XP installation problem

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I have tried this problem in another group without any suggestions.

This is an E-machine computer.

When the computer arrived it booted to the boot menu (Safe Mode,
etc.)and no matter which option you selected it returned to the same
boot option. Of course it has an OEM XP CD.

I reinstalled using the OEM CD and arrived at the same boot menu with
the same problem. Any choice puts you in a loop back to that boot
menu. I suspect that the computer had been to a repair shop that also
tried to reinstall.

I used delpart, formatted the HD, and attempted to install XP from a
MS issued CD and it goes to a blue screen telling me it is going to
start windows and just hangs there. It does the same thing when I
tried to install W2K. There are no error messages. It behaves like a
normal installation but hangs when it says it is starting windows.

The memory tested OK but I tried a new stick and all of the above
problems remained unchanged. I tried a different HD...no help. I
removed the only PCI card (modem) and nothing changed.

Here is the kicker. Win98 se installs and functions normally.

I have run out of ideas and so has the instructor in our computer
repair class at a local college.

Any suggestions will be appreciated and tried.
 
Unknown said:
I have tried this problem in another group without any suggestions.

This is an E-machine computer.

When the computer arrived it booted to the boot menu (Safe Mode,
etc.)and no matter which option you selected it returned to the same
boot option. Of course it has an OEM XP CD.

I reinstalled using the OEM CD and arrived at the same boot menu with
the same problem. Any choice puts you in a loop back to that boot
menu. I suspect that the computer had been to a repair shop that also
tried to reinstall.

I used delpart, formatted the HD, and attempted to install XP from a
MS issued CD and it goes to a blue screen telling me it is going to
start windows and just hangs there. It does the same thing when I
tried to install W2K. There are no error messages. It behaves like a
normal installation but hangs when it says it is starting windows.

The memory tested OK but I tried a new stick and all of the above
problems remained unchanged. I tried a different HD...no help. I
removed the only PCI card (modem) and nothing changed.

Here is the kicker. Win98 se installs and functions normally.

I have run out of ideas and so has the instructor in our computer
repair class at a local college.

Any suggestions will be appreciated and tried.
Click to expand...

At first I would've suspected the PSU, or the computer over heating,
but the fact that it works in 98 is a bit weird. Is there any
unnecessary hardware that can be removed other than the modem?

Is the computer compatable with Win XP. You could look at
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx, this will say whether
the hardware is compatable with 2k. Of course I don't know whether
it's a new machine or old machine. I know that the motherboard in my
old PII 350MHz machine wasn't compatable with XP.
 
[email protected] said:
Unknown wrote:

At first I would've suspected the PSU, or the computer over heating,
but the fact that it works in 98 is a bit weird. Is there any
unnecessary hardware that can be removed other than the modem?

Is the computer compatable with Win XP. You could look at
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx, this will say whether
the hardware is compatable with 2k. Of course I don't know whether
it's a new machine or old machine. I know that the motherboard in my
old PII 350MHz machine wasn't compatable with XP.
Click to expand...

Ah actually, that web page is rubbish. It only lists the things that
are windows certified. My KD7 motherboard isn't there and it's fine
with 2k.
 
Ah actually, that web page is rubbish. It only lists the things that
are windows certified. My KD7 motherboard isn't there and it's fine
with 2k.
Click to expand...

I think there is a piece of software you can download from MS that
tests for XP hardware compatibility. It sure sounds like his machine
has something that XP doesn't like.
 
