Windows XP is far too difficult to install.

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,332
95
91
I have here two 100% legal copies of WinXP Pro that I downloaded from my school's ECE department. One is either no SP or SP1, and the other is SP2. The earlier CD doesn't seem to be bootable, and if I use a bootdisk it tells me that it's gonna take forever to install XP because I don't have SmartDisc (or something like that) running. The SP2 CD is bootable, but always crashes at the same spot during installation. I got a third XP Pro CD from a friend, and it installs fine. However it won't take either CD key for the two CDs I have. WTF Microsoft? So I guess I'm now stuck trying to install without SmartDisc and hoping it doesn't take too many hours to do. I should have just stuck with Win2KPro. I'm not really sure why I'm installing XP anyway.
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,332
95
91
Originally posted by: Kasper4christ
different types of windows xp discs need different types of serial keys

Why? How many versions of XPPro installs are there anyway? I figured the SP2 key would work for sure, but I guess the keys aren't backwards compatible. Hell I even tried my Server 2003 keys and none of them worked either.
 

Kasper4christ

Senior member
Sep 29, 2004
836
0
0
lol

home and pro keys are different, OEM and retail have different keys,
ones made post service pack 1 and or 2 will not be accepted by cds that are pre sp1 or 2 etc..
 

cirthix

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2004
3,616
1
76
retail xp starter
retail xp home
retail xp pro
retail xp home corporate?
retail xp pro corporate
retail sp starter sp1?
retail xp home sp1
retail xp pro sp1
retail xp home corporate sp1?
retail xp pro corporate sp1
retail xp starter sp2?
retail xp home sp2
retail xp pro sp2
retail xp home corporate sp2?
retail xp pro corporate sp2
oem xp starter
oem xp home
oem xp pro
oem xp home corporate?
oem xp pro corporate?
oem sp starter sp1?
oem xp home sp1
oem xp pro sp1
oem xp home corporate sp1?
oem xp pro corporate sp1
oem xp starter sp2?
oem xp home sp2
oem xp pro sp2
oem xp home corporate sp2?
oem xp pro corporate sp2?

edit: listed oem and retail too, i think i got them all listed
 

Sukhoi

Elite Member
Dec 5, 1999
15,332
95
91
Originally posted by: Koenigsegg
An Elite member who doesn't know where to post a thread? :confused:


I'm venting at 4 AM. I know where the software/OS forum is. I'm not expecting a solution here since there aren't any I am aware of that I haven't mentioned.
 

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Just because your image/disk is fubard it doesn't mean it is Microsofts fault. Corperate and retail have different cd keys. And with corperate you do not have to register. That is why it won't work.
 

Deadtrees

Platinum Member
Dec 31, 2002
2,351
0
0
I'm amazed that a dumb person like found a way to post a thread on ATOT and you're an elite member?????

P.S: Don't you also hate general computers as it may be too difficult for you to turn it on?
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
0
0
Originally posted by: cirthix
retail xp starter
retail xp home
retail xp pro
retail xp home corporate?
retail xp pro corporate
retail sp starter sp1?
retail xp home sp1
retail xp pro sp1
retail xp home corporate sp1?
retail xp pro corporate sp1
retail xp starter sp2?
retail xp home sp2
retail xp pro sp2
retail xp home corporate sp2?
retail xp pro corporate sp2
oem xp starter
oem xp home
oem xp pro
oem xp home corporate?
oem xp pro corporate?
oem sp starter sp1?
oem xp home sp1
oem xp pro sp1
oem xp home corporate sp1?
oem xp pro corporate sp1
oem xp starter sp2?
oem xp home sp2
oem xp pro sp2
oem xp home corporate sp2?
oem xp pro corporate sp2?

edit: listed oem and retail too, i think i got them all listed

There's no such thing as an "OEM Corporate" or "Retail Corporate" version.
The only "Corporate" version is called Volume Licencing Key (VLK), and IIRC, there is no Home version of that.
Plus, it's not Retail or OEM, it comes direct from Microsoft.
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
0
0
Sukhoi: Grab a Windows 98 bootdisk from bootdisk.com, boot with that, type "smartdrv" to turn on the disk cacheing, and then x:\i386\winnt.exe (replace x with your CD-ROM drive letter).

