Can't install Dell Win XP or my oem copy, too much read error ? what is happening ?

[black~cobra]

Hi, i have this laptop since July(?) last year, and i wanted to reinstall the os (dell xp home) but the thing would install but like after cancelling 30 times the "cant copy xxx file" dialog (so it didnt copy these files), the os wasnt working ok , so i installed my oem xp home copy (with a spare key for a upcomming project) and it still could not copy some files, but it wasnt as terrible as the dell cd , I only got like 5 "cant copy xxx file" dialog BUT after a couple (2-3) retry (to copy the file) it finally installed everything. Anyone know the cause of what happened ?? The only thing i did with this laptop, is i installed all the software when i got it in July last year and i during this week, i burned 2 dvd with it , one 2,5Gb of backup and one linux fedora core 2 dvd iso of 4,2Gb, (not on the same day), and i let the dvd drive cool off before closing the computer and the lid(the screen).

I really do not understand what happened , could it be dvd dust, from the 2 burned dvd ???

Thanks for any reply

Black~Cobra

[wonderwrench]

Sounds like your drive is bad or dirty or you have 2 bad install disc's.
Most hardware that fails does so when near new.

For testing try to copy one of the suspect xp cd's to a harddrive and see how it goes. If it fails try some other cd's. If you still cant copy the files to disk the cd/dvd drive failed.

[black~cobra]

Originally Posted by wonderwrench

Sounds like your drive is bad or dirty or you have 2 bad install disc's.
Most hardware that fails does so when near new.

For testing try to copy one of the suspect xp cd's to a harddrive and see how it goes. If it fails try some other cd's. If you still cant copy the files to disk the cd/dvd drive failed.

My OEM xp home cd is good because i installed it the day before on my desktop, so im heading toward the idea that the drive got dirty when i burned the 2 dvds because, i can install anything on it without getting errors, i installed ms office, wireless card software, and my apps. Its just the copy part during the os install that goes crazy on me

Thanks for your reply

Black~Cobra

[specter_abx]

Check your bios. I think dell has some freaky bios option you have to set to install an OS...

[sandman55]

If the Bios thing doesn't work try buying a kit for cleaning the lens on your burner.

With Dell systems you cant use a Dell operating system Disk on a non Dell system (I know your not doing that) but I wonder if your spare non Dell OEM disk will work on a Dell system perhaps some one else on ABX can answer that never the less your Dell disk should work so if the Bios is OK as specter suggested try cleaning your drive with a cleaning kit.

[specter_abx]

Originally Posted by sandman55

With Dell systems you cant use a Dell operating system Disk on a non Dell system (I know your not doing that) but I wonder if your spare non Dell OEM disk will work on a Dell system perhaps some one else on ABX can answer that never the less your Dell disk should work so if the Bios is OK as specter suggested try cleaning your drive with a cleaning kit.

My dad bought a dell a few months ago to use as a dev machine. We couldnt get Linux installed on it. Rather than letting me look at the bios he decided to move his windows box to the new dell and use his old gateway as his dev machine.

He tried calling dell while trying to install Linux and they just blew him off saying they dont support Linux for that model. During the windows install he still couldnt get it so he had to ring up Dell again and ask about that. Ill e-mail him and find out what the prob was. Im pretty sure it was a bios setting.

My dell on the other hand "supports" Linux (redhat) since its a server. I didnt have any problems at all installing anything on it. I even ordered it with no OS.

[sandman55]

Originally Posted by specter

My dell on the other hand "supports" Linux (redhat) since its a server. I didnt have any problems at all installing anything on it. I even ordered it with no OS.

So I take it your saying that black~cobra should be able to instal his spare OEM on his Dell, That being the case the problem could be in the bios as you said or if not the burner needs cleaning (although you would think such a new one would be clean)

What I was refering to earlier as a side issue doesnt apply here is that dell disks (Operating Systems) I have heard are programmed to only work on Dell PC's. So I wondered if Dell PC's were setup to only use Dell disks ????

[specter_abx]

Originally Posted by sandman55

What I was refering to earlier as a side issue doesnt apply here is that dell disks (Operating Systems) I have heard are programmed to only work on Dell PC's. So I wondered if Dell PC's were setup to only use Dell disks ????

Ok I see that question now... Ive never heard or seen this before. I wouldnt suspect Dell would do that htough.

[SupDawg]

Originally Posted by black~cobra

Hi, i have this laptop since July(?) last year, and i wanted to reinstall the os (dell xp home) but the thing would install but like after cancelling 30 times the "cant copy xxx file" dialog (so it didnt copy these files), the os wasnt working ok , so i installed my oem xp home copy (with a spare key for a upcomming project) and it still could not copy some files, but it wasnt as terrible as the dell cd , I only got like 5 "cant copy xxx file" dialog BUT after a couple (2-3) retry (to copy the file) it finally installed everything. Anyone know the cause of what happened ?? The only thing i did with this laptop, is i installed all the software when i got it in July last year and i during this week, i burned 2 dvd with it , one 2,5Gb of backup and one linux fedora core 2 dvd iso of 4,2Gb, (not on the same day), and i let the dvd drive cool off before closing the computer and the lid(the screen).

