Windows XP Install Problem

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zamrg

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I have a HP laptop with a broken dvd-rom which makes it pretty hard to install XP. I've managed to get it to boot off of a network pxe setup so I can get access to a command prompt. I've copied the i386 folder from the Windows XP Install CD over the network to my laptop, and I'm able to run winnt.exe (install launcher) which brings up the XP install. It all goes fine until the first reboot, where it pops up with a message saying that the file 'asms' could not be found. The file is actually a folder and it definitely is in C:/i386. If I google the error, it comes up with a lot of hits but none of the solutions have helped. I'm pretty sure the file is part of SP2 or SP3 which is slipstreamed into the XP Install CD.

I'm running out of ideas here and was wondering if anyone has tried something similar, whether it be installing over the network or from a bootable USB drive. I'm thinking of trying to get hold of a XP Install Cd without SP2 slipstreamed, which could perhaps work since it won't look for the asms file.
 
why not make an image of it on another pc and then boot off a virtual drive on ur pc. had the same problem and it worked.:D
 
Installing off a Virtual image, external cd-drive or external hard drive all work, I have tried and tested all of these media.
 
stroebs said:
Installing off a Virtual image, external cd-drive or external hard drive all work, I have tried and tested all of these media.
Click to expand...

these solutions are generic and aren't applicable to all computers/hardware

I managed to get it to boot off a usb stick last night but not off a usb hard drive. The windows installation started but I accidently selected the wrong partition to install to, so I had to restart the process, after which it failed to boot to the usb stick - weird but ya.

If I were to try use a virtual image, would the image be of the installation cd or a pre-installed windows harddrive? also, would boot disk would allow me to emulate a cd rom drive and load an image?
 
You need to slipstream the drivers onto the windows xp disk using vlite or you need an external stiffy drive with them on a stiffy.
 
I had the same problem the other day, you need to copy the i386 directory including all subdirectories

Format the drive as fat32 - copy the files, then run winnt /s c:\i386
Once its all build you can then convert to ntfs
 
gregmcc said:
I had the same problem the other day, you need to copy the i386 directory including all subdirectories

Format the drive as fat32 - copy the files, then run winnt /s c:\i386
Once its all build you can then convert to ntfs
Click to expand...

ye, I mentioned in my OP that I did that, but failed nontheless; anyhow, a contact at HP lent me a dvd-rom for the day to get windows installed, lot easier than the workdarounds I tried :)
 
Try and get an external CD rom, would be the easiest solution
 
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