clean installation of win xp prof

[shah]

Any idea why when I install the Windows, it will sort of hang at "Startup is
starting Windows". I even change the cd rom drive and also used a different
XP cd, on both instances it sought of hang at the same place "Startup is
starting Windows". Any idea why I cant install th windows? Earlier on, during
th POST, it sas cpu is running in Safe Mode, how do we change that? Thanks

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Make sure you're doing it right.

Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT
fix this!

HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307

After the clean install, you will have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers) and
before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't been
freshly formatted:

4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx

Other helpful references include:

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029

NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).

Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

 

[Bob CP]

Any idea why when I install the Windows, it will sort of hang at "Startup is
starting Windows". I even change the cd rom drive and also used a different
XP cd, on both instances it sought of hang at the same place "Startup is
starting Windows". Any idea why I cant install th windows? Earlier on, during
th POST, it sas cpu is running in Safe Mode, how do we change that? Thanks

How old the the machine? CPU? How much memory? Hard drive size?

First, open up the box, blow out all the dust, and make sure all the
fans (especially the CPU) are functioning correctly.

If they are, open up the BIOS configuration and set everything to
automatic or default settings.

If things are still not working, I'd boot with The Ultimate Boot CD and
run memory and disk tests.

 

[Daave]

Any idea why when I install the Windows, it will sort of hang at
"Startup is starting Windows". I even change the cd rom drive and
also used a different XP cd, on both instances it sought of hang at
the same place "Startup is starting Windows". Any idea why I cant
install th windows? Earlier on, during th POST, it sas cpu is running
in Safe Mode, how do we change that? Thanks

What is the make and model of your PC? Do you know how to enter the
BIOS? What is the reaosn you feel you need to perform a Clean Install?
Have you backed up all your data? (Be aware that a Clean Install erases
all your data!)

 

[shah]

Many thanks for all the responses. Its a DIY and mobo is about 4-5 years old
dated 2005 August and its a ECS mobo. I have backup all data and tried using
the new hdd, ram, psu and still sort of hang at the same point, ""Startup is
starting Windows" or after I press F8, it hang(no progress) there. So it
boils down to mobo. Do we make any changes to the cpu setting in the Bios as
during the course ofthis repair, it did say that the cpu is running on Safe
Modeand ask to change the setting in the bios which I just click Lad defaults

Since its p4 ddr1 & AMD process, its hardly worth to fix it. So guess there
is nothing to do but to write it off. thanks

 

[Daave]

I don't know what you mean by "cpu is running on Safe Mode." If you are
running Windows in Safe Mode, that means you have booted (incorrectly)
off the hard drive. (F8 is only used if you are booting off a Windows
installation on your hard drive and you wish to get the menu that has
options such as Safe Mode and Last Known Good COnfiguration.) You would
need to enter the BIOS and configure it so the boot order changes -- you
would need to boot off the CD.

Could you please clarify this part:

"and ask to change the setting in the bios which I just click Lad
defaults"

If your original message is accurate, this is a hardware problem. Are
you an overclocker? I Googled this phenomenon since I'm not familiar
with it. Here is one hit:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=4096

You can do so more research on your own. Enter the model number of your
ECS board and identify your BIOS. I am crossposting to this
microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware.

What do you mean by p4 -- Pentium 4? If so, that is Intel, so what do
you mean by "AMD process."

In your next post, please include the *exact text* of all the pertinent
messages.