XP Pro Installation Freezing

[Jason]

The setup is freezing when the computer restarts from
initial configuration and displays the text
message 'Starting Windows Setup...' with a series of
vertical bars below it. This is after obtaining a brand
new Maxtor 80 GB hard drive and installing Windows ME on
it, then attempting to upgrade to XP Pro. I have a full
XP Pro CD, not an upgrade, but when I finished initially
setting up the hard drive using the Maxtor CD for an XP
install (NTFS format) then stuck the bootable XP Pro
install CD in, it froze at that exact screen: 'Starting
Windows Setup...' with the series of vertical bars below
it. I've seen that work before, I know the vertical bar
area is a progress indicator that is supposed to turn
solid white and then move on to the next screen. WHAT IS
THE PROBLEM??????????? HELP PLEASE

 

[Malke]

The setup is freezing when the computer restarts from
initial configuration and displays the text
message 'Starting Windows Setup...' with a series of
vertical bars below it. This is after obtaining a brand
new Maxtor 80 GB hard drive and installing Windows ME on
it, then attempting to upgrade to XP Pro. I have a full
XP Pro CD, not an upgrade, but when I finished initially
setting up the hard drive using the Maxtor CD for an XP
install (NTFS format) then stuck the bootable XP Pro
install CD in, it froze at that exact screen: 'Starting
Windows Setup...' with the series of vertical bars below
it. I've seen that work before, I know the vertical bar
area is a progress indicator that is supposed to turn
solid white and then move on to the next screen. WHAT IS
THE PROBLEM??????????? HELP PLEASE

There was no reason for you to install ME on your drive first! Even for
an upgrade, you can install on a clean drive and you say you have a
full XP version. So, start over. Have no peripheral devices connected.
Boot from the XP cd and delete any partitions, create new ones, and
clean install Windows. If Windows will not install, then it is probably
because you have bad RAM or a bad hard drive. Yes, a brand new hard
drive can be bad, particularly those extra-skinny Maxtors. Do a RAM
test with something like Memtest86. You can download PowerMax to test
the Maxtor. If you need more help, please post back and include what
you've already done to troubleshoot.

Malke