XP does not install.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Derek F
  • Start date Start date
D

Derek F

Over time my XP Pro files became rather messed up and I decided to do a
clean install. I formatted Drive C (FAT 32) and set the BIOS to boot from
the CD. The initial set up screens came up and got to the stage where it
said that it was setting up Windows. That screen just remained there without
anything more happening. I tried a few more times with the same result
before deciding to try loading from my older XP Home disk instead, the same
happened. It would seem very unlikely that both disks have been damaged. I
had previously copied my XP disk to another partition on the HD and tried to
set up unsuccessfully from there.
Wondering if I had a HD problem I fished out my old Windows 95 disk and that
installed OK. I then upgraded that successfully to Windows 98 SE (Bill Gates
has had a lotta money from me)
Why will XP not install?
TIA
Derek.
 
Jupiter Jones said:
Why are you formatting prior to install?
It is not necessary and the existing partition may be the problem.

Follow this for a Clean Installation:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/cleanxp.htm
Be sure to delete the partitions.
Click to expand...

If I did not format, how would I get rid of the existing data on the
partition?
I did all the right things, as on previous clean installs that worked.
"Be sure to delete partitions" Why?
Derek.
 
Derek;
Follow the instructions on my previous post.
The installation process of Windows XP will do it all.
Just be sure to delete the partitions.
 
My HD is partitioned into three drives:
C Windows XP and all other Microsoft programs.
D All other Programs files
E Music files, video files and other rubbish:-)
I obviously do not want to delete Drive E
Derek.
PS to compound my misery the PSU on that computer went last night and fried
my motherboard.
 
Derek;
I was afraid you would say that.
Once the motherboard is replaced.
Install on the applicable partition letting Windows XP format the
partition.
If it still will not install, there may be a problem with the
partition table that Windows XP sees.

If you have a spare hard drive, temporarily install it and see if
Windows XP will install.
 
I'll let you know what happens.
Derek.
Jupiter Jones said:
Derek;
I was afraid you would say that.
Once the motherboard is replaced.
Install on the applicable partition letting Windows XP format the
partition.
If it still will not install, there may be a problem with the
partition table that Windows XP sees.

If you have a spare hard drive, temporarily install it and see if
Windows XP will install.
Click to expand...
 
I never had a prob with reinstalling XP ??, but i allways formated my
c:\ drive befor ei did a reinstall, booted via a bootdisk and formated
:)

Then installed XP never a prob, though it can be done by booting the
XP cdrom i prefer my way, nice and clean.
 
The next chapter!

Original post for new readers:-)

"Over time my XP Pro files became rather messed up and I decided to do a
clean install. I formatted Drive C (FAT 32) and set the BIOS to boot from
the CD. The initial set up screens came up and got to the stage where it
said that it was setting up Windows. That screen just remained there without
anything more happening. I tried a few more times with the same result
before deciding to try loading from my older XP Home disk instead, the same
happened. It would seem very unlikely that both disks have been damaged. I
had previously copied my XP disk to another partition on the HD and tried to
set up unsuccessfully from there.
Wondering if I had a HD problem I fished out my old Windows 95 disk and that
installed OK. I then upgraded that successfully to Windows 98 SE (Bill Gates
has had a lotta money from me)
Why will XP not install?"

The dealer put my memory and CPU in his test bed to check them and both
appeared OK. I also decided to buy a 200GB HD and use my old 80GB as a slave
and for specific tasks. He replaced the PSU and motherboard and loaded his
version of XP which worked OK. He then deleted the partition so that I could
set up XP from my own disk. I took the computer home but before I turned it
on he phoned to say that he had put in the AMD Athlon XP 1600 from his test
bed instead of my Athlon XP 2000. He came down and changed them over for me.
I put in my XP disk and it booted from it but gave me a blue screen and told
me of an IRQ clash and to consult my dealer. I tried again and as before the
PSU failed the computer attempted to install Windows files but
stopped at the loading files stage. It did not bring up the Windows
agreement or notice that the HD was not formatted. Another two attempts
produced the same result.
I then attached my old HD which had Win98 on it and it booted up OK and I
was able to use the system and connect to the internet etc. I then
disconnected that HD and rebooted the computer to have a look at the BIOS
settings. I then allowed the machine to continue the diagnostics but it went
dead. and the reset button did not respond. I pulled the plug and then put
back in, again it started the diagnostics and then died.I took it
back to the dealer who reasoned that the only thing different from when he
successfully installed XP was my processor. It would seem that
the CPU was faulty before the PSU failed. I bought a new Athlon 2600 CPU and
installed XP successfully.
I still want to get at the data on the second bootable partition on my old
HD but get the error <windows root>|system32\hal.dll missing when booting
from it.
I copied hal.dll from my other drive without it being of help. The MS
knowledge base suggestion that the remedy is to rebuild bootcfg did not
help.
Derek.
 
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