06-21-2006, 07:38 PM

I have a legit copy of XP Pro with SP2 (slippstreamed the correct way allready). The CD works great and boots into Windows Installer fine (BIOS part I think its called). Anyways when it gets to the point to ask me about Partitioning it will say "The Disc you inserted is not a valid Windows disc" I hit Enter and it will say it over and over. So Ill hit F3 to cancel the XP install and it will try it all over again, it loads all the Windows files fine in the beginning.

I have made like 5 copies of this disc (even used OS X Disk utility to extract the image off the CD and re-burn it using disc utility) and it still does the same thing.

This happends in Parallels WS and in Boot Camp. One thing I did notice is I am unable to update my MacBook with 10.4.6 Firmware update (it says this drive does not support the update). But it never shows that update in Software Updater.


Any ideas??? I can post screen shots if that will help.

06-21-2006, 08:14 PM

Here is a screen shot from 5 minutes ago. neye:

06-22-2006, 10:17 AM

Part of me thought "Hmmm maybe I should throw the XP Image on a portable HDD, and load it through Parallels that way."

It loaded everything fast as ****.... But I still get the same **** screen once it gets to the point to ask me to partition. What am I doing wrong??

MacBook specs are as follows....

2.0GHz Intel Duo
512MB 667Mhz RAM (going to 2GB when I get XP running).
80GB HDD
13.3" Display
Superdrive DVD-RW

Is my mac to slow to install this or something? Its been awhile since Ive owned a Mac but I did miss it alot (obviously). Any help would be great as I can NOT find the same problem with anyone on google or any other forum. Im so clueless right now. neye:

06-22-2006, 10:40 AM

Sounds like a bad image all together.
Doesn't sound like your mac is the culprit.

Solutions? Hmmm..................................... borrow a friend's legit SP 2 copy of XP, when it gets to that point plop it in just to see if it continues... perhaps..

Hopefully it's far enough in the installation process to have your CD key on the install, and not your friends.

06-22-2006, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by Logan

Sounds like a bad image all together.
Doesn't sound like your mac is the culprit.

Solutions? Hmmm..................................... borrow a friend's legit SP 2 copy of XP, when it gets to that point plop it in just to see if it continues... perhaps..

Hopefully it's far enough in the installation process to have your CD key on the install, and not your friends.

Im an IT Tech for a mortgage company and I have 20+ legit copies of XP Pro (all new Keys too). Ive tried 3 different discs on this mac.

Is it true you can only do this by creating a slipstreamed copy? It would make more sense to me if you could use the actual OEM disc.

Any ideas?

*Thanks for the reply dude*

06-22-2006, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by rgivans

Is it true you can only do this by creating a slipstreamed copy? It would make more sense to me if you could use the actual OEM disc.

If your OEM disk is the SP2 version then there is no need to make a slipstreamed copy. the copying is only necessary if you have a non SP2 XP install disk.

06-22-2006, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by jhelm007

If your OEM disk is the SP2 version then there is no need to make a slipstreamed copy. the copying is only necessary if you have a non SP2 XP install disk.

Ahhh ok.... Well hmmm Im going to try all 20 discs until I get one to work.

06-22-2006, 02:17 PM

IF the CD is XP SP2 you do not need to slipstream at all. Just put the CD in the drive and use it. Are these OEM CD's or the full XP Pro. When I ran Bootcamp and installed XP I use the Full version and not the OEM.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...um=303572#faq0

After reading that URL I am not sure if an OEM will work. Has anyone installed an OEM version of XP on an Intel Mac?

06-22-2006, 02:35 PM

You know what?? I just got it to work. I used an OEM disc (without SP2) Version 2002 and it loaded and installed fine. Its running XP Pro perfectly now.....


Hmmmmm....

06-22-2006, 02:38 PM

They flat out say it has to be SP2. If you try to install SP2, I am almost sure it will not install. That is what others have said. Good Luck.

06-22-2006, 03:35 PM

Originally Posted by dtravis7

They flat out say it has to be SP2. If you try to install SP2, I am almost sure it will not install. That is what others have said. Good Luck.

Umm it just worked dude. Only through Parallels though, now when I try in Boot Camp it disables the Keyboard (so I cant guide through the install).

Is there anyway Parallels can install on a certain partition? Without being a VM?

06-22-2006, 03:42 PM

The URL I gave you was for Bootcamp. What happens in Parallels I do not know. Never worked with it. I am pretty sure though that Parallels makes a VM file on the HDD. Maybe someone else who has used it can comment farther.

06-22-2006, 04:06 PM

DUDE...

just go buy a FULL copy of Windows XP SP2... it'll work fine. I've read that OEMs don't work, and sometimes, keyboards in general don't work (especially wireless). But that last part goes for ALL XPs. try with a different USB keyboard.

06-22-2006, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by rgivans

Umm it just worked dude. Only through Parallels though, now when I try in Boot Camp it disables the Keyboard (so I cant guide through the install).

Is there anyway Parallels can install on a certain partition? Without being a VM?

Yeah parallels will load lots of stuff that bootcamp won't like linux and windows 3.1, 9x, 2000, etc.

Bootcamp can use OEM disks, but it has to be a singl disk full install with sp2

06-23-2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by BlindingLights

DUDE...

just go buy a FULL copy of Windows XP SP2... it'll work fine. I've read that OEMs don't work, and sometimes, keyboards in general don't work (especially wireless). But that last part goes for ALL XPs. try with a different USB keyboard.

What do you mean buy a full copy?? I get copies of XP Pro SP2 new every week. I order a ton of them for work everytime we get a new machine. I have plenty of retail XP Pro copies here. All with legit unused serials too.