave me the option of skipping it and moving on. If it does make it all the way through, I'll probably go back anyway and do a normal full install just to be safe.
You may be better off this way given the recent problems you had.
Agreed. The whole point of getting the new computer was to make the old one non-essential, thus freeing it up for full exploratory surgery... Having the bulk of my working files on the 2nd hard drive made getting the important stuff copied over quite easy. And since I have everything I need up and running on the new computer, I can go about reinstalling programs on the old one at my leisure. A clean slate seems the best bet.
Dan
Well, after 4-5 hours of hanging on numerous files (at least 20), I bailed on the install at 49%. I imagine the OS is royally screwed now!
Not having the most successful computing day...
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 10:20 PM
Maybe you'll have better luck if you wipe the drive clean?
Randall
What's the best way of going about that?
I started the install-from-floppy over again, and it just now got stuck -- yet again -- on not being able to copy the "disk1" file. Impressive.
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 10:44 PM
A simple format c: /Q might do the trick. Then try booting from the CD -- I've had mixed results installing from DOS.
Randall
Won't accept that command from either the A:\ or C:\ prompt.
Dan
Randall
09-21-2003, 11:10 PM
I don't know what to tell you. Can you even get a directory listing of the C drive? In your position I wouldn't be fooling around with it on that machine. I'd plug the drive into the XP box and do the work there.
Randall
This is getting downright silly. I found this page (http://www.cyberwalker.net/columns/aug02/010802.html), which seemed close enough to be worth a shot. Ran the format c: command and it gave every indication that the drive had been wiped clean. Went into BIOS and changed the boot order, then booted back up with the Win 2000 CD inserted. Lo and behold, up pops the "resuming installation" screen and I'm right back at the deadend of having to get past NT5INF.CAT. How in the world is that lingering if I just wiped the drive clean???
I'm beginning to understand why some people get rid of computers whenever it's time to upgrade something. The cost savings of just buying something new would be rather significant if this were an at all normal experience.
I'd plug the drive into the XP box and do the work there.
Is there a site that describes how to do that? I don't believe you gave a link previously. It would mean taking out my working files 2nd drive and not being able to do anything during that time, but I'm quickly running out of options...
Dan
I decided to try booting from my Win XP CD (probably goes against MS' licensing policies, but after this ordeal, I'm not terribly concerned with their bottom line), and it seems to be working so far. It just finished the setup section and is moving on to some copying files step. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
Dan
... and down the hatch goes another attempt. Gets through the bulk of the "Installing Windows" step (4th of 5 steps, <20 minutes reported to go) and then starts running into files that can't be copied from the installation CD. Crazy.
Dan
Randall
09-22-2003, 12:25 AM
Starting to look like you have a CD-ROM problem, although this sounds vaguely familiar. Hold on...
Randall
Well, it at least completed the installation and successfully booted up in Win XP, but boy is it a bare bones installation. Can't even find a shortcut link to Explorer of all things. It also told me as soon as I got into Windows that it must be registered within 30 days. I'm guessing it won't allow me to register the same product code twice (assuming it's encoded, which I don't believe older versions were), so I may have to just use this as a launching pad to do a full resinstall of Win 2000. The saga continues...
I really should look into a career as a software tester. My ability to make just about anything not work is truly uncanny. :\ Problem is, I can't really find the flaws quite the same when I'm actually looking for them.
Dan
Randall
09-22-2003, 12:47 AM
...Nope, wasn't what I remembered.
Anyway, you're right about using XP as the launching pad for the 2K install. Othewise you're committing yourself to buying a second XP license. but boy is it a bare bones installation. Can't even find a shortcut link to Explorer of all things. This is what Microsoft intended for XP, and I happen to like it myself. You'll find the My Computer icon in the Start menu (functionally identical to Explorer now) but nothing much on the desktop. Dell has a tendency to clutter it up.
Explorer is still there, but it's buried in the Accessories folder under All Programs. I really should look into a career as a software tester. My ability to make just about anything not work is truly uncanny. The thought occurred to me. ;)
Randall
You'll find the My Computer icon in the Start menu (functionally identical to Explorer now)
Functionally yes, but not aesthetically. So much nicer having that friendly navigation tree.
but nothing much on the desktop.
Try absolutely nothing. I had to make some Start menu changes to get even the IE and My Documents/Computer/Network Places icons on the desktop. No Recycling bin icon option that I've found (haven't really looked for it, either), and nothing else.
Explorer is still there, but it's buried in the Accessories folder under All Programs.
Nothing like that that I can see on this install. Bare as bare bones can be. Notepad is there, but that's about it.
At least the CD drive works. I'll need that to try Win 2000 again...
The thought occurred to me.
At least you can vouch for me as a reference. :)
Dan
Wow, this is getting comical. Ever try installing an older OS on top of XP? Don't bother, it won't let you. Disabled setup functionality of the Win 2000 installation CD...
Dan
Looks like I managed to get the Win 2000 CD running this time by booting up with it in DOS. We'll see if it makes it through the process...
Dan
Randall
09-22-2003, 12:58 PM
Ever try installing an older OS on top of XP? Don't bother, it won't let you. That's pretty short sighted. While you'd expect that "upgrading" to an older version isn't an option, what about dual-booting? Can't always assume that the old version will be installed first.
Randall
Randall
09-22-2003, 05:36 PM
So much nicer having that friendly navigation tree. A quick click on the Folders button will bring it up. But you can use my favorite Explorer trick to get the folder tree by default:
Folder Options > File Types
Find the "Folder" file type
Click on Advanced
Select "explore" and then click Set Default
That forces most My Computer windows into Explorer mode. (Works in 9x and 2K, too.) Try absolutely nothing. I had to make some Start menu changes to get even the IE and My Documents/Computer/Network Places icons on the desktop. No Recycling bin icon option that I've found (haven't really looked for it, either), and nothing else. The empty desktop is normal for a clean XP install. But an underpopulated Start menu is down-right peculiar.
Edit: I just finished a clean install of XP Pro (thank God for all the spare hard drives around here), so you're not the only one doing the Install Thing this week. ;)
Randall
miggee
04-04-2004, 03:55 PM
Here is the solution to your problem
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290790
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