,;
,;Unknown wrote:
,;> I have tried this problem in another group without any suggestions.
,;>
,;> This is an E-machine computer.
,;>
,;> When the computer arrived it booted to the boot menu (Safe Mode,
,;> etc.)and no matter which option you selected it returned to the same
,;> boot option. Of course it has an OEM XP CD.
,;>
,;> I reinstalled using the OEM CD and arrived at the same boot menu with
,;> the same problem. Any choice puts you in a loop back to that boot
,;> menu. I suspect that the computer had been to a repair shop that also
,;> tried to reinstall.
,;>
,;> I used delpart, formatted the HD, and attempted to install XP from a
,;> MS issued CD and it goes to a blue screen telling me it is going to
,;> start windows and just hangs there. It does the same thing when I
,;> tried to install W2K. There are no error messages. It behaves like a
,;> normal installation but hangs when it says it is starting windows.
,;>
,;> The memory tested OK but I tried a new stick and all of the above
,;> problems remained unchanged. I tried a different HD...no help. I
,;> removed the only PCI card (modem) and nothing changed.
,;>
,;> Here is the kicker. Win98 se installs and functions normally.
,;>
,;> I have run out of ideas and so has the instructor in our computer
,;> repair class at a local college.
,;>
,;> Any suggestions will be appreciated and tried.
,;
,;At first I would've suspected the PSU, or the computer over heating,
,;but the fact that it works in 98 is a bit weird. Is there any
,;unnecessary hardware that can be removed other than the modem?
,;
,;Is the computer compatable with Win XP. You could look at
,;http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx, this will say whether
,;the hardware is compatable with 2k. Of course I don't know whether
,;it's a new machine or old machine. I know that the motherboard in my
,;old PII 350MHz machine wasn't compatable with XP.
Click to expand...

The OEM CD came with the computer. I don't know how it failed
initially. When it came to me apparently someone had already tried an
installation and got the infamous "boot menu" that I got.

It had XP home when it left the factory.
 
Unknown said:
I have tried this problem in another group without any suggestions.
Click to expand...
...

Try using a different CD drive for the install. I had a similar problem and
would get a blue screen complaining of a bad IDE cable, etc. The problem
was with the CD drive.
 
,;[email protected] wrote:
,;> (e-mail address removed) wrote:
,;>
,;>>Unknown wrote:
,;>>
,;>>At first I would've suspected the PSU, or the computer over heating,
,;>>but the fact that it works in 98 is a bit weird. Is there any
,;>>unnecessary hardware that can be removed other than the modem?
,;>>
,;>>Is the computer compatable with Win XP. You could look at
,;>>http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/search.mspx, this will say whether
,;>>the hardware is compatable with 2k. Of course I don't know whether
,;>>it's a new machine or old machine. I know that the motherboard in my
,;>>old PII 350MHz machine wasn't compatable with XP.
,;>
,;>
,;> Ah actually, that web page is rubbish. It only lists the things that
,;> are windows certified. My KD7 motherboard isn't there and it's fine
,;> with 2k.
,;>
,;
,; I think there is a piece of software you can download from MS that
,;tests for XP hardware compatibility. It sure sounds like his machine
,;has something that XP doesn't like.
Click to expand...

It isn't a compatibility problem as I used the OEM CD that came with
the computer. I don't know the age but it is a 2.2 GHz. CPU with 128
stick of RAM and left the factory with XP Home. When I tried a
different stick of RAM I put in 512 so RAM isn't the problem. A
different HD didn't change a thing. We were going to switch out the
CPU but backed off of that as we couldn't think of a good reason for
doing so.

It also is puzzling that the OEM CD installs to that maddening boot
menu and both conventional CDs from MS (W2K & XP) go to the blue
screen which says it is starting windows and then hangs there. We
suspected the MB but then Win98se installed without a problem.

This computer has a lot of us scratching our heads. I will try just
about anything so If anyone has some wild ideas let me know.
 
Unknown said:
I have tried this problem in another group without any suggestions.

This is an E-machine computer.

When the computer arrived it booted to the boot menu (Safe Mode,
etc.)and no matter which option you selected it returned to the same
boot option. Of course it has an OEM XP CD.

I reinstalled using the OEM CD and arrived at the same boot menu with
the same problem. Any choice puts you in a loop back to that boot
menu. I suspect that the computer had been to a repair shop that also
tried to reinstall.

I used delpart, formatted the HD, and attempted to install XP from a
MS issued CD and it goes to a blue screen telling me it is going to
start windows and just hangs there. It does the same thing when I
tried to install W2K. There are no error messages. It behaves like a
normal installation but hangs when it says it is starting windows.

