I have an older "Compaq Presario" Model: 5900Z that I aquired
from a friend which was RUNNING windows XP, but originally
had windows 98 running on it.
Anyway, I wiped the hard drive and to start with a fresh COPY of windows
and now no matter what I do I get a "Files Needed" box that appears the exact same place during the install (XP it appears after I hit "Typical Install"
2000 Pro it appears during "Start Menu Items")  asking
me to "Insert the windows xp pro or windows 2000 pro (I've tried both)
disk into the "D" drive because it needs certain files" etc...
Now, this pop-up box happens 2 times than is gone. No matter which
button I choose "OK" or "Browse" it does nothing. If I hit "Cancel" it goes
away, but I can see that the install will jump forward a bunch of minutes
or skip RIGHT through things.
I thought it might be the cd-rom so I hooked up a brand new cd-rom and it did the exact same thing. I thought it might be the disk so I tried a different copy and it did the exact same thing. And obviously I thought it might be the O/S and you can see that I've tried multiple and it does the exact same thing! What the heck is causing this? HELP PLEASE!!!!!

I suspect that HDD wasn't completely wiped...what method did you use ? ? ?

Are these original install CD's ? ? Seems strange that none of them would work properly...I wiped the hard drive using the zero (0) method
and I tried original and copies of windows.Let's get some details about the machine and if these are real WIndows CD's or burned copies, downloads, etc.have you tried to install it on another HD?

BBootleg disks, upgrade disks, manufacturer specific disks, partions hidden or otherwise.
The list goes on & on.
If you boot to an undamaged genuine Microsoft full version of XP/W2K, delete all partions and re-create them to your requirements then proceed with the installation you will not have a PROBLEM... I hope. Tried another hard drive  :-?

Alan <><   Quote

I wiped the hard drive using the zero (0) method
and I tried original and copies of windows.