Windows 7 wont let me re install XP.

[Fliplip]

Ive had W7 running on my netbook since last year. Just a single partition, no old XP files on it.
I want to do a clean install of XP and get rid of W7 so ive copied all the files off my XP disc on to a bootable SD card (as i always have).
But when i try and boot from it i get an error saying bootmr is missing. What gives? This sounds like W7 is still in control. Is there another way of doing this?

Im probably missing something but ive not had problems booting and installing a OS from the SD card before.

Thanks for help.

Dave.

 

[gregrocker]

You need to make the card bootable. I am not sure it works the same as for a USB flash drive:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool

 

[Fliplip]

Thanks but i have already said its a bootable SD card.
Ive used a couple of tutorials as well as the MS utility.

 

[gregrocker]

I know it s a bootable card, but that doesn't mean that the ISO was written to the card correctly. Sometimes it takes trying more than one method.

How are you attempting to boot the card? If you're setting it to boot first in BIOS setup, try instead using the F-key given on first bootup screen for Boot Menu to boot.

 

[Fliplip]

Im just copying all the files that were on the XP disc to the SD card.
I formated this card last year and have done around 4 or 5 installs using it, both XP and W7.
I have a folder for each on my PC and just copy the contents of either to the blank (but formated and bootable) SD card, deleting the older files first.

Ive just used the card to install XP to my sons laptop so i know it works. He already had a clean instal of XP on it but holding the relevent button down on start up took me to the SD card and i could format the C: drive and re install.

I've never done it to a PC that already has W7 on it. I dont know if it makes any difference, im sure it shouldnt but i put the SD card in my EeePC 901, switched it on and held down the Esc key, this brought up the boot sequence and i slected the SD card. I then get a Bootmgr is missing warning and told to re start.
The USB port is set as the first boot drive already in the bios.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try this program: WinToFlash - Install Windows from usb - Home page

 

[gregrocker]

The method of copying the files to a bootable USB device does not work with every computer. I learned this with my Kingston Data Traveler. The one method that works with it on any machine is to write ISO to the stick using the Win7 tutorial I linked in my first post. This uses UltraISO trial version to Write the ISO to stick.

Since you have files on hand you might want to try Jonathan's method linked just above as Win2Flash copies over files, I believe, and adds Win7 bootsecting. This is likely what is missing and causing the card to error out exactly as it did with my stick on certain machines.

 

[Jonathan_King]

The method of copying the files to a bootable USB device does not work with every computer. I learned this with my Kingston Data Traveler. The one method that works with it on any machine is to write ISO to the stick using the Win7 tutorial I linked in my first post. This uses UltraISO trial version to Write the ISO to stick.

Since you have files on hand you might want to try Jonathan's method linked just above as Win2Flash copies over files, I believe, and adds Win7 bootsecting. This is likely what is missing and causing the card to error out exactly as it did with my stick on certain machines.

Greg, you are aware he is trying to create bootable XP media, not 7, right?

 

[gregrocker]

Sorry, I misspoke by referring to Win7 - probably because this is a Windows 7 forum.

Because OP says he has used the card to install XP from boot before, then I would try using that method.

Here is another method found via Googling: http://netbooks.modaco.com/content/msi/261632/installing-xp-via-a-usb-stick/

 

[Fliplip]

Thanks to all of you for the help.
I tried the program JK linked to and it worked, so big thanks Jon.
It seems like maybe my netbook needed this method of installing XP as i do remember seeing this type of program before when i first installed XP on it.
I didnt need any of this when i put W7 on it (nor either OS on any other PC ive used) so had forgotten about it. This was the confusing part i guess, as i knew the card was working properly.

The reason i posted here was 1, up till that point i was using a W7 machine and 2, people here know everything about computers so it was the best place (and yes, i had done extensive gooling before posting .

So im all sorted now. Thanks again.

Dave.