The memory tested OK but I tried a new stick and all of the above
problems remained unchanged. I tried a different HD...no help. I
removed the only PCI card (modem) and nothing changed.

Here is the kicker. Win98 se installs and functions normally.

I have run out of ideas and so has the instructor in our computer
repair class at a local college.

Any suggestions will be appreciated and tried.
Click to expand...

It sounds to me like it's hanging on trying to start some device. That
could be a defective device on the motherboard or some inconsistency in the
BIOS settings.

Try clearing CMOS and setting it to safe values and if that doesn't work
try disabling all onboard devices.
 
Unknown said:
The OEM CD came with the computer. I don't know how it failed
initially. When it came to me apparently someone had already tried an
installation and got the infamous "boot menu" that I got.

It had XP home when it left the factory.
Click to expand...

It's probably a modified installer on that OEM cdrom. Get a proper copy
of the xp cdrom and just use your serial number that came with the OEM
cdrom.

Ari

--
spammage trappage: replace fishies_ with yahoo

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/
 
David Maynard said:
It sounds to me like it's hanging on trying to start some device. That
could be a defective device on the motherboard or some inconsistency in
the BIOS settings.

Try clearing CMOS and setting it to safe values and if that doesn't work
try disabling all onboard devices.
Click to expand...
Since W98 installs normally I would think that XP is incorrectly identifying
some hardware and installing the wrong drivers. XP has many more drivers it
installs during installation than 98. This could very well be due to a
failed device. After installing W98se I would check the device manager and
install 98 drivers (which might be a problem if it is a later model
E-Machine) and see if something rears it's head. I would especially check
the IDE controller since it is probably operating in PIO only mode after
your W98 install until you install the correct .inf drivers for the MB. Just
look for the yellow exclamation marks in device manager after you install
W98se.

Ed
 
one other comment along the lines you were going.... OLD hardware may not be
compatible with XP, winmodems are a source of these types of problems.
 
,;Unknown wrote:
,;> On 31 Mar 2005 03:37:41 -0800, (e-mail address removed) wrote:
,;>
,;>
Click to expand...
,;>
,;
,;It's probably a modified installer on that OEM cdrom. Get a proper copy
,;of the xp cdrom and just use your serial number that came with the OEM
,;cdrom.
Click to expand...

I have deleted the original post and will restate the problem here
with the most recent trials some from suggestions in this group.
Hopefully this will give a better picture of the problem.

This computer was manufactured by Emachines and came with XP Home
installed. The original OEM CDs were included when it came to our
class room. The class is an advanced computer repair course at a local
college. We run a small computer repair business at nominal charges
(sometimes free) for the students and faculty so the class members can
get some real time contact with problems from the real world.

When the computer arrived it booted to the Advance Boot Menu where one
can select the method of booting, safe mode, etc. If you leave it in
the default boot it goes through the countdown and then reboots to
that same menu. It will do this all day if you let it. If you select a
different option, e.g. safe mode it will behave as if it was going to
do that but instead returns to that same boot menu.

These are the things we have tried not necessarily in order. Some as a
result of suggestions from this group.

1. Boot to original OEM CDs to reinstall the OS. This just reproduced
the above described problem.

2. Ran delpart to remove all partitions and repeat #1. Nothing changed
we still get to the boot menu.

3. Replaced RAM and repeat. Nothing changed.

4. Different HD. Nothing changed.

5. Ran delpart again and tried to install XP from a known good CD. The
installation goes until one gets to the blue screen which says it is
going to start Windows. It hangs there.

6. Tried to install W2K from a known good CD. W2K goes to the same
blue screen and hangs just as XP did. Note: There is no error message
just the normal blue screen on a windows installation.

7. In desperation tried to install Win98se. Surprise, installation
went normally and Win98se is in fact installed.

8.Put Partition Magic on and created a second partition for further
attempts to install XP.

9. All attempts to install either W2K or XP to drive D: produced the
same results as above.

10. It was suggested that the CD ROM drive might be a problem so: Ran
the six floppy disk set for XP installation for computers that won't
boot to the CD ROM drive. Disks 1 to 5 ran OK but disk 6 hung at the
same blue screen where it was going to start windows just as it did
when booting to the CD. Disk 6 didn't finish its thing.

