Error Message: Setup Cannot Find the End-User License Agreement

When you try to install Windows XP on a hard disk that is formatted with the FAT32 file system, you may receive the following error message:

This issue may occur if you are using a large hard disk that was formatted by using an operating system other than Windows XP.

To resolve this issue, partition and format your hard disk, and then install Windows XP. To do so, use one of the following methods.

Use Windows XP to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk

WARNING: The following procedure deletes all the data on your hard disk. After you complete this procedure, you cannot retrieve any data on your hard disk. Because of this, Microsoft recommends that you back up any data you may want to restore later.

1. Insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive or DVD-ROM drive, or insert the first Windows XP Setup boot disk into the floppy disk drive if you are starting from Setup boot disks. Restart your computer.
   
   Note To start your computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM or from the Setup boot disk, your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive or the floppy disk drive. In some cases, you may have to modify your computer BIOS settings to do this. For information about how to configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, or the floppy disk drive, see the documentation that is included with your computer, or contact the computer manufacturer.
2. If you are starting the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM, select any options that you must use to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted to do so.
   
   Note If your hard disk controller requires a third-party original equipment manufacturer (OEM) driver, press F6 to specify the driver. For additional information about how to use F6 to supply a third-party OEM device driver during Setup, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   314859 Limited OEM Driver Support Is Available with F6 During Windows XP Setup
   If you are starting from the Windows XP Setup boot disks, insert each of the additional disks when you are prompted, and then press ENTER to continue after you insert each disk.
3. On the "Welcome to Setup" page, press ENTER to continue.
4. Press F8 to accept the Windows XP Licensing Agreement.
5. If an existing Windows XP installation is detected, you are prompted to repair it. Press ESC to not repair the installation.
6. All existing partitions and unpartitioned space for each physical hard disk are listed. Use the arrow keys to select the partition or unpartitioned space where you want to create a new partition, and then press D to delete an existing partition or press C to create a new partition by using unpartitioned space. If you press D to delete an existing partition, you must then press L (or press ENTER, and then press L if it is the system partition) to confirm that you want to delete the partition. Repeat this process for each of the existing partitions that you want to use for the new partition. When all the partitions you want to delete are deleted, you can select the resulting unpartitioned space and then press C to create the new partition.
   
   Note If you want to create a partition where one or more partitions already exist, you must first delete the existing partition or partitions and then create the new partition.
7. Type the size (in megabytes, or MB) that you want to use for the new partition, and then press ENTER, or just press ENTER to create the partition by using the maximum possible size.
8. If you want to create additional partitions, repeat steps 4 and 5.
9. If you want to install Windows XP, use the arrow keys to select the partition on which you want to install Windows XP, and then press ENTER. If you do not want to format the partition and install Windows XP, press F3 two times to quit Setup, and then do not continue with the following steps. In this case, you must use another utility to format the partition.
10. Select the format option that you want to use for the partition, and then press ENTER. The options are:
    • Format the partition by using the NTFS file system (Quick)
    • Format the partition by using the FAT file system (Quick)
    • Format the partition by using the NTFS file system
    • Format the partition by using the FAT file system
    • Leave the current file system intact (no changes)
    For additional information about the differences in the format options, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    302686 Differences Between a Quick Format and Format During Windows XP Setup
    The option to leave the current file system intact is not available if the selected partition is a new partition. The FAT file system options are not available if the selected partition is more than 32 gigabytes (GB). If the partition is larger than 2 GB, Setup uses the FAT32 file system (you must press ENTER to confirm). If the partition is smaller than 2 GB, Setup uses the FAT16 file system.
    
    Note If you deleted and created a new system partition but you are installing Windows XP on another partition, you are prompted to select a file system for both the system and boot partitions.
11. After Setup formats the partition, follow the instructions on the screen to continue Setup. After Setup is complete, you can use the Disk Management tools in Windows XP to create or format additional partitions.For additional information about how to use the Windows XP Disk Management tools to partition and format your hard disk, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    309000 HOW TO: Use Disk Management to Configure Basic Disks in Windows XP

Use a Microsoft Windows 98 or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition Startup Disk to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk

WARNING: The following procedure deletes all the data on your hard disk. After you complete this procedure, you cannot retrieve any data on your hard disk. Because of this, Microsoft recommends that you back up any data you may want to restore later.

1. Verify that the correct hard disk settings are used in the computer BIOS and that the computer supports the hard disk. For information about how to do this, view the computer documentation.
2. Insert a Windows 98 Startup disk, and then restart your computer.
3. At the command prompt, type fdisk, and then press ENTER.
4. At the Do you wish to enable large disk support (Y/N) prompt, type Y, and then press ENTER.
5. On the "FDISK Options" page, type 1 at the Enter choice prompt, and then press ENTER.
6. On the "Create DOS Partition or Logical DOS Drive" page, type 1 at the Enter Choice prompt, and then press ENTER. The following prompt appears:
   Do you wish to use the maximum available size for a Primary DOS Partition
   and make the partition active (Y/N)..............?
7. Type Y, and then press ENTER.
8. Press ESC to quit FDISK, and then restart the computer.
9. At the Microsoft Windows 98 Startup Menu, select 1. Start computer with CD-ROM support, and then press ENTER.
10. Record the drive letter that is assigned to the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive. For example, drive D.
11. At the command prompt, type format c:, and then press ENTER.
12. Press Y, and then press ENTER.
13. At the Volume label (11 characters, ENTER for none)? prompt, press ENTER.
14. Type drive:setup, where drive is the drive letter that you recorded in step 10, and then press ENTER. For example, type d:setup and then press ENTER.
15. Follow the instructions on the screen to start Windows XP Setup.

Note The maximum hard disk size that you can format with the FAT 32 file system during the Windows XP installation is 32 GB.

For additional information about related topics, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: