Hello,

I've tried to install XP onto my Acer Aspire following this guide (using NLite to build the install, then installing from Multiboot 10). But when I begin the install process with either Text or GUI, the computer screen just goes blank. No cursor or anything. This occurs whether I prepare my flash drive using multiboot.cmd or the WinSetupFromUSB GUI.

How do I begin to diagnose this problem?

Thanks,
Lev

Does that mean that when you start from USB you get nothing but black screen? Nothing means nothing, no boot menu, no cursor etc.

What file system did you format the USB stick with? Did you try all possible- FAT16, FAT32, NTFS? What's USB stick capacity?
Is it one of those emulating second drive- CD-ROM?

Hi, thanks for the help.

When I restart the computer, I hit F-12 and choose to boot from my USB stick.
Then I get a text menu to select First or Second part of Windows install. When I choose first, a screen of a couple text lines flashes by too fast to read, then the screen is totally blank - no cursor or anything.
If I choose the second part, I get:

Please select the operating system to start:
Second part of XP Home Edition setup from hd 0 part1
-------
Try entries below if getting HAL.NTOSKRNL.EXE not found errors
-------
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 0 part 2
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 0 part 3
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 0 part 4
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 1 part 1
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 1 part 2
Second part of XP Professional Setup from hd 1 part 3

I select the first choice and the already installed version of Windows XP Home opens normally. I also formatted the USB to install XP Home, not Professional.

The USB stick has an 8 gig capacity and its been formatted NTFS. I have tried formatting it this way with both USB Multiboot and with WinSetupFromUSB, but I haven't yet tried any other file system, and I haven't tried to emulate a CD.

What should I do next?

Best,
L

When used WinSetupFromUSB did you go first to "Windows XP/2000/2003 Setup- First and Second parts" entry, then from the new 2 options- First and Second parts you selected First part?

If yes- did you try with unmodified source?

Yes, I got that list and selected first part.

And no, I've only tried from the NLite version. Should I try the unmodified source next?

L

That means grub4dos worked properly.

I would try that first.