thebreadking
Jun 29, 2009, 10:43 AM
Hey guys, I'm at my wits end here, and I could really use some help. This might be a little long, but please bear with me. For the past two days I've been trying to install Windows XP SP2 on my Mini via Bootcamp with no luck. I've had a trio of problems that seemingly most people only have one or two of. They are as follows:
1. When doing the preliminary Windows setup (blue screen), there is no option to reformat the selected Bootcamp partition (apparently this occurs on some of the disks). Selecting a partition, it then tries to install directly on to it, which leads to:
2. Disk Error. Because the XP disk does not have the reformat utility, the Windows setup results in a Disk Error (forcing a hard reboot) because it can't install on the un-formatted drive. So I've tried a workaround:
3. Instead of directing it to install on the Bootcamp-created partition, in the original Windows setup screen I direct it to delete the Bootcamp partition and create a new one in that now unpartitioned space. Doing so allows me to choose the formatting options to use. However, as it gets through its process, its eventually restarts at a certain point and I get the dreaded "Missing or Corrupt Hal.dll" black screen (which also requires a hard reboot). This is likely the cause of an incorrect Boot.ini file...the problem being I can't get anywhere in the process far enough to edit that file (right?).
At this point in time, I feel that I've read everything that I can about the issues, but since I have all three of these issues, I can't find any solution that relates directly to me; I'm lost and don't know where to go.
Apart from the above-mentioned process, here are some of the other things I've tried:
-creating an .iso from the install disk, removing the "Winnt.sif" file (apparently this causes my lack of a reformat screen), repackaging the .iso and burning it to disk at a slow speed. This can't be read as a boot disk.
-creating an untouched .iso from the install disk and burning it to a blank disk (hoping it was a problem on surface of the original disk). This reads as bootable, but has the same problems as the original disk.
-reformatting the unpartitioned raw space, after deleting the Bootcamp partition, into NTFS, NTFS (Quick), FAT32, and FAT(32) quick. All result in the "hal.dll" issue.
-ejecting the install disk and booting from the Bootcamp partition after hard rebooting due to the "missing or corrupt hal.dll". Result is the same error.
-using the Bootcamp utility to create a FAT32 partition at less than 32GB (apparently Bootcamp's 32gig partition is actually larger than 32gigs, which causes problems with formatting), to no avail. Likewise, trying to force a reformat screen by creating a partition that is larger than 32GB.
I've tried almost anything that I can think of, but I've hit a wall (obviously). I don't know enough about the process to know how to successfully get through this obstacle. From what I read, it looks like the Boot.ini file is the likely culprit...how do I solve this?
A couple of posts I've read mention deleting Apple's own 200meg EFI partition, but conflicting posts mention horrendous circumstances to doing that. Other posts have mentioned slipstreaming the install disk using "nlite", but I don't have immediate access to a PC to do so (is there a Mac equivalent?). And I don't want to install just via VMWare because I need all the processing power I can to run AutoCAD, so Bootcamp is my starting point.
Lastly, some might say to just buy a new XP disk, but that's unfortunately out of my budget due to current financial situation.
Again, I think the major hurdle is the "Boot.ini" file mislabeling the correct XP partition, so if anyone knows how to accomplish that in the situation I'm currently in I would be ecstatic. Or if you know of an easier way to go around the problem I would be equally ecstatic.
...actually, as long as I can get Bootcamp to work I'll be ecstatic. All the help you can give is extremely appreciated!!!
EDIT: Sorry its so long, I figured I'd give as much info as possible!
EDIT2: Solved. See the solution in my post below.
1. When doing the preliminary Windows setup (blue screen), there is no option to reformat the selected Bootcamp partition (apparently this occurs on some of the disks). Selecting a partition, it then tries to install directly on to it, which leads to:
2. Disk Error. Because the XP disk does not have the reformat utility, the Windows setup results in a Disk Error (forcing a hard reboot) because it can't install on the un-formatted drive. So I've tried a workaround:
3. Instead of directing it to install on the Bootcamp-created partition, in the original Windows setup screen I direct it to delete the Bootcamp partition and create a new one in that now unpartitioned space. Doing so allows me to choose the formatting options to use. However, as it gets through its process, its eventually restarts at a certain point and I get the dreaded "Missing or Corrupt Hal.dll" black screen (which also requires a hard reboot). This is likely the cause of an incorrect Boot.ini file...the problem being I can't get anywhere in the process far enough to edit that file (right?).
At this point in time, I feel that I've read everything that I can about the issues, but since I have all three of these issues, I can't find any solution that relates directly to me; I'm lost and don't know where to go.
Apart from the above-mentioned process, here are some of the other things I've tried:
-creating an .iso from the install disk, removing the "Winnt.sif" file (apparently this causes my lack of a reformat screen), repackaging the .iso and burning it to disk at a slow speed. This can't be read as a boot disk.
-creating an untouched .iso from the install disk and burning it to a blank disk (hoping it was a problem on surface of the original disk). This reads as bootable, but has the same problems as the original disk.
-reformatting the unpartitioned raw space, after deleting the Bootcamp partition, into NTFS, NTFS (Quick), FAT32, and FAT(32) quick. All result in the "hal.dll" issue.
-ejecting the install disk and booting from the Bootcamp partition after hard rebooting due to the "missing or corrupt hal.dll". Result is the same error.
-using the Bootcamp utility to create a FAT32 partition at less than 32GB (apparently Bootcamp's 32gig partition is actually larger than 32gigs, which causes problems with formatting), to no avail. Likewise, trying to force a reformat screen by creating a partition that is larger than 32GB.
I've tried almost anything that I can think of, but I've hit a wall (obviously). I don't know enough about the process to know how to successfully get through this obstacle. From what I read, it looks like the Boot.ini file is the likely culprit...how do I solve this?
A couple of posts I've read mention deleting Apple's own 200meg EFI partition, but conflicting posts mention horrendous circumstances to doing that. Other posts have mentioned slipstreaming the install disk using "nlite", but I don't have immediate access to a PC to do so (is there a Mac equivalent?). And I don't want to install just via VMWare because I need all the processing power I can to run AutoCAD, so Bootcamp is my starting point.
Lastly, some might say to just buy a new XP disk, but that's unfortunately out of my budget due to current financial situation.
Again, I think the major hurdle is the "Boot.ini" file mislabeling the correct XP partition, so if anyone knows how to accomplish that in the situation I'm currently in I would be ecstatic. Or if you know of an easier way to go around the problem I would be equally ecstatic.
...actually, as long as I can get Bootcamp to work I'll be ecstatic. All the help you can give is extremely appreciated!!!
EDIT: Sorry its so long, I figured I'd give as much info as possible!
EDIT2: Solved. See the solution in my post below.
