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error code 257

Anonymous
2010-05-08T02:06:39+00:00

I am getting this error code when trying to install Windows XP-Pro. System boots to the cd, let me delete the partitions and recreate them and then this code comes up and will not let me install. Any help would be appreciated!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-05-08T10:45:21+00:00

    Failure to install an operating system is usually caused by (in order of probability):

    1. Installation media that is the wrong disc for your computer. What version of Windows is the computer licensed for and what type of installation CD/DVD are you using?
    2. You are attempting to install with other devices connected to the computer. Disconnect them before trying to do an installation.
    3. Faulty installation media. Check the installation CD/DVD for scratches, smudges. Test in another machine.
    4. Faulty optical drive. Test with another bootable CD/DVD or swap it out for a known-working one.
    5. Faulty RAM. Test with Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org . You will download the .iso to make a bootable cd. Burn the file with third-party burning software* - as an image, not as data. Then boot with the media you made (you may need to change the boot priority in your BIOS so that the optical drive is the first boot device). The test will run immediately. Let the test run for an hour or two - unless errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

    *It is not necessary to have third-party burning software in Windows 7 since Win7 can natively burn an .iso. Other operating systems require it. A good free choice is ImgBurn from www.imgburn.com .

    1. Faulty hard drive. Test with a diagnostic utility downloaded from the drive mftr.'s website. You will create a bootable CD with the file you download. Burn the file with third-party burning software (unless you have Windows 7, which can burn .isos natively)
    • as an image, not as data. Boot with the CD you made and do a thorough test of the drive. If it fails any physical tests, replace it.
    1. Other hardware components are faulty.

    MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

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