problem with reinstalling windows XP

T

theo.bruening

Hello,

I need to reinstall XP home (or repair install, for present purposes I
don't care). But it does not work. Here's what happens:

1. I insert the install CD
2. "Press any key to enter setup" - either I press a key or not,
the result is the same. if I don't:
3. choice "Windows XP home" or "Windows setup". the former gets
me to windows, the latter gets me to...
4. A blank black screen. For the blink of a second there it
states that "Setup is reading hardware configuartions" or something
like that. But then it's just black, it does not enter setup, nothing.
this is reached by either pressing any key at (2) or choosing setup at
(3).

Any ideas welcome!!!

Thanks!
 
J

John John

Are you booting the computer with the Windows XP cd or are you trying to
launch it from the up and running XP installation?

John
 
T

theo.bruening

Sorry, I should have pointed this out - I am rebooting with the XP CD
in the CD drive. I am trying to remove/reinstall the existing XP.

First I insert the CD, then I went through "install" on the CD when in
XP, which requires a restart. Then I reboot. At this point I encounter
the blank screen as stated above. I tried different CD drives, with no
different results. booting from CD is above booting from HDD in the
bios.

Hence the full record of events is:
- I am in XP. I put in the CD.
- I enter the install mode, enter the validation code, some files are
copied.
- to complete installation, restart is required. The computer shuts
down. Then
- "Press any key to enter setup" - either I press a key or not, the
result is the same. if I don't:
- choice "Windows XP home" or "Windows setup". the former gets me to
windows, the latter gets me to...
- A blank black screen. For the blink of a second there it states that
"Setup is reading hardware configuartions" or something like that. But
then it's just black, it does not enter setup, nothing. this is
reached by either pressing any key at or choosing setup at.

Again, any help is appreciated!

T
 
J

John John

Don't start this from within Windows at all. Shut down the computer and
reboot with the Windows XP cd only and see what happens. If you want to
remove and reinstall XP format the XP drive and proceed to install. If
you are using SATA drives you may need to press F6 early on during the
setup routine and supply controller drivers on a floppy diskette.

John
 
T

theo.bruening

remove and reinstall XP format the XP drive and proceed to install.
- I suppose by right-click on the drive and selecting "format"? sorry
I am a bit of a PC pleb.

SATA drives
- Not sure what these are - the PC is only about 18 months old, so I
dont think I'll need floppys

I was hoping I could reinstall XP without a format, but if there is no
other way, thats fine, I am all backed up.

Thanks for the post!

T
 
J

John John

T

theo.bruening

THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!!!

I am booting XP from CD, but whenever it is supposed to go into the
"Welcome To Setup" screen, I get a black screen!

That is exactly what I was meaning to do all along!!! the install does
not work!

I read the same steps here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/EN-US/
where it says:

--------
"Method 2: Reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the
Windows XP CD
To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP
CD, follow these steps:
1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the
screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-
ROM drive. For more information about how to configure your computer
to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, see your computer's
documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
3. You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen
that appears:..."
---------

Only in my case, no welcome to setup screen appears, but a black
screen!

hence the problem...
ideas?
thanks
T
 
T

theo.bruening

THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM!!!

I am booting XP from CD, but whenever it is supposed to go into the
"Welcome To Setup" screen, I get a black screen!

That is exactly what I was meaning to do all along!!! the install does
not work!

I read the same steps here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/EN-US/
where it says:

--------
"Method 2: Reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the
Windows XP CD
To reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP
CD, follow these steps:
1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM
drive, and then restart your computer.
2. When the "Press any key to boot from CD" message appears on the
screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.

Note Your computer must be configured to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-
ROM drive. For more information about how to configure your computer
to start from the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, see your computer's
documentation or contact your computer manufacturer.
3. You receive the following message on the Welcome to Setup screen
that appears:..."
---------

Only in my case, no welcome to setup screen appears, but a black
screen!

hence the problem...
ideas?
thanks
T
 
J

John John

Make sure that you have absolutely *nothing* attached to the computer
other than the mouse, keyboard and monitor. Disconnect *all* other
peripherals or USB devices. Disconnect external hard drives, printers,
remove flash drives, joysticks... disconnect everything not strictly
needed to install Windows.

I'm still inclined to think that this is an F6 controller driver issue,
sometimes without the controller drivers the setup doesn't see the hard
drive and hangs immediately at the Setup is inspecting your computer's
hardware configuration. It could also be a conflict with SATA/PATA
drive controllers, you may need to disable one or the other in the BIOS
to complete the installation. What make and model number of computer do
you have?

John
 
T

theo.bruening

John,

That was it exactly! all I had to do was to unplug my other stuff -
and the reinstallation worked! Thanks for the helping ideas - really
much appreciated!

Yours

T
 

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