Problem installing Windows XP onto OS X

[jarted]

G'day Folks,

Here's the problem...

I'm trying to install my copy of Windows XP (Home Edition Service Pack 2) onto my MacBook Pro (with OS X Leopard) using Bootcamp. Having watched as many video tutorials as carefully as possible, I've got these steps covered so far:

* I opened up bootcamp and created a partition, allowing 32GB for Windows.
* I inserted the Windows setup disc and continued the installation setup.
* I selected the correct hard drive (BOOTCAMP - FAT 32).
* I then chose the option to leave the format at FAT 32. (i.e. not convert to NTFS)
* The Windows installation setup continued and looked to be installing just fine. Finally, it hit 100% and informed me that I should eject the disc and it would be restarting the system.

This is where I hit a snag. The system booted up in OS X, so, I restarted (while holding down the "option" key) and selected the Windows drive. However, nothing happened. That is, the black screen appeared and an error message came up saying "Disk Error... Please press any key to continue..." (or something to that effect). There was no disk in the drive. Try as I may, the keyboard wouldn't respond.

...and this is where I'm stuck.

What have I missed, not done correctly, or still need to do?

I gotta mention that I'm pretty green at this so I'm hoping that I explained my procedure properly. Any information, advice, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[djackmac]

Sounds like something went horribly wrong. I'd start over from scratch and go into boot camp assistant and delete the partition and start over again from scratch because without repartitioning I wouldn't trust it. I have ran into that particular instance twice before and both times its been a bad Windows install DVD. So check the DVD thoroughly before trying to install again. Just to make sure clean the Windows installer with alcohol and a soft cloth. If it fails again in the same fashion take the Windows DVD back where you got it and swap for a new one. That's all there is to it. Its really just that straight forward. I've done these installs for enough customers and I just installed Windows 7 on my Macbook through bootcamp.

If all goes well next time make sure when you are booted into Windows pop in your leopard DVD to install the bootcamp drivers.

 

[djackmac]

Wait a minute! I just found your exact same post from a couple days ago. Someone asked you if it was a retail version of Windows you had. You had replied "Yes, it came with the Dell PC I purchased a few years ago". I got news for ya slick, That's not a retail version of Windows! That's an OEM version which means its for that Dell. You see, OS makers like Microsoft do that to keep people from completely avoiding the software agreement like you are trying to do and install Windows on any machine you damn well please. So no that disk will not work and no it has nothing to do with the bootcamp partition being formatted in NTFS.