reinstall problem

B

Bill H.

Too many problems with this computer so decided to reformat and reinstall
winxp home.

Used a win98 boot floppy to fdisk and format the hard drive.

Ran \i386\winnt from the XP CD.

Starts OK, asking where the XP files are (\i386) and starts copying files to
the hard disk. I see the filenames in the lower right corner of the screen.

Then, they stop displaying there, the screen still says "please wait while
Windows copies files to your hard disk" (or similar), but it never gets
beyond that. Twice I've simply rebooted, and looked at the hard disk and
the same number of files and used disk space are there.

So, it's somehow hanging up and not letting me reinstall. If I restart
winnt, it sees the temp files, removes them and start over, but still hangs.

Now what?

Thanks.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Use the following procedure to perform a "clean install"
of Windows XP:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Too many problems with this computer so decided to reformat and reinstall
| winxp home.
|
| Used a win98 boot floppy to fdisk and format the hard drive.
|
| Ran \i386\winnt from the XP CD.
|
| Starts OK, asking where the XP files are (\i386) and starts copying files to
| the hard disk. I see the filenames in the lower right corner of the screen.
|
| Then, they stop displaying there, the screen still says "please wait while
| Windows copies files to your hard disk" (or similar), but it never gets
| beyond that. Twice I've simply rebooted, and looked at the hard disk and
| the same number of files and used disk space are there.
|
| So, it's somehow hanging up and not letting me reinstall. If I restart
| winnt, it sees the temp files, removes them and start over, but still hangs.
|
| Now what?
|
| Thanks.
|
| --
| Bill
 
B

Bill H.

Here's the problem.

I do steps 1-3.

When the CD boots, I get this:

Windows XP Home Edition Setup

Welcome to Setup

This portion of the Setup progrma prepares Microsoft
Windows XP to run on your computer
To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
To repair a Windows XP installation using
Recovery Console, press R
To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3

That's all there is. No option to remove (maybe because I'd already fdisked
and formatted the drive using a win98 book disk).

When I press Enter, it starts copying files, but then hangs.

Use the following procedure to perform a "clean install"
of Windows XP:

The Windows XP CD is bootable and contains all the tools necessary
to partition and format your drive. Follow this procedure and allow
Windows XP to partition and format your drive:

NOTE: It would be best to physically disconnect all your peripheral hardware
devices, except the monitor, mouse and keyboard, before installing XP.

NOTE: If you have an internal Zip Drive installed, physically disconnect the
EIDE and power cable to it before proceeding, otherwise your main
hard drive may not be assigned the customary C: drive letter.
After installing Windows XP, you may then reconnect it.

1. Open your BIOS and set your "CD Drive as the first bootable device".

===> Accessing Motherboard BIOS
===> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

2. Insert your Windows XP CD in the CD Drive and reboot your computer.
3. You'll see a message to boot to the CD....follow the instructions.
4. The setup menu will appear and you should elect to delete all the existing
Windows partitions, then create a new partition, then format the primary
partition (preferably NTFS) and proceed to install Windows XP.

5. Clean Install Windows XP
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Courtesy of Michael Stevens, MS-MVP]

6. ==> Immediately after installing Windows XP, turn on XP's Firewall.
==> http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

7. After Windows XP is installed, visit the Windows Update website
and download the available "Critical Updates".

8. After installing the critical updates, be sure and visit the support website
of the manufacturer of the computer to download and install any
available Windows XP compatible drivers, such as video adapter
and audio drivers.

9. If you happen to run into any installation difficulties, use the following resources:

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Kelly Theriot]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------

:

| Too many problems with this computer so decided to reformat and reinstall
| winxp home.
|
| Used a win98 boot floppy to fdisk and format the hard drive.
|
| Ran \i386\winnt from the XP CD.
|
| Starts OK, asking where the XP files are (\i386) and starts copying files to
| the hard disk. I see the filenames in the lower right corner of the screen.
|
| Then, they stop displaying there, the screen still says "please wait while
| Windows copies files to your hard disk" (or similar), but it never gets
| beyond that. Twice I've simply rebooted, and looked at the hard disk and
| the same number of files and used disk space are there.
|
| So, it's somehow hanging up and not letting me reinstall. If I restart
| winnt, it sees the temp files, removes them and start over, but still hangs.
|
| Now what?
|
| Thanks.
|
| --
| Bill
 
B

Bill H.

OK, I think I got it started.

I had just recently installed a memory upgrade, which worked with the
installed, but damaged, winxp. So I removed the extra memory, and things
are going more as described in your post.

Also, this box was designed as a mini-tower, but in that position the CD
reader is vertical. So, I sat it on the large (flat) side so that the CD is
horizontal. Maybe that helped too.

Strange stuff...

I'm now about 33% through formatting the new NTSF partition.

:)

Will be back if I have any more problems.

Thanks!
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Setup Stops Responding (Hangs) During File Copy
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;296814&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Here's the problem.
|
| I do steps 1-3.
|
| When the CD boots, I get this:
|
| Windows XP Home Edition Setup
|
| Welcome to Setup
|
| This portion of the Setup progrma prepares Microsoft
| Windows XP to run on your computer
| To set up Windows XP now, press ENTER
| To repair a Windows XP installation using
| Recovery Console, press R
| To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3
|
| That's all there is. No option to remove (maybe because I'd already fdisked
| and formatted the drive using a win98 book disk).
|
| When I press Enter, it starts copying files, but then hangs.
 

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