Installing Windows with Re-Installation discs

thidranki · 04-27-2006, 05:31 PM

Hi all,

I have an old copy of Windows that came with a Dell. I'm trying to dual boot, so I put in the disc but it can't be read (screen just goes black). So I load up Linux (FC5), wine Setup.exe, and I have an option to install windows, but it freezes when I click on it.

First, is this a good/workable way to install Windows (w/ reinstall CDs for Dells, and without booting into the CD)
Second, how do I get it to stop freezing so I can actually install it?

Thank you

pljvaldez · 04-27-2006, 06:10 PM

I think that the OEM Windows that come with Dells can only be used with the same model Dell as they were shipped with. Don't hold me to that, but I remember trying the same thing with some old HP Windows 98 discs years ago and it failed miserably.

So unless you're using the same model machine that the discs were made for, chances are you're not going to succeed.

thidranki · 04-27-2006, 07:20 PM

I'm not (on a custom box)

Thanks for the reply though

AwesomeMachine · 04-27-2006, 08:08 PM

On machines that come with CD's for reinstalling MS Windows, there is a partition that is full of drivers and initial settings on the hard drive. The Windows disk does not install the Windows operating system, so it won't work with another machine, or even another hard drive in the same machine. You need a full version of MS Windows. MS Windows will not install under wine. The disk you have will not work.

lordtweety · 04-27-2006, 08:13 PM

I hope this doesn't seem stupid, but have you checked the quality of the disc? ie can it be read at all? Can you explore the contents from within konqueror? I have had old disc that have just accumulated dust etc, enough to make them unreadable without a good clean.

Also, checkout Vmware for running windows within linux.