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Question

Tried multi-boot, now cant boot at all

by Sep 26, 2011 4:54AM PDT

I tried installing XP and Windows 7 on my laptop and now my computer won't boot at all. I get the message "Disk Read Error. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart" and this just keeps looping the same thing. I can't get it to go far enough into a boot to read a Windows installation disc, I can only access the BIOS. Right before this, I could get XP to load, but when it finished installing and restarted, it would try to run the setup again rather than booting the OS. Extremely lost, and any advice as to get rid of the "Disk Read Error" or a multi-boot once I get past the "Disk Read Error" would be greatly appreciated.

Discussion is locked

8 Posts
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Answer
That's a bad message.
by Forum moderator Sep 26, 2011 4:59AM PDT

I'd wipe the drive clean with DBAN and try installing your FULL RETAIL XP first, get that working and leave space unpartitioned during that install.

I find most can't do this install because drivers are getting rarer as time goes on for XP. Also you still encounter folk that are caught unaware of the XP SATA INSTALL issues. (still well discussed?)

So start over and be sure you have the FULL RETAIL XP and FULL RETAIL Window 7 DVD because that's the supported versions to do this.

Bob

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DBAN
by Hunter_K Sep 26, 2011 5:27AM PDT

Does DBAN allow me to create multiple partitions or do I need other software to do that?

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DBAN just sets the stage (a clean drive.)
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 26, 2011 5:32AM PDT

The FULL RETAIL XP has it's own partition tool so why would we need anything else?

About the only problem I encounter is that folk forget to leave unpartitioned space for the next step of the install. And then you have that nasty issue of how to repair such a system. I've never found something that a beginner could use.
Bob

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Re: DBAN and partitions
by Kees_B Forum moderator Sep 26, 2011 5:33AM PDT

DBAN erases the disk. Then it's empty. There's nothing on the disk. not even a partition. You use the setup of your OS to make the partition it should be installed in.

Kees

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Success
by Hunter_K Sep 27, 2011 5:51AM PDT

I got Windows 7 and Windows XP installed on separate partitions, and I am given the option of which OS I want to run when I start the computer. Everything you said to do worked great, thanks. Only other question I have is if you know of a site that will allow me to save the drivers to a CD as opposed to everywhere else I have found which only offers an installer. No drivers for Ethernet or wireless are present, so downloading an installer is of no use to me.

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I get confused easily at times.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 27, 2011 6:52AM PDT

If I could download the installer for the driver why can't I put this download on a CD for use later?

Maybe you are writing about that CNET Net Installer but we can fix that too by clicking on the direct download link.

Also I've always been able to get drivers from my machine's maker site and put that on CD or USB sticks.

Again, this can be confusing to many.
Bob

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Drivers
by Hunter_K Sep 27, 2011 1:08PM PDT

The machine is a custom built laptop through cyberpowerpc.com, but the model is based off the Clevo B5130M. I can find the drivers for Windows 7 through Clevo's site, but I am having trouble finding drivers for XP. It seems to me XP drivers have become difficult to find, is there anywhere XP drivers are easily available?

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No.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 28, 2011 1:29AM PDT

As we are well past the decade mark for XP I see a lot of folk not getting the message about XP, drivers and support for XP on their machine.

I will share I use XP Mode and it's fills in where I needed the last XP App we have.
Bob

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