Cannot re-install windows XP

[uuusolouuu]

Hi all,

I am trying to re-install Windows Xp but when I boot from CD I get the following message while the system is booting:

The file 3waredrv.sys could not be found. Press any key to continue.

Then the system exits the installation!

The problem is that I really need to re-install Windows XP and this is stopping me from progressing.

I have tried 3 different XPs and each time I get the same problem: The file 3waredrv.sys could not be found. Press any key to continue.

It is a problem with the file 3waredrv.sys missing on my local hard drive, not from the XP CDs.

From what I have read, it is possible that the 3waredrv.sys went missing after I installed a program...I tried replacing it by downloading it from the net same problem...

I downloaded the file 3waredrv.sys for Windows XP from the website and placed it in the directory C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers and re-tried installing the Windows XP. Same error!!

Could anybody in the forum help me out! I tried several solutions but same problem.

Thanks for reading
Regards

 

[vailr]

Are you using one of the motherboard's SATA ports for the bootable system drive?
Try running from a command prompt, with the installation CD inserted in the optical drive:
sfc /scannow

 

[SparkyJJO]

Usually a sign of a memory issue or a hard drive problem. I know, sounds like it can't load something from the CD but that isn't really the case.

 

[C1]

"WIPE" the HDD and ensure that BIOS settings are cleared of any RAID support options.

Then reinstall OS.

(The error appears to relate to an attempt to install RAID support.)

If worse comes to worst, then see if BIOS can be set from AHCI to IDE Compatible.

 

[uuusolouuu]

Thanks for your reply guys!!

@vailr: I did sfc /scannow with installation CD inserted. But I get a message telling me to insert the CD and each time I click on retry I get the same message again in a loop and the sfc /scannow won't progress!! This is EXACTLY the same CD I have used to install XP on my PC...

@C1: How to I go about to wipe the HDD because the message 'file 3waredrv.sys could not be found' appears before it gives you the choice the format.

Regards

 

[uuusolouuu]

!C1: How do I change AHCI to IDE Compatible in BIOS. This option is not available in BIOS...My PC is very old! :$

Do I need to install a driver or something to change AHCI to IDE!!!

 

[Iron Woode]

how about listing the complete specs of your system?

 

[uuusolouuu]

Maybe this will help?

Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
L2 Cache Size 256
2.0GB RAM
BIOS Version A01
BIOS Date 1/3/2006
Intel(R) 82801EB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 24DB

 

[C1]

To clear the HDD, I just make a WIN X recovery CD disk and add the old "WIPE" (also known as "ZAP") on it. Boot from the CD then from command line execute program "WIPE" .

Ive actually fixed peoples machines which wouldnt install XP at a computer repair place & the repair facility claimed the issue was due to bad motherboard. There was just trash on the drive stopping WIndows from loading.

From the age of your system, sounds like you may just have IDE controllers.

BE APPRISED THAT WINDOWS XP DOES NOT NATIVELY SUPPORT AHCI. YOU WILL NEED TO DISABLE ANY AHCI SUPPORT WITHIN THE BIOS OR SLIPSTREAM IN THE THE PROPER INTEL STORAGE MATRIX FILES OR EMPLOY THE F6 OPTION DURING INSTALLATION.

My advice is to just turn off AHCI in the BIOS.

 

[vailr]

Is the XP install disk the most recent SP3 version?

If the system boot drive uses a ribbon cable (~2" wide), then the system is IDE; the AHCI option may not be present as a bios set up option. Or if it is present, would only apply to SATA drives.
Also check: the optical drive's connector type: IDE vs. SATA.

 

[uuusolouuu]

Thanks again for your replies guys...All my connections are IDE. i.e Optical Drive, HDD...

 

[ninaholic37]

What happens when you boot normally without the CD? Do you get the same error? If so, maybe it's not even booting to the CD? It sounds strange that three different XP install CDs didn't work and all would have that same error. It doesn't make sense than a fresh install from CD would need to look on the HDD for files.

 

[Executioner]

Sounds like a bad hard drive. Have you tried it with another hard drive?

 

[C1]

Yes, if you've got the right trash in sector 0 on the HDD it is effectively is a bad HDD.

First WIPE the drive (ie, write zeros to it), long format it then you can test it (again using a bootable CD or floppy disk) check the HDD with the free SeaTools.

If you have an old DOS or linux laying around just install it. If that installs then there's noting wrong with your controller or HDD.

 

[Ketchup]

What motherboard model?

The driver mentioned in your errors is for a RAID controller. If you are using the controller for your hard drive(s), Windows is tell you it doesn't like the driver you selected. If you are not using the controller, just go into the BIOS and disable it. Then see if Windows will install.

A couple options for using the controller would be:
1. Find a better driver to put on a floppy to use for the drive controller selection at the beginning of the installation.
2. Slipstream SP3 to a Windows XP installation CD and see if Windows itself found a better driver for that device over the years.

 

[SimMike2]

Bad CD drive or disk. Bad memory. Your computer is obviously old if it is all IDE. You can't expect things to last forever.

 

[DrDoug]

As said above, if you are installing XP on a hard drive with any controller but the default IDE (set in BIOS), you will need to put the drivers on a floppy disk (there is a .cat, .inf, .sys and a few other related files in the driver package) and F6 install them at the XP installation setup screen. That or slipstream the drivers into another XP cd.

That's what I did years ago when my customers ran XP, building a custom XP cd with all necessary drivers on it and updating it as requirements changed. Made installs a breeze, especially as people were dropping floppy drives at that time.

 

[John Connor]

It could be bad RAM. I would burn Memtest 86+ to CD, boot that CD and scan your memory. http://www.memtest.org/

Here's how to boot your XP disk from USB.

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mini-9-discussion/27337-xp-install-problems.html

This XP copy isn't from a torrent, is it?

 

[Iron Woode]

It could be bad RAM. I would burn Memtest 86+ to CD, boot that CD and scan your memory. http://www.memtest.org/

Here's how to boot your XP disk from USB.

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/dell-mini-9-discussion/27337-xp-install-problems.html

This XP copy isn't from a torrent, is it?

the OP's problem is 3waredrv.sys.

he has an IDE raid controller in his system and obviously does not have the drivers for it.

the solution, in my opinion, is to remove the card from the system.

if he needs the raid card he should buy one that is still supported. Or he could take the card out and find the model # of it and try to find the correct drivers for it and use the F6 option to install them.

 

[tcsenter]

If he is doing a repair install or in-place upgrade to existing Windows installation, the install media may be patched to different service pack level than the installed OS. Not applicable if doing a clean install.