Microsoft KB Archive/822796

= Error: &quot;Setup Was Unable To Verify Drive&quot; =

Article ID: 822796

Article Last Modified on 8/27/2003

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional

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SYMPTOMS
When you install Windows XP, you may receive the following error message:

Setup was unable to verify drive C:.

Your computer may not have enough memory to examine the drive, or your Windows XP CD may contain some corrupted files.

To continue, press Enter.

When you click Enter, you may receive the following error message:

Setup cannot access the CD containing the Windows XP installation files.



CAUSE
This problem may occur for one of the following reasons:
 * The motherboard of your computer may not be compatible with Windows XP.
 * The BIOS of your computer may not be compatible with Windows XP.
 * The hard disk you are installing to may be damaged.
 * The Windows XP Setup CD may be damaged.



Motherboard and BIOS Compatibility
To determine whether your hardware is compatible with Windows XP, use the Microsoft Windows Upgrade Advisor tool that is located on the Windows XP Setup CD. The Upgrade Advisor checks your current hardware and software to determine whether your computer is ready to upgrade to Windows XP. If you run Upgrade Advisor while you are connected to the Internet, and if your computer requires updates that are available on the Windows Update Web site, Upgrade Advisor can find and install the updates for you. For additional information about the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307726 Description of the Windows XP Upgrade Advisor

Confirm That Your Hard Disk or File System Is Not Damaged
Confirm that your hard disk or file system is not damaged. To do so, start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, load Microsoft Recovery Console, and then use the Chkdsk command-line tool.

Note To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive must be configured to do so. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.

Important Microsoft recommends that advanced users or administrators use the Recovery Console. You must know the Administrator's password to use the Recovery Console.

For additional information about how to use the Chkdsk command-line tool to check and repair a damaged hard disk, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

307654 HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

314058 Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console

313348 HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP

Note If Chkdsk reports that it cannot access your hard disk, you may have a hardware failure. Examine all the cable connections and any jumper settings on your drive. Contact a computer repair professional, or the manufacturer of your computer for more assistance.

If Chkdsk reports that it cannot fix all the hard disk problems, your file system or Master Boot Record (MBR) may be damaged or no longer accessible. Try appropriate Recovery Console commands such as fixmbr and fixboot, contact a data recovery service, or repartition and reformat your hard disk.

Important For more assistance, contact your computer manufacturer, or a Microsoft Product Support Services professional.

Only qualified personnel should try to repair your computer. Computer repair performed by non-qualified personnel may cancel your computer's warranty.

If you repartition and reformat your hard disk, you will lose all the information that is on the disk.

Determine If You Have a Damaged Setup CD
For additional information about how to troubleshoot a damaged CD, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

218617 How to Troubleshoot CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Read Issues

321641 How to Troubleshoot Issues with Reading CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD Discs

Additional query words: Winxp CDROM broken hung crash

Keywords: kbprb KB822796

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