Windows XP Installation

Hey guys,
I know this question is NOT about Dell Studio/Inspiron, but I know someone can help. So my old latitude D630 is messed up(running slowly, with all sorts of spyware and junk), so I decided to format and re-install XP. I used a bootable CD(which I've used before) but after it says

"press any key to boot from CD..", it gives me this error:

"File \i386\biosinfo.inf cannot be loaded. The error is code 2... Setup cannot continue"

HELP! Is this related to MY computer or is the XP CD messed? PLEASE DONT SHIFT THIS THREAD..

 

More info: I am pretty much sure that the CD is okay. P.S.: if people are thinking I'm looking to use an illegal copy of Windows, I'm not!

Also BEFORE I get the error the setup also detects my hardware. THEN I get that error. Help would be really appreciated!

 

Have you tried using the original Dell installation media that came with your laptop? Is this some sort of nLite disk image you're using? I'd honestly think that you've got a scratch or something on your CD that's preventing the machine from reading it properly. Otherwise there may be a problem with your optical drive itself?

 

If you are getting part way through the installation before there is the error message then I suggest you try to copy the whole of the CD onto the HDD in another computer and see if you get any copying errors. You can also search the disc for biosinfo.inf.

John

 

It can't be the CD that is the problem.. Because what I did now was use the autorun.exe in windows to install windows over all OLD windows.. I NEVER GOT THE OPTION TO FORMAT MY DRIVE WHICH I NEEDED TO DO So I've got the new windows but my disk space is all gone thanks to programs that aren't even properly installed.

I know you get the FORMAT C:\ option when you boot from the CD WHERE I'M STILL GETTING THIS ERROR. The CD is definetly not the issue. INFACT, I even updated the Bios to the latest one. Still no luck.

 

The CD or the optical drive FOR SURE is not the issue

 

Nope... I don't even get the blue installation screen. I press a key to boot from CD, it detects my hardware and BAM: error!

 

anyone? please?!

 

only 1 reason:
your cd can't be read properly by your cdrom
that particular file on the i386 folder has been scratched or has swirl marks on the cd

 

Yeah, try a different CD. This isn't a particularly common error and something is fishy.