I really do not understand what happened , could it be dvd dust, from the 2 burned dvd ???

Thanks for any reply

Black~Cobra

Actually, you may have some faulty memory. Windows XP is notorious about not being able to copy files over due to memory problems. I have seen it many times.

I would boot from a memtest86 cd or floppy, and run that. If it fails, it sounds like you have have a bad stick of RAM.

Try it out!

[polymorphic]

We bought a brand new HP laptop at work and had them install different memory, 1GB. We got it rush shipped so they had no time to check it at CDW. We couldn't get anything to work, install, etc. We were having the same problem with Windows XP not being able to load/copy/install files after reformatting. We switched out the memory to the factory installed 512MB and everything is fine.

In other words, it does sound like a memory error as SupDawg suggests.

[black~cobra]

First thing : Thanks everyone for your reply(s), it's really appreciated

specter: Can you tell which setting it is in the bios ? I checked my bios, and it looks normal with the exception that it has some options locked.

sandman55: My laptop is doing great with my non-dell xp home version. It's just the copying part during installation that goes crazy .

SupDawg: I may try to test the memory with memtest... Do you have a cd-rw/dvd+rw that i could use or a usb floppy device

And finally, i bought a cd cleaning kit from Philips and used it, seems to work well, i may use it on my personal dvd player and PS2 ... but i wont probably re install the OS, since that now everything is installed and the computer is running good.

Thanks again for all your reply guys,

Black~Cobra

[wonderwrench]

I think SupDawg and polymorphic maybe on to something.
Can you copy one of the cd's to a harddrive from windows with out error, if no the cd drive is bad. If you can the memory is bad or there is some other hardware problem. The ram would be #1 suspect though.

[black~cobra]

Originally Posted by wonderwrench

I think SupDawg and polymorphic maybe on to something.
Can you copy one of the cd's to a harddrive from windows with out error, if no the cd drive is bad. If you can the memory is bad or there is some other hardware problem. The ram would be #1 suspect though.

Thanks again for your reply WonderWrench

So, yesterday i cleaned the dvd+rw drive with the cleaning kit as i said, and as you suggested, i copied the Dell XP Home cd to the laptop hard drive. I right clicked it and selected "copy" and "pasted" it on the C:\. It copied the cd without giving me any message (meaning, no error!). Does that mean that the drive was just dirty ???

Btw, i try to put memtest on my usb memory drive (128mb) and it said that it wasnt recognized, so i didnt run memtest

Thanks again,

Black~Cobra.

[wonderwrench]

Originally Posted by black~cobra

Thanks again for your reply WonderWrench

So, yesterday i cleaned the dvd+rw drive with the cleaning kit as i said, and as you suggested, i copied the Dell XP Home cd to the laptop hard drive. I right clicked it and selected "copy" and "pasted" it on the C:\. It copied the cd without giving me any message (meaning, no error!). Does that mean that the drive was just dirty ???

Btw, i try to put memtest on my usb memory drive (128mb) and it said that it wasnt recognized, so i didnt run memtest

Thanks again,

Black~Cobra.

I'm not sure cleaning it fixed anything. Could you copy the files before cleaning the drive? The only way to know if cleaning it fixed the os install problem would be to try a fresh install. I think it still could be the memory, go down load memtest86+ iso file and make a bootable cdr and test your memory first before trying a fresh install.
http://www.memtest.org/

I would shure want to know why I could not install the os with out errors and would exhast all resources to find out why.

note: I had similar problems caused by incompatable ram on my latest build in my sig so bad ram could cause the same effect. Memtest86+ gave no errors and the only way I proved it was the ram was to drop the ram speed down to 266 from 333 in the bios. I'm not sure you can do that on a laptop? Try memtest I have previously found bad ram with it so it's worth a shot. Also I would not recommend cleaning any cd/dvd drive/player/recorder etc. unless your sure its the source of the problem IMO the cleaner could/can cause more damage then good.

[black~cobra]

Originally Posted by wonderwrench

I'm not sure cleaning it fixed anything. Could you copy the files before cleaning the drive? The only way to know if cleaning it fixed the os install problem would be to try a fresh install. I think it still could be the memory, go down load memtest86+ iso file and make a bootable cdr and test your memory first before trying a fresh install.
http://www.memtest.org/

I would shure want to know why I could not install the os with out errors and would exhast all resources to find out why.

note: I had similar problems caused by incompatable ram on my latest build in my sig so bad ram could cause the same effect. Memtest86+ gave no errors and the only way I proved it was the ram was to drop the ram speed down to 266 from 333 in the bios. I'm not sure you can do that on a laptop? Try memtest I have previously found bad ram with it so it's worth a shot. Also I would not recommend cleaning any cd/dvd drive/player/recorder etc. unless your sure its the source of the problem IMO the cleaner could/can cause more damage then good.

I dont know if the drive was able to copy the files before cleaning, because i cleaned it yesterday and saw your post today, so im unsure of the capabilities of the drive.

i will try to load the memtest iso file on my usb memory stick again ... will report later.

Thanks again for your reply

Black~Cobra