Voila.

It's not Microsoft's fault if the CD supplied by your school isn't bootable. I'd suggest ranting at them a bit :)

Failing that, remake the CD yourself using some of the easily-found methods on the web.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
126
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I have here two 100% legal copies of WinXP Pro that I downloaded from my school's ECE department. One is either no SP or SP1, and the other is SP2. The earlier CD doesn't seem to be bootable, and if I use a bootdisk it tells me that it's gonna take forever to install XP because I don't have SmartDisc (or something like that) running. The SP2 CD is bootable, but always crashes at the same spot during installation. I got a third XP Pro CD from a friend, and it installs fine. However it won't take either CD key for the two CDs I have. WTF Microsoft? So I guess I'm now stuck trying to install without SmartDisc and hoping it doesn't take too many hours to do. I should have just stuck with Win2KPro. I'm not really sure why I'm installing XP anyway.

Unless you got an upgrade copy, all XP CD's are bootable :confused: From the sounds of things you have an older computer that may not be 100% XP compatible.
 

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2001
9,837
0
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I have here two 100% legal copies of WinXP Pro that I downloaded from my school's ECE department. One is either no SP or SP1, and the other is SP2. The earlier CD doesn't seem to be bootable, and if I use a bootdisk it tells me that it's gonna take forever to install XP because I don't have SmartDisc (or something like that) running. The SP2 CD is bootable, but always crashes at the same spot during installation. I got a third XP Pro CD from a friend, and it installs fine. However it won't take either CD key for the two CDs I have. WTF Microsoft? So I guess I'm now stuck trying to install without SmartDisc and hoping it doesn't take too many hours to do. I should have just stuck with Win2KPro. I'm not really sure why I'm installing XP anyway.

Unless you got an upgrade copy, all XP CD's are bootable :confused: From the sounds of things you have an older computer that may not be 100% XP compatible.

He got it from his school, which means that someone probably didn't make the ISO correctly, or forgot to make it bootable, especially if his friend's copy boots fine.
 

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,908
2,141
126
Originally posted by: Phil
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: Sukhoi
I have here two 100% legal copies of WinXP Pro that I downloaded from my school's ECE department. One is either no SP or SP1, and the other is SP2. The earlier CD doesn't seem to be bootable, and if I use a bootdisk it tells me that it's gonna take forever to install XP because I don't have SmartDisc (or something like that) running. The SP2 CD is bootable, but always crashes at the same spot during installation. I got a third XP Pro CD from a friend, and it installs fine. However it won't take either CD key for the two CDs I have. WTF Microsoft? So I guess I'm now stuck trying to install without SmartDisc and hoping it doesn't take too many hours to do. I should have just stuck with Win2KPro. I'm not really sure why I'm installing XP anyway.

Unless you got an upgrade copy, all XP CD's are bootable :confused: From the sounds of things you have an older computer that may not be 100% XP compatible.

He got it from his school, which means that someone probably didn't make the ISO correctly, or forgot to make it bootable, especially if his friend's copy boots fine.

OH, so it's not an original copy. Yeah, if it wasn't made bootable, it's not going to install right.
 

Oscar1613

Golden Member
Jan 31, 2001
1,424
0
0
Originally posted by: Phil
Sukhoi: Grab a Windows 98 bootdisk from bootdisk.com, boot with that, type "smartdrv" to turn on the disk cacheing, and then x:\i386\winnt.exe (replace x with your CD-ROM drive letter).

Voila.

It's not Microsoft's fault if the CD supplied by your school isn't bootable. I'd suggest ranting at them a bit :)

Failing that, remake the CD yourself using some of the easily-found methods on the web.

winnar!