11 Ran the four disk set for installation of W2K when CD doesn't boot.
All four disks ran but disk four got to the same blue screen and hung
there.

That is where we are "hung" up at present. Somewhere in the above
blizzard of attempts I reset the BIOS to the factory default to no
avail. There are no cards in the computer and I have disabled
everything I can in the BIOS.

Emachine support said the machine was out of warranty and wanted to
sell us installation CDs at $20. I declined and that was all the help
I got. Please note: Several have suggested that there is a
comparability problem. The computer came with XP Home and we are using
the original CDs. That sort of rules out a compatibility problem.

Any additional suggestions will be welcomed. We of course want to
reinstall XP Home but the question is "Why would Win98se install and
neither XP or W2K install".

Incidentally the lady will be charged $25 if we get the computer
running. No charge if we fail.
 
I have deleted the original post and will restate the problem here
with the most recent trials some from suggestions in this group.
Hopefully this will give a better picture of the problem.

This computer was manufactured by Emachines and came with XP Home
installed. The original OEM CDs were included when it came to our
class room. The class is an advanced computer repair course at a local
college. We run a small computer repair business at nominal charges
(sometimes free) for the students and faculty so the class members can
get some real time contact with problems from the real world.

When the computer arrived it booted to the Advance Boot Menu where one
can select the method of booting, safe mode, etc. If you leave it in
the default boot it goes through the countdown and then reboots to
that same menu. It will do this all day if you let it. If you select a
different option, e.g. safe mode it will behave as if it was going to
do that but instead returns to that same boot menu.

These are the things we have tried not necessarily in order. Some as a
result of suggestions from this group.

1. Boot to original OEM CDs to reinstall the OS. This just reproduced
the above described problem.

2. Ran delpart to remove all partitions and repeat #1. Nothing changed
we still get to the boot menu.

3. Replaced RAM and repeat. Nothing changed.

4. Different HD. Nothing changed.

5. Ran delpart again and tried to install XP from a known good CD. The
installation goes until one gets to the blue screen which says it is
going to start Windows. It hangs there.

6. Tried to install W2K from a known good CD. W2K goes to the same
blue screen and hangs just as XP did. Note: There is no error message
just the normal blue screen on a windows installation.

7. In desperation tried to install Win98se. Surprise, installation
went normally and Win98se is in fact installed.

8.Put Partition Magic on and created a second partition for further
attempts to install XP.

9. All attempts to install either W2K or XP to drive D: produced the
same results as above.

10. It was suggested that the CD ROM drive might be a problem so: Ran
the six floppy disk set for XP installation for computers that won't
boot to the CD ROM drive. Disks 1 to 5 ran OK but disk 6 hung at the
same blue screen where it was going to start windows just as it did
when booting to the CD. Disk 6 didn't finish its thing.

11 Ran the four disk set for installation of W2K when CD doesn't boot.
All four disks ran but disk four got to the same blue screen and hung
there.

That is where we are "hung" up at present. Somewhere in the above
blizzard of attempts I reset the BIOS to the factory default to no
avail. There are no cards in the computer and I have disabled
everything I can in the BIOS.

Emachine support said the machine was out of warranty and wanted to
sell us installation CDs at $20. I declined and that was all the help
I got. Please note: Several have suggested that there is a
comparability problem. The computer came with XP Home and we are using
the original CDs. That sort of rules out a compatibility problem.

Any additional suggestions will be welcomed. We of course want to
reinstall XP Home but the question is "Why would Win98se install and
neither XP or W2K install".

Incidentally the lady will be charged $25 if we get the computer
running. No charge if we fail.
Click to expand...
Since you CAN get W98SE to install, I would do that and try to diagnose the
problem from there. Since XP won't even get you to the OS, it isn't going to
help you much. I have tendencies to look towards something defective on the
MB myself, but that is just an educated guess. Once you get into SE, try and
install the 98 drivers for the MB and other onboard devices. That is about
the only option there is since XP isn't getting you anywhere.

Ed
 
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