There might be a less painful way of resolving this problem. You will need
some quick fingers at the begining of the install process, but lord willing
and the creek don't rise you should be able to successfully complete this
process. Follow the directions below:
The Role of the F5 Key and Shutdown Problems
When XP is first installed it tries to determine what type of BIOS is
available on the computer. Newer systems have what is known as Advanced
Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) capability. Unfortunately, XP
doesn't always recognize a computer BIOS is ACPI capable and doesn't install
the support for ACPI. Even more unfortunate is the fact that if ACPI support
isn't determined at the initial install it's virtually impossible to correct
this at a later time short of reinstalling XP over the top of the previous
XP installation. To do so requires changing the Hardware Abstraction Layer
(HAL). The chances of successfully changing a HAL after XP has been
installed is pretty close to zilch.
Once you drop the CD in the tray and fire up the computer to install XP, the
first thing you'll see at the bottom of the screen is the option to press F6
if you need to install a SCSI or RAID controller. Don't press F6. Press F5
instead. This will take you to a separate menu of Hardware Abstraction
Layer's where you can choose an appropriate HAL that supports ACPI. The
choices will be:
ACPI Multiprocessor PC
ACPI Uniprocessor PC
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC * * * * This is
what I chose for my system !!! * * * *
Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor or 100% Compatible PC
MPS Uniprocessor PC
MPS Multiprocessor PC
Standard PC
Standard PC with C-Step i486
Other
In the majority of installations the 'Advanced Configuration and Power
Interface (ACPI) PC' HAL is the one you will want to use. A few cautions are
also in order:
Obtain and install the latest BIOS for your motherboard before you begin the
XP installation.
Equally as important as using the proper HAL on ACPI capable systems, is NOT
using it on systems that are not ACPI compatible. The install may complete
but the system will almost surely fail to start when it reboots.
There are situations where it is definitely not desirable to use an ACPI HAL
even if it is supported by the BIOS. This predominately applies to servers,
but to insure that an ACPI HAL will not be used or automatically detected
and used, press F7 instead of F5 as discussed previously.
Considering the number of problems that users have with systems not shutting
down completely I wonder why this feature is not prominently mentioned and
documented. It could save many headaches, but now you know. A good piece of
knowledge to have tucked away for your next XP install.
As a final note, to determine if your computer was detected as being ACPI
enabled:
Right click My Computer then click Properties > Hardware > Device Manager.
Expand the entry called Computer.
If the entry is 'Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC'
you're all set. If it says 'Standard PC' the computer BIOS was not detected
as being ACPI capable.
Tom Johnson
