Troubleshooting Setup Errors

Setup can't find the CD–Rom Drive

Verify that your hardware is listed on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).

Use the startup disk that came with your CD–ROM to reload the drivers for the CD–ROM.
Updated drivers are also available from the manufacturer.

Try another method of installing, such as a network installation

If you are performing a new installation and you start the installation from Windows 95,
Windows 98, or Windows NT, click Advanced Options during Setup, and then copy files to your hard disk.

Setup can't read the CD–Rom Drive

Verify that the CD–ROM or DVD drive is working

Clean the CD.

Use a different CD. To request a replacement CD, contact Microsoft or your computer manufacturer.

You see a blue screen (also called a stop error)

Follow the instructions that appear on the screen

For more information, see “Troubleshooting Specific Stop Errors”

Windows XP Professional won't install or won't start

Verify that your hardware is listed on the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).

Simplify the hardware configuration as much as possible by temporarily removing hardware not required
by Setup (modems, sound cards, and network cards).

Make sure that you have the latest drivers, firmware and BIOS for the computer and all hardware.

There is insufficient disk space

Free up space on an existing partition by deleting files that you no longer need and emptying your Recycle
Bin, or, if you have more than one drive or partition, by moving files to another partition.

Remove existing partitions and create a new partition large enough for installation (+1.5GB).

Format an existing partition to remove all existing files and create more space.

You are unable to connect to your network

Check the following list and make sure that:

CAPS LOCK isn’t on while you’re typing your password. Windows XP Professional passwords are case–
sensitive.

Your password is current. If you have recently received the message, “User must change password at next
logon,” your password may have expired.

The domain name you used is correct.

You are using a recognized user name.

Your network cable is properly attached to the computer and the network connection.

The network settings on your computer have not been changed.

If this list does not identify your problem, run a networking troubleshooter (click Start and then click Help
and Support; click Fixing a problem, in the left-hand column, and then click Networking problems), or
contact your network administrator.

You are unable to join a domain

Make sure your computer is physically connected to a network.

Make sure the domain name you used is correct.

Check with your network administrator to make sure a computer account exists for you.

Verify with your network administrator that the DNS server and domain controller are running and online.

If none of these steps help solve your problem, join a workgroup instead, and then join the domain after installation.

General Troubleshooting

If you have problems while you run Setup, clean boot your computer. Clean-boot troubleshooting refers to methods that you can use to reduce behaviors that may occur because of your computer's environment. Many behaviors that occur when you run Windows or programs occur because there are conflicting drivers, terminate-and-stay-resident programs (TSRs), and other settings that start when your computer starts.

Receiving a File Copy Error During Setup
When you try to install Windows XP, you may receive the following message, where file_name is the file that Setup cannot copy:

Setup cannot copy the file file_name. Press X to retry, Y to abort

This behavior can occur for any of the following reasons:

	Your Windows XP CD-ROM is scratched, smudged, or dirty. Clean the Windows XP CD-ROM with a soft cloth, insert it into the CD-ROM drive, and then click OK.
	Your CD-ROM drive is not working correctly or the CD-ROM might be vibrating too much for the laser to accurately read the data. For more information about this problem, consult your hardware documentation, or contact the CD-ROM manufacturer.
	If you are using multiple CD-ROM drives, your computer may be trying to locate files on the wrong drive. If your hardware has a feature to disable CD-ROM drives that are not being used, disable the CD-ROM drives that you are not using.
	Your computer is over-clocked. Because over-clocking is very memory-intensive, decoding errors may occur when you extract files from your Windows XP CD-ROM.
	Try to use the default clock timings for your motherboard and processor. For more information about how to do this, consult your hardware documentation or contact the motherboard manufacturer.
	Your computer has damaged or mismatched random access memory (RAM) or cache memory. For example, you might be using a combination of extended data out (EDO) and non-EDO RAM, or different RAM speeds.
	Decoding errors can occur even if Windows appears to be running correctly because of the additional stress that is put on your computer when Windows tries to extract files and access the hard disk.
	To determine how to make your computer cache memory unavailable during Setup, see your hardware documentation or contact your hardware manufacturer.
	Your computer has Ultra direct memory access (DMA) turned on in the CMOS settings, and the data is moving too quickly.
	Change from DMA mode to Processor Input/Output (PIO) mode to lower your data transfer rate. If this does not resolve the problem, lower your PIO mode settings. The higher your PIO mode settings are, the faster your data transfer is.
	You are using a third-party memory manager.
	There is a virus on your computer.

You Receive an Error Message or Stop Message During Setup
If you receive one of the following error messages, please refer to the appropriate Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

	Q311562 - 'An Unexpected Error (768) Occurred at Line 5118@ind:Xp\Client\Boot\Setup\Setup.c' Error Message During Windows XP Setup
	Q311564 - 'Stop 0x0000000A Irql_Not_Less_or_Equal' Error Message During Windows XP Upgrade
	Q311442 - Error Message: Error = 3E6H. Setup Cannot Continue. Please Contact Microsoft Technical Support

Troubleshooting with Advanced Startup

If your computer doesn’t start correctly, you can use advanced Startup options to run Windows XP Professional to troubleshoot your problem.

To start your computer by using an advanced Startup option

Click Start, click Shut down, click What do you want the computer to do? and then click Restart. Click OK.
When the list of available operating systems appears, press the F8 key.
On the “Advanced Options” screen, select the advanced Startup option you want, and then press ENTER.

Before using Advanced Startup, go to Help and Support Center and type “Safe Mode Options” in the Search box.