Dual Boot Vista and XP with Vista already installed
 

Xp will not install. when the computer reboots I get a blue screen with a PCI.SYS Error. At one point I got a error message telling me XP was not compatable with the system.
Bruce

if XP is not compatable, you will need to post your system's specs so that we may determine the issue, and hopefully the solution.

Dual Boot Vista and XP with Vista already installed
 

Hi,
Here are the specs for the E-Machine. I believe it is a clone from Gateway cause Intel has no listing for this board and the E-Machine company sends me to the gateway site for updated drivers.

Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic

CPU: Intel® Celeron® D Processor 356
64-bit processor with Intel® EM64T Technology
(3.33GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache)
Chipset: Intel® 945G
Memory: 512MB DDR2 dual channel capable (1 × 512MB), 533MHz (PC4200)
Expandable to 2GB
2 DDR2 Slots (Total) | 1 DDR2 Slot (Available)
Hard Drive: 120GB SATA II (7200rpm)
Optical Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
48x max. write (48×32×48×16)
Video: Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Up to 224MB of shared video memory
PCI-Express® (PCI-E x16) slot available
Sound: 6-channel (5.1) high-definition audio
Amplified Stereo Speakers (USB Powered)
Communications: 56K ITU V.92-ready fax/modem (RJ-11 port)
Intel® 10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 port)
Peripherals: Multifunction keyboard, 2-button wheel mouse (PS/2)
Ports/Other: 6 - USB 2.0 ports (2 in front, 4 in back)
1 - VGA
1 - Parallel port
1 - Serial port
2 - PS/2 ports (keyboard and mouse)
3 - Audio (Rear): Line-in/Side (Stereo), Front/Headphone (Stereo), Microphone
2 - Audio (Front): Microphone, Front/Headphone (Stereo)
1 - RJ-45 Ethernet port
1 - RJ-11 Modem port

I have a readme file that explains how to install XP on this machine but I am having trouble following it. I have to doctor up the I386 folder and add files and commands and I am not getting them right.
I have the extracted files mentioned: The folder is called infinst_autol. In this folder are 4 folders ( All, Lang, Vista, x64) and 5 files ( difxapi.dll, Help, INF2, readme, Setup).

************************************************** **********
* 8B. INSTALLING THE WINDOWS* XP INF FILES PRIOR TO
* OS INSTALLATION
************************************************** **********
NOTE: The Windows* XP OEM Preload Kit distribution CD contains
a setup directory with all the base operating system
setup files and installation programs (WINNT.EXE and
WINNT32.EXE).

The name of the directory may vary depending on the
distribution CD (e.g., \I386\).

1. Create the following directory structure under the
<WINXP Setup Directory>:

\$OEM$\$$\INF

2. Copy the Windows* XP INF files from
<INF Extract Directory>\XXXX\All to the directory
created in Step 1 above:

<WINXP Setup Directory>\$OEM$\$$\INF

NOTE: XXXX is the directory name for the chipset of
interest. Refer to Section 8 for more details.

3. Create the following directory structure under the
<WINXP Setup Directory>:

\$OEM$\$1\drivers\IntelINF

4. Copy the Windows* XP INF files AND the catalog files
(.CAT) from <INF Extract Directory>\XXXX\All to the
directory created in Step 4 above:

<WINXP Setup Directory>\$OEM$\$1\drivers\IntelINF

NOTE: XXXX is the directory name for the chipset of
interest. Refer to Section 8 for more details.

5. Either modify the default Windows* XP installation
answer file, UNATTEND.TXT, located in <WINXP Setup
Directory>, or create a customized answer file. The
answer file must include the following information:

[Unattended]
OemPreinstall = Yes
OemPnPDriversPath="drivers\IntelINF"

A sample answer file for preloading the Intel(R) Chipset
Device Software files is available:
<INF Extract Directory>\XXXX\All\INFAnswr.TXT

If you are a computer manufacturer, refer to the Microsoft*
Windows* XP Guide to Unattended Setup for more information
about Windows* XP answer files and unattended installations.
For more information about the \$OEM$ folder, refer to the
Microsoft Windows* XP OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK)
User Guide. If you are not a manufacturer, refer to the Microsoft
Windows* XP Deployment Guide.

6. Run "WINNT.EXE /u:<answer file name> /s:<WINXP Setup
Directory>" to install Windows* XP.

What goes where the /u: and s: are?

Thank You for the time you are taking to help me here. This has been a pain for 2 weeks now.
Bruce.

you do not need to modify your i386 folder to install, all this is for is to do an unattended installation, simply install it from the cd or copy the i386 folder to your hard drive and it should work find as is... you will need to add information as you go along, but at least it will work.

the /u and /s are tags, and are correct as is.

Installing XP only.
 

I am trying to install Windows XP only. I have fdisked the hard drive into 2 drives, fat32. When I run winnt.exe from the I386 folder on cd the computer copies files, says to remove floppy and press enter. I press enter, (no floppy) and when the computer reboots says press F2 or F6 then comes up with:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again follow these steps:

Check to be sure you have adaquate disk space. If a driver is identified in the stop message disable it or check with the manufacturer for updates, try changing video adapters.

Check with your hardware vendor for any BIOS updates. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use safe mode to remove or disable componets, restart your computer, press F8 to select advanced startup options and then select safe node.

Techinical Information:
STOP: 0x0000007e (0xc0000005, 0xf854aobf, 0xf8996208, 0xf8995f08)
PCI.SYS - Address f854a0bf base at f8543000, datestamp 3b7d855c

This is the blue screen I get.
Thank You
Bruce.

why aren't you using the cd to install? did you make the partition active?

Dual Boot Vista and XP with Vista already installed
 

Hi
Yes I made the partion c active. I also installed an A floppy drive and installed XP using the 6 install floppies and the CD also. I keep getting the SYS.PCI Error. It makes me feel that error is telling me that since XP is older than this new E-Machine and the machine was built to run Vista, XP needs the driver(s) for the the machine. Like I say, I want to have only XP on this machine, no Vista.
Thanks..
Bruce

so vista is not on your C drive?
is this a lapop? if not are your drives sata drives?

Dual Boot Vista and XP with Vista already installed
 

Hi,
Right!! Vist is not on the computer at all. This is a desk top (Tower) computer. Yes this is a sata drive. I did get the setup disk from western digital for this hard drive because fdisk could not see that it is a 110 gig drive. I set the drive up with 5 partions and made c partion active, (the setup disk makes it active for you.) The reason for 5 partions is for some readson fdisk will go up to 48 gigs and not see the whole amount of space on the drive. When I do a check of the partions with fdisk I now see 5 hard drives, C is active and all 110 gigs of drive space are shown.
Thanks..
Bruce.

ok, did some digging on the mobo and you have a pci express video slot, do you not?
To install XP with this type of video card you must install with XP SP2. You will need to call MS or find a friend who can manage to get you an install cd with SP2 already on it.
You can use another computer with your disk and do what is called "slipstream" to put sp2 onto the disc then burn a new copy, which should work with your old cd key. There is a free program which can do this called nLite.
MS may mail you a copy for a minimal shipping fee if you give them your information and situation.