W2K installation problem

Is the CD scratched?

Nope. No crud on it either.

Odd, dunno what to tell ya. Can you find that file on the disk when looking for it on another puter?

Precisely what is the error message? What file can't be found? Are there any other error messages?

Perhaps something in one or more of these MSKB articles will help you sort things out.


Access to CD-ROM Lost When GUI-Mode Setup Starts

Error Messages Are Displayed When You Perform an In-Place Upgrade of Win 2K

A "last resort sorta thing might be this: How to Set Up Win2K Boot Floppies
You can use any machine/OS with a CD-Rom and a floppy drive to explore the Win2K install disk and make the floppies (for 2K, 4 standard PC formatted 1.44 MB floppies are needed, for XP, 6 are needed), which can then be used along with the install CD to effect an otherwise troublesome installation.

Install works flawlessly on other computers.
I never get to GUI mode. File that can't be found varies each time I attempt install. This is a full install including complete format of HDD. Don't need boot disks, since it gets all the way up to system file installation.

Bein' as you mentioned its an older machine, I suspect the CD Rom has a compatibility issue with Win 2K. The first article I referred you to offers a workaround which involves using a Win9x install CD from which to copy the needed files ... dunno if that'll help for sure, but I'd give it a shot.

This CD rom is a brand new Lite-on 52/32/52 which works fine in other installations with XP or 2K. I have also tried other cd roms in this, with same file not found problem appearing.

Not a real good answer, but just to find out, I might try to install 9x, then under 9x, install 2K in dual-boot configuration, see if it works, and if it does, then wipe out 9x ... dunno. You got a wierd one there, for sure.

it a configuration bug - I used to have that all the time with my W2K machine until I went to XPPRO, it might be but I cannot remember for sure in the ini files.

I suspect the problem lies with the NT5/I386 files in 2K ... but, I dunno. Hobbit, can you get a bootlog showing what's going on up to the failure point?

No bootlog...just bsod...can do nothing after this.

Bummer ... remote possibility it could be a BIOS problem ... you could see if an updated BIOS is available and flash it ... but like I said, that's remote. If it were me, I'd prolly format C: once more then try to install a 9x OS just to see if that can be done.