HOW-TO: Install XP via ANY USB Key

Okay, here's what I get now:

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

Follow these steps: Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives for hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer.

Technical information:
***STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7AFA63C, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I don't know what this means. I mean, I know that it means I can't run Setup because of some problem, but I don't know what it ultimately means. I've posted about it here: viewtopic.php?f=61&t=9858

Any ideas?

 

I see others have the hal.dll problem with this install method. I have created my USB stick twice with this method and am getting this error.

So
me have fixed it themselves. Can anyone offer up some advice on how they fixed it.

Thanks

 

I had this problem - in the end I changed the bios to boot from a usb cd drive with the xp cd in. And then could delete the linux partitions and install windows. I know it doesn't help those who don't have an external cd drive but at least you know it does work eventually.

 

@fritzzz25 + spaceholiday:

Where abouts are these errors occuring, its all well and good saying you are getting these errors, but would really help what steps before you have taken, such as does the hal.dll error occur before you have loaded windows, or when the computer restarts. Let us know exactly what it is you have allready done.

 

When I had the hal.dll error, I had to keep the usb key in and boot from it again. I got the error because setup wasn't finished with the key. However, there are other reasons that error appears so I can't speak to what fritzzz25 is experiencing, only what worked for me.

My STOP 0x0000007B error occurs when I first insert the usb key into the AA1. I get a blue Windows setup screen, it begins to load setup files, and then that error appears. As stated, I've posted about it here viewtopic.php?f=61&t=9858, and am trying a couple of suggestions from that thread. Any other suggestions are welcome as well.

UPDATE: Issue fixed! The solution is in the thread I started, quoted above.

 

1. Insert usb key, boot up the acer and press f12 to open the boot menu. Choose the USB key and select TEXT installation. Windows will load up the installer, remember to delete all the partitions on the main install drive ( this should be drive D:/). Press enter on this new big drive (should be 111gb).
2. The computer will install/ copy all the required files across and then reboot. You MUST AGAIN press f12 and boot from the usb key, this time selecting GUI installer. This will finish the installation and boot into windows.
3. YOU’RE Almost THERE!

This is where I'm up to!!.............please help me get past this. what partitions am I deleting?!!!

 

You need to delte C and D, these are the installation of linux, and your recovery partition, delete them both then just press enter on the unassigned memory or something similar and install unto that.

But first, HAVE YOU gone into the bios and turned OFF the D2D recovery partition?

 

Thanks. Yes turned that off. Right. Onward & upward!

 

Set up is formatting, slowly.

Everything is crossed! If this works, I owe you a pint.

 

Heh, if i got a pint from everyone that this guide had helped...man, my student dreams would be fulfilled!

 

Right I'm in windows (put my MS key in, it set up, and rebooted itself and I'm up to stage 4 on your guide. Do I press Start, My Computer and then where do I put that D:/boot.ini ? In the address bar where my computer is? What's a navigation box?

Do I need to be connected to the internet? I've done the above but want's to connect-I'm now at home where I've only got broadband on the main comp, not the acer. So will have to go back to work if internet connection required.

So close but yet so far!

 

I received exactly the same error @ exactly the same point.

During the creation of the virtual xp image I noticed a lot of 'file not found' warnings.
I guess whatever script is being used to create the image only works with certain versions of XP.

I'm attempting to use an XP SP2 OEM (version 2002), were you using the same tonyadams90?

I'll find an ISO of a full retail version & give it another go in abit.

:edit:

it's worth mentioning that I am actually using a 2gb SD card mounted in a usb reader - though i'm quite sure this isn't the cause of the problem.
I first tried using an 8gb USB stick(ocz rally2), only to discover the formatting tool attempts a FAT16 format - ergo is limited to 4gb max capacity & so fails when trying to format my 8gb stick.

 

Dobsy, open up My computer, that opens a box correct? The Navigation bar is the white space at the top that will say "My Computer", basically it tells you where abouts you are.

If you double click your local disk, you will see it changes to D:/ or something similar, in this white space is where you will type "D:/boot.ini" and press enter, the window then should 'magically' change to a text document, namely boot.ini, thats when you should edit the file.

The only reason you'd need to be connected to the 'net is for downloading the drivers, personally as you have another system dl them to a thumb drive and transfer across

I may be making another guide for partitioning your harddrive, as i have done this, to allow installation of windows 7 beta at the same time as my winxp, and also what i allways like to make on all my computers a 'storage' drive, where all my documents music and video are stored. This is in the case of a corrupt windows installation, you can easily reformat that partition and all the other stuff you carry around media wise will be untouched Comes in very handy.

 

I don't think any OEM XP installation discs are any good to the Aspire One, try and get hold of another 'Full' version, but dont forget to use your legitimate key!

 

When I click on Local disk, C:\ is in the bar. Then I've got 3 yellow files and then below them an icon called boot.ini. i click on this and it gives me the notepad with what i expected, so I edited that, saved and rebooted.

Everything seems to be OK! Is that it? It just seemed a bit easy. I've rebooted and it starts everytime again on Windows

If I wanted to get back to Linux how would I do this?

 

To edit the boot.ini file you can do the following....

Right click My Computer on Start - Show On Desktop

Right click My Computer on Desktop and clicl Properties

Click "Advanced" tab.

Click "Settings" on Startup and Recovery

Click "Edit" to edit the startup options file manually to show what the first post shows.


EDIT: mine was already set to "0"'s for the rdisk.



To the OP, many thanks for the guide, just done it and installed Xp with no probs, just putting on SP3 and all the drivers as i type. Thanks again.

 

Thats it my friend, you just need to download the drivers from the acer website and you're good to go.

Linux is now removed from your computer However if you wish to revert back simply find your acer disc and follow the onscreen instructions (obviously this will have to take place on another computer) the disc helps you make a linux usb stick

 

Goodbye to Linux then! You sir are a living legend!! Thanks so much. Now I can go and pester someone else in another section on how to's!!!
Thanks again

 

Used this tool instead ( http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=120444 ), much simpler & more reliable. (and worked fine with my OEM XP SP2 disc)

 

Where's my internet connection gone!!? The LEd toggle switch does'nt do anything now and there's no light on!