HOWTO: Install Win XP on the Roboard without using a Floppy

[PedroR]

Hi

Many have asked about installing Windows XP on the Roboard without using a floppy drive.
This method is called Slipstreaming and you can use a tool such as nLite to integrate the necessary IDE driver into the XP installation routine and avoid using a floppy.

The IDE drivers supplied by the Roboard manufacturer do not work with nLite (if you attempt to install you will get a 0x7B blue screen - inaccessible boot device).

However we at Robosavvy have developed a modified version of the drivers that fix that issue and will let you use nLite and avoid the need to use a usb floppy.

The modified IDE drivers for slipstreaming are available here:
http://robosavvy.com/RoboSavvyPages/Roboard/drivers/Roboard_IDE_TextMode_RobosavvyFix.zip

A community member has produced a manual on how to create a slipstreamed CD to install windows XP using our modified drivers.
The manual is for eBox 3300 but the core processor/chipset and VGA card are the same so the instructions work for the Roboard as well.
The document is here:
http://robosavvy.com/RoboSavvyPages/Roboard/OSsetup/WinXP_installationCD_slipstream_for_eBox-3300.pdf

Once you produce the CD, follow the Roboard's instructions on how to install windows XP, available here
http://www.roboard.com/Files/RB-100/Install_%20XP_RB-100.pdf
All steps apply with the exception that you skip the parts related to the USB floppy drive.

I am quite busy with other Robosavvy tasks and projects at the moment but I will be glad to help you with any issue you might encounter.
Once I have the time I will also produce a specific version of the manual for the Roboard with the full installation procedure.

PS:
I myself have experienced an issue where the USB keyboard and mouse might stop working during the graphical part of windows xp installation, after the hardware detection phase.
If that happens to you there are 2 possible fixes:
1) When using nLite set the install options to Full Unattended. This way it will install without you ever needing to use the keyboard or mouse.
2) There is also a trick to enable legacy USB Keyboard and Mouse support. I haven't tested it but it should work as well: I think you need to press and hold the END key during the Roboard boot/power up but please confirm this in the Roboard users manual.

[goofylogic98]

Issue I have right now is it will not boot from the SD card directly. I have to have another USB Flash Drive in with a boot.ini file on it that then allows me to select the SD card to boot from. Without the USB Flash Drive, it just gives me the blinking curser.

[PedroR]

Hi

This behaviour is NOT related to the IDE drivers.
If the IDE drivers were not correctly in place it would boot but halt a few seconds later with a Blue Screen.

The issue you are seeing is because the bootloader was not correctly installed on the SD card.
It may be an issue with the brand of the SD card or a mis configuration in the BIOS.

Make sure the SD card is set as the primary boot device.

Also, you can run the Windows XP installation CD and select the Repair option to get a command line prompt.
Once you're there there are specific tools like "fixmbr" to install the bootloader on the sd card.

You can get more info on that here http://www.ehow.com/how_4891476_reinstall-xp-bootloader.html.
Make sure you run fixmbr against the CORRECT drive letter.

As a side note, in the future please do not double post on the forum as it generates confusion and it won't get you a better or faster answer.
Most likely you'll just confuse the readers with the double posts because your other post has different information and I'm a bit lost as to what's your issue now.

[Joerg]

Hi,

in my tests I got a blinking cursor (white on black) during boot if something with the boot device was wrong. Maybe a bad connected SD-card or sometimes if the selected boot device from the boot device priority entry in bios was absent.
Please go into bios-setup after boot and have a look into the boot tab.

BTW, this posting was written on Roboard RB-100 with Win-XPSP3 and SeaMonkey1.17

Best Regards,
Joerg
_________________
http://www.roboter-teile.de

[PedroR]

way cool that you're posting from your roboard

[Tsai Sung Yang]

Hi,

I burned the WinLite.iso (xp pro sp3 + IDE) on CD and plug a new

4G SD (Formated FAT32) on my Roboard.

but encountered an error message "Disk Error" (white text & black bg)

before install.

I already set primary to USB-CDROM and secondary to SD.

Should I make my SD bootable before installing?

[Tsai Sung Yang]

I solved the problem now

all because WinAVI...

[babyjung116]

While WinXP is being installed, The agreement window is prompt and I want to select "I agree.." to continue but I can't press any key on keyboard and I try to press CAPS LOCK and NUM LOCK but the LED is not bright. I turn off the Roboard and turn on again but I find the same problem.

What should I do? T_T

THANKS....

**I find the problem that winxp is installed for very long time... (Do anyone find this problem)

THANKS AGAIN..(@_^)

[roboard]

Hi,

currently, a detailed tutorial to install WinXP using RoboSavvyFix IDE driver and nLite can be downloaded from the RoBoard official website:

http://www.roboard.com/download_ml.htm