XP HE Re-installation problem

[Karl Neumann]

Dear User Group,
My son's PC with Windows XP HE, retail upgrade from ME, has the following
problem:
It boots up but never gets to the desktop screen. Instead it goes into the
setup program and asks for the Windows XP HE installation disk. After
inserting the CD the setup continues until a screen appears that shows
"installation will complete in approximately 39 minutes." Then the progress
bar appears, labeled "Installing Devices." At 34 minutes left the
installation freezes. I've left it there for over 2 hrs but nothing happens.
I then powered off. Upon restart I hit the space bar when prompted to hit
any key to boot from the CD. Now I got the DOS setup screens which allowed
me to delete partions and reformat the hard disk. Setup then continued
normally until again it quit again at 34 minutes left to installation
complete.
When booting from the CD and selecting a clean installation I expected to
get a screen that would prompt for proof of prior ownership (ME), but setup
never asked for it.
The hard disk is a Quantum Fireball 10.2 GB. When formating the hard disk it
showed me 9773 MB (9772 MB free). Is that OK?
I've concluded that the hard disk is corrupted, which causes the setup
program to go in circles.
Does anyone know how to get get out of this loop?
Sincerely, Karl

 

[Menno Hershberger]

Dear User Group,
My son's PC with Windows XP HE, retail upgrade from ME, has the
following problem:
It boots up but never gets to the desktop screen. Instead it goes into
the setup program and asks for the Windows XP HE installation disk.
After inserting the CD the setup continues until a screen appears that
shows "installation will complete in approximately 39 minutes." Then
the progress bar appears, labeled "Installing Devices." At 34 minutes
left the installation freezes. I've left it there for over 2 hrs but
nothing happens. I then powered off. Upon restart I hit the space bar
when prompted to hit any key to boot from the CD. Now I got the DOS
setup screens which allowed me to delete partions and reformat the
hard disk. Setup then continued normally until again it quit again at
34 minutes left to installation complete.
When booting from the CD and selecting a clean installation I expected
to get a screen that would prompt for proof of prior ownership (ME),
but setup never asked for it.
The hard disk is a Quantum Fireball 10.2 GB. When formating the hard
disk it showed me 9773 MB (9772 MB free). Is that OK?
I've concluded that the hard disk is corrupted, which causes the setup
program to go in circles.

Well, maybe, but I doubt it. You can probably download a diagnostic
application from Quantum to check it with though. It would have to be on
a floppy disk, of course.
Try disconnecting any peripherals... printer, scanner, etc. Keyboard,
mouse and monitor is about all you need. Since it's hanging up on
"installing devices" that could possibly be the problem. Then there's
always the possibilty that the CD is corrupt. Although at that point it
has already copied most of the files it needs to install, it still may be
looking for a device driver on the CD.
This isn't the first time I've seen this problem posted. Maybe someone
else can remember if there were other cures for it.

 

[Menno Hershberger]

Well, maybe, but I doubt it. You can probably download a
diagnostic
application from Quantum to check it with though. It would have to be
on a floppy disk, of course.
Try disconnecting any peripherals... printer, scanner, etc.
Keyboard,
mouse and monitor is about all you need. Since it's hanging up on
"installing devices" that could possibly be the problem. Then there's
always the possibilty that the CD is corrupt. Although at that point
it has already copied most of the files it needs to install, it still
may be looking for a device driver on the CD.
This isn't the first time I've seen this problem posted. Maybe
someone
else can remember if there were other cures for it.

Here's a couple of sites that might help. Both of them mention disconnecting
everything... even taking out the sound card (if your sound isn't on board).
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/getstarted/troubleshoot.mspx
http://forums.devshed.com/archive/t-111158