Install Win 2000 on old PC (eMachines 333k -AMD-)

[kevinsconnor]

I bought a couple three old computers on the cheap, a Dell 450, a Compaq 600, (of course these are both Intel) and then an eMachines eTower 333 K -AMD-.

I had an old Windows 2000 Pro disk and installed fine on the Dell and Compaq.

I put another 128 Meg Ram into the eMachine and that installed fine(so now total is 160 Meg and HD is 3 Gig). But when I tried to install Windows 2000 the install starts fine and files are being copied from the CD onto the HD
but halfway through it starts saying that this or that file is not being copied(the names differ each time I try to install... except for the final one is "NTLDR" doesn't get copied.

Has anyone ever gotten Windows 2000 to install on this computer eMachines 333k, eTower (made around 1998-99 I guess) Or should I give up?
Is the problem that this old AMD technology was not as compatible as the old Intel?

I did some googles and it looks like people have put win 2000 on eMachines that came out a year or two later .. eg eMachine 600.

The Miscrosoft docs say that the cpu can be as small as 133 and I should have plenty of memory and HD as well-- granted not much by today's standards.

[Overclocked Doc]

Sounds like you either have a "Ram" issue or a bad CD Rom. Download and run "Memtest" or swap out the ram. Also try a CD Rom swap as well.
Generally when you see an error during installation (file not copied etc.) there's a good chance it's either the Ram or the CD Rom.

[prs4u]

kevinsconnor,

A couple of things spring to mind - in your CMOS change the setting thus:-

Plug and Play - Disabled.
ACPI aware - if enabled disable or vice versa
OS>64MB disable/off

If that fails try reformatting using FAT32 using the switch to check as it formats (takes longer) use /c switch (check this switch first by typing format c: /? this gives yo all the options (using a DOS Bootupdisk).

As you have nothing to lose try installing Win98 SE edition as an option.

[kevinsconnor]

Originally Posted by Overclocked Doc

Sounds like you either have a "Ram" issue or a bad CD Rom. Download and run "Memtest" or swap out the ram. Also try a CD Rom swap as well.
Generally when you see an error during installation (file not copied etc.) there's a good chance it's either the Ram or the CD Rom.

================================================== ===
Before I tried this install there was an old 98SE installed... I put the extra 128 Meg in and checked on "system info" and it was being seen.

Then I made the big blunder of thinking I might as well just reformat and install win 2000.

Now I am thinking I have to go buy an old win 98 SE disk to get back to where I was. Has anyone had bad experiences with Direct Deals?
http://www.directdeals.com/item_OEM-WIN98SE.aspx
They have win 98 for ~ 90$

This other guy who responded is talking about CMOS and stuff.... I am ruling out most of your hint(except that the CD drive could be bad but why does it get though reading most of the other files??? It is a 24X speed. I think the CD was recorded at a slower speed)

By the way as they say on the radio "I am a first time caller" I did not realize I would get response so quick and I appreciate it.

[kevinsconnor]

Originally Posted by prs4u

kevinsconnor,

A couple of things spring to mind - in your CMOS change the setting thus:-

Plug and Play - Disabled.
ACPI aware - if enabled disable or vice versa
OS>64MB disable/off

If that fails try reformatting using FAT32 using the switch to check as it formats (takes longer) use /c switch (check this switch first by typing format c: /? this gives yo all the options (using a DOS Bootupdisk).

As you have nothing to lose try installing Win98 SE edition as an option.

I think I understand all the stuff you said. I will try it...
I am thinking I might wait to see if I can get win98 back on it after I buy a win98 disk....(anyone want to send me one I'll give you blanks or Suse Linux 9.1 or something.)
I am just wondering whether the fact that Win98SE was running an hour before I was having problems installing win2000 discounts any of your idea???

I still have a nagging suspicion that the AMD processor back from around 1998 is just not compatible enough for win2000 but I also suspect I am worng about that idea.

[Play_The_0dds]

333 mhz, with 160 mb ram will run 2k, the 3 gig hd is a slight problem, 2k like XP uses almost 2 gigs of space just for the os...not to mention it wants page file space and needs room to cache durring defrag. I have a etower m366 sitting in the living room waiting to be picked up...it needed a bios update before i loaded XP on it...could be yours needs the same. The emachine I worked on has had a few upgrades, I had a celeron 533 i slapped in it replacing the 366 it had, it came with 32 mb ram...they put 2 128 meg strips in making it 256 and the hard drive is a 20 maxtor that replaced the 4 gig it came with. another thing that will cause the ntldr not to load is a bad ribbon cable or problems with the mbr or drive's partition info.

[kevinsconnor]

Originally Posted by Play_The_0dds

333 mhz, with 160 mb ram will run 2k, the 3 gig hd is a slight problem, 2k like XP uses almost 2 gigs of space just for the os...not to mention it wants page file space and needs room to cache durring defrag. I have a etower m366 sitting in the living room waiting to be picked up...it needed a bios update before i loaded XP on it...could be yours needs the same. The emachine I worked on has had a few upgrades, I had a celeron 533 i slapped in it replacing the 366 it had, it came with 32 mb ram...they put 2 128 meg strips in making it 256 and the hard drive is a 20 maxtor that replaced the 4 gig it came with. another thing that will cause the ntldr not to load is a bad ribbon cable or problems with the mbr or drive's partition info.

It sounds like you have done so many upgrades it would be cheaper to just pick up an old Compaq P4 that are selling around here for cheap. But thnaks for the help in knowing that the eMachines 333 (now Celeron 533) works.
You needed the BIOS update because you put in the Celeron 533 or because you wanted XP to install ??

[kevinsconnor]

Originally Posted by kevinsconnor

It sounds like you have done so many upgrades it would be cheaper to just pick up an old Compaq P4 that are selling around here for cheap. But thnaks for the help in knowing that the eMachines 333 (now Celeron 533) works.
You needed the BIOS update because you put in the Celeron 533 or because you wanted XP to install ??

Ireinstalled win 98... no problem.
This leads me to conclude that either 2000 will not instll on emachines 333(amd processor) or that working with old cheap stuff might as well just use 98 SE.
Or there is some simple BIOS (or something) upgrade that I dont know about and dont feel like researching... but if anyone has some free solution please respond.
K.
By the way I ordered win 98 from that internet dealer i listed in the previous posts... NO PROBLEM... GOOD DEAL... GOT TO ME in LIKE 5 DAYS.

[Overclocked Doc]

Put the 2000 disk in and boot from it. Then select "new install" (not upgrade) and you should be good to go!