Installation Stop Error "Session 3 Initialization Failed"

Question

Installation Stop Error "Session 3 Initialization Failed"

I've upgraded to Leopard and am now trying to install a new copy of Windows XP Home + SP 2. In Boot Camp (via Boot Camp Installer). I have formatted the partition (with 10 GP to SP2) and begun the installation process. While starting Windows (and before selecting the partition in Windows Setup) I get the following "blue screen" error:

"A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

"Session3 Initialization Failed

"If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

"Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for anyy windows updates you might need.

"If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe More to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode

Technical Information: * STOP: 0x0000006F (0xc0000020,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x00000000)"

I've shut down the computer, tried to restart whilst pressing F8, restarted in Mac OS (using the option key), removed the partition and tried to reinstall 8 or so times. I've never gotten past this above screen.

Does anyone have any useful advice? If disabling BIOS or caching/shadowing might help, what does that mean and how do I do it?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Nov 10, 2007 8:21 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 11, 2007 10:43 AM in response to VegemiteTrouble

The answer has everything to do with an incompatibility between the Mac optical drive and Boot Camp. It is a problem that has existed since the Beta release of Boot Camp - one wonders why it has not been corrected prior to the Leopard release, but who am I to second guess the superior product that is Mac Book. The answer thread may be contained in older threads on this web site. I found the answer at:

http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?t=66323&highlight=session3initializationfailed

Basically, my MacBook (which was bought in August of 2006) does nto properly read the Windows XPSP2 installation disk. Te solution, simple bt scary, is to burn a copy of the windows disk to a copy disk using the Mac. Instructions for making a copy are at:

"Go to this link for instructions on how to make a copy of a disk and print it out.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.h...n/duh1945.html

Anyway, once I made that copy everything worked fine. That's scary.

Now that windows is running, I can't get wireless access from Windows. Also, i guess I need to get antivirus software. But I can connect to the computer network at work (the whole point of this ridiculous exercise).

Computers are supposed to make life more easy, in reality I think they just allow us to use computers more. After this experience I've realized that the apple v. microsoft war is simply Coke v. Pepsi.

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Answer 2

Bogeyman

Level 1

0 points

Nov 12, 2007 5:11 PM in response to VegemiteTrouble

I'm having the same problem on my imac and just want to clarify a couple of things...

If I understand you correctly I make a disk image of the windows xp disk on my hard drive and burn to a dvd. Then go through the boot camp assistant to create a windows partition and simply use the dvd copy instead of the original?

Thanks for you help

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Answer 3

Nov 12, 2007 9:10 PM in response to Bogeyman

That's basically it. If you can follow the links in my second post, you should get to a more complete description of the fix (i.e. how to make the copy).

BTW, in "step three" of the Boot Camp instructions, you are asked to install the Mac-specific drivers. It's not completely obvious, at least not to me, but you do this by inserting your OSX Leopard disc into your machine while running Windows. The instructions are not terribly well written, but if you read closely this is the only way the installation can be accomplished (since it says you install the drivers using "My Computer").

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Answer 4

Bogeyman

Level 1

0 points

Nov 20, 2007 4:31 AM in response to VegemiteTrouble

Thanks! That worked.

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