xp home hangs installing networks

[Guest]

I am trying to re-install xp home on a clean formatted by xp NTFS file system.
The install hangs every time when I get to the "32 minutes to go" signal
after filling in the regional settings and during the "Installing Networks"
stage. The green bar gets half way and then just stops.
No error message. It was working fine on this computer with Windows98 on a
separate Fat32 partition, so I know the hardware should not be the problem.
All I wanted to do was get rid of the Windows98 and run xp alone, but it is
turning into a nightmare.
Any suggestions welcome.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Your error is typical of a NIC that has no good XP driver included in the XP
setup files. Put the xp driver (you get from the makers site) on a floppy
during setup. Setup will find it and continue setup.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your suggestion Mark.
Network card is integrated on the motherboard.
I have solved the problem !! I carted my comp over to a friends place
intending to run some diagnostics. Arrived there, started the re-install and
everything worked perfectly !! The only difference we have been able to
establish between attempting the re-install at my place and at my friends
place was that I pulled out the USB cables. I had disconnected these from
their devices (two printers and a scanner) but left the cables plugged into
the back of the computer. Apparently, this is not sufficient - the cables
must be actually disconnected from the computer and not just the device ????
This seems crazy, but is the only explanation we have been able to come up
with. I'd be interested to have this theory confirmed or some other solution
suggested.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

I agree, strange, but the only real difference has to be it. (Unless just
bumping the board around did something.) USB has been a problem right along
with XP, so I bet you found it.