Boot Camp Issues - Windows XP SP2 OEM - Black Screen White Flashing Dash

[TopGearRules]

Hi there, i've just joined and im having some issues with boot camp. I have a 2008 iMac 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo running leopard (10.5.8) and I have just bought a Windows XP SP2 OEM disc from eBay which must of originally been from a dell. I have been trying for 2 hours trying to install windows on boot camp but all i keep on getting is a black screen with a flashing white line, like this one -

http://www.thairobotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/black_screen_blinking_cursor400.jpg

Sometimes when trying to install the disc pops out, i stick it back in, the screen says to 'insert the disc' back in but nothing happens! I am sooo fed up and I have spent a lot of money since i had to also purchase idefrag to defrag my hard drive to get it just to partition. My windows partition is 35GB and when the system restarts to apparently 'install', all i get is the black screen/white flashing line and no setup screens or anything!! I also have tried installing it through a restart, holding down the alt key, selecting the windows disc but the same outcome!!

I did have boot camp running Win XP SP3 a year ago, but it said it was 'illegal' and had to be deleted. I am sooooo fed up and annoyed right now, can anyone shed any light on this issue and help me??

Thank you and i'll appreciate your comments! Alex

 

[dXTC]

OEM install discs won't work most of the time, as they usually contain only drivers for that hardware manufacturer. You'll need an actual Microsoft disc.

 

[TopGearRules]

OEM install discs won't work most of the time, as they usually contain only drivers for that hardware manufacturer. You'll need an actual Microsoft disc.

Hi there, thanks for the reply. Are you sure there isnt a way round this issue? Thanks, Alex

 

[dXTC]

I haven't heard of one (disclaimer; I'm not a professional). Some have had luck with a CD-R copy of a Microsoft-sourced disc, provided they had a legitimate, non-pirated product key. But those OEM discs appear to be bad news for Boot Camp. Same goes for Apple; OS X restore/install discs for one Apple product usually refuse to work for another.

 

[TopGearRules]

I haven't heard of one (disclaimer; I'm not a professional). Some have had luck with a CD-R copy of a Microsoft-sourced disc, provided they had a legitimate, non-pirated product key. But those OEM discs appear to be bad news for Boot Camp. Same goes for Apple; OS X restore/install discs for one Apple product usually refuse to work for another.

I've just ordered a MAR XP disc from eBay today, would it work??

This is the one in question - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180809451...X:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1632wt_1398

Thanks, Alex

 

[Stan Mikulenka]

Hi TopGear,
i hope you know that you'll get an old PC computer with this Sale...
(Otherwise the OS is good for Boot Camp.)
As per (from the eBay page) :

 

[TopGearRules]

Hi TopGear,
i hope you know that you'll get an old PC computer with this Sale...
(Otherwise the OS is good for Boot Camp.)
As per (from the eBay page) :

I never saw that, thanks for pointing that out!! Alex

 

[Skyldig]

The flashing dash is a known "error" with unactivated versions of windows. So, I guess that it considers your windows illegal for some reason.

 

[Stan Mikulenka]

Hi again,
I forgot to mention that if you can't pick-up the old PC (if you live too far), you'll have to pay for shipping...