I was installing a fresh copy of windows on my parents computer and it gives me errors that is is missing files. But when I install XP on mine it works fine (same CD). I know the CD is working and no scratches. What could be the problem? (mdmeric.inf is one of the files that says is missing)

I made a disk with Nlite and streamlined SP3 into the CD and now it is telling me its missing oembios.sig

Before we go any further with this, are you telling us that you are installing the same XP O/S (same Product Key) on two different machines? This is in violation of the EULA.

No I already formated the PC I just installed it on mine to see if there was a problem with the CD itself. It is currently not installed on any PC right now.

OK Majin, I had to ask.

Files missing or "cannot locate file" issues; These are sometimes a result of an optical drive going bad, or a dirty laser lens in the unit. How old is the "problem" optical drive/entire machine?

About 3 - 4 years old.

Can you switch/swap optical drives as a test?

No I cant seeing theirs is a Desktop and I have Laptops.

Good info to know. ;>)

Any friends with "spare" ATAPI/EIDE optical drives laying around?

If the desktop has a floppy drive...
Boot with a Win98SE Boot Disk* choosing "With CDROM Support" and check the drive(s) in MSDOS.

Insert a Windows CD into the drive(s) and at the A:\> prompt, type in dir/a/-p %cdrom%: (or dir/a/-p x: (where x: is the device letter assigned to the drive(s) during the boot process) and hit Enter. If you get a directory listing, the hardware aspect of the drive is OK.


*The above bootdisk image file is a self extracting file and has to be executed (run) from a running Windows machine in order to create the actual startup diskette on one of your floppy disks. (This image file produces the same bootdisk which 98SE creates.) This downloaded image file will format the floppy disk to ensure its integrity, write the files to the disk, then verify the file write, so it'll take a minute or three to create the bootdisk.

Ensure the floppy drive is set as the first boot device in the bios.

I just bought a new CD-Rom drive and popped it in and when the install gets to 26% if stops and says a file is missing. I have no clue why its doing this. Also there is no floppy drive.