Windows XP Pro Upgrade

[Guest]

I am trying to re-install XP Pro on my Dell laptop. The original installation (upgraded from XP Home) had some problems, so I am using a copy obtained under the Academic Alliance to try to repair the installation.
The installation proceded normally up to the point of installing devices where it crashed about 60% complete, re-booting the system. The setup procedure keeps re-starting at the beginning of this step and crashing at the same point every time.
Can anyone suggest a way round this? I have too much data on the system to have backed up everything, so I can't afford to reformat the system and start again!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Bill;
It sounds like you have incompatible hardware.
Disconnect all peripherals (scanner, printer camera etc).
If it still fails, remove all nonessential cards such as sound, modem,
network etc.
Use a standard PS2 mouse and keyboard instead of USB.

You should come up with a back-up plan by yesterday.
Hard drives are mechanical devices and do occasionally fail often
without warning and causing total loss of all data.

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

I am trying to re-install XP Pro on my Dell laptop. The original

installation (upgraded from XP Home) had some problems, so I am using
a copy obtained under the Academic Alliance to try to repair the
installation.

The installation proceded normally up to the point of installing

devices where it crashed about 60% complete, re-booting the system.
The setup procedure keeps re-starting at the beginning of this step
and crashing at the same point every time.

Can anyone suggest a way round this? I have too much data on the

system to have backed up everything, so I can't afford to reformat the
system and start again!