problem while clean installing XP procedure

[Malke]

I'm just finalising the installation of XP (I use a
two multi-partitioned drives so I'm saved from reinstalling
everything). I formatted C-partition again using FAT32 in the Recovery
Console (NOT "Quick Format"). I know XP prefers NTFS, but when I first
started using XP and NTFS for C-drive, I kept getting constant
bluescreen STOP and file-system errors; they all stopped once I
switched to FAT32. Anyway, after using the Recovery Console and
rebooting, during the Setup process XP would frequently just stop
installing: the progress bar would stop or hang, and the 5 blinking
lights at the bottom right of the screen would either carry on, or
just stop too. In addition, any hard drive activity would simply die
away, indicated by the HD light. Nothing was happening. I waited in
case it was just a lull, but I waited for longer than the "39 minutes"
approximated time. In the end, I restarted setup at least 5 times
before eventually it would run correctly and constantly, with the HD
AND cdrom drives flashing with activity; progress bars progressing,
etc.

In addition though, Setup told me during the process that several
files could not be copied from the CD (I cannot recall their names). I
optioned for the "Yes, carry on with install". This is the first time
it happened during clean install. They don't seem to be crucial files.
Could both these behaviours be related, or be a sign the OEM XP CD is
becoming unuseable, or a problem with the HD itself?

Problems like this usually indicate a hardware problem. Very rarely are
problems like this caused by a faulty cd disk. Here are general
hardware troubleshooting steps. Not all of them may be applicable to
you; I would start by testing the hard drive and the RAM.

1) Open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing). Obviously
you can't do this with a laptop, but you can hear if the fan is running
and feel if the laptop is getting too hot.

2) Test the RAM - I like Memtest86+ from www.memtest.org. Obviously, you
have to get the program from a working machine. You will either
download the precompiled Windows binary to make a bootable floppy or
the .iso to make a bootable cd. If you want to use the latter, you'll
need to have third-party burning software on the machine where you
download the file - XP's built-in burning capability won't do the job.
In either case, boot with the media you made. The test will run
immediately. Let the test run for an extended period of time - unless
errors are seen immediately. If you get any errors, replace the RAM.

3) Test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from the mftr. Usually
you will download the file and make a bootable floppy with it. Boot
with the media and do a thorough test. If the drive has physical
errors, replace it.

4) The power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for the devices
you have in the system. The adequacy issue doesn't really apply to a
laptop, although of course the power
supply can be faulty.

5) Test the motherboard with something like TuffTest from
www.tufftest.com. Sometimes this is useful, and sometimes it isn't.

Testing hardware failures often involves swapping out suspected parts
with known-good parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are
uncomfortable opening your computer, take the machine to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA).

Malke

 

[Tim.T]

I'm just finalising the installation of XP (I use a
two multi-partitioned drives so I'm saved from reinstalling everything). I
formatted C-partition again using FAT32 in the Recovery Console (NOT "Quick
Format"). I know XP prefers NTFS, but when I first started using XP and NTFS
for C-drive, I kept getting constant bluescreen STOP and file-system errors;
they all stopped once I switched to FAT32. Anyway, after using the Recovery
Console and rebooting, during the Setup process XP would frequently just
stop installing: the progress bar would stop or hang, and the 5 blinking
lights at the bottom right of the screen would either carry on, or just stop
too. In addition, any hard drive activity would simply die away, indicated
by the HD light. Nothing was happening. I waited in case it was just a lull,
but I waited for longer than the "39 minutes" approximated time. In the end,
I restarted setup at least 5 times before eventually it would run correctly
and constantly, with the HD AND cdrom drives flashing with activity;
progress bars progressing, etc.

In addition though, Setup told me during the process that several files
could not be copied from the CD (I cannot recall their names). I optioned
for the "Yes, carry on with install". This is the first time it happened
during clean install. They don't seem to be crucial files. Could both these
behaviours be related, or be a sign the OEM XP CD is becoming unuseable, or
a problem with the HD itself?

TIA
Tim