XP will not complete installation reboots (starts over)

[Jim]

I have a legal copy of Windows XP Home Ed and recently obtained a
unmountable boot error. I ran the known fixes (chkdsk /p, fixmbr, etc)
and it booted with errors. Ok, fine I'll just do a clean install.

Problem is with every install attempt it gets through the ms-dos
portion, but reboots directly back to the initial setup screen. For
some reason it will not boot to the GUI. I've tried removing the disk
after the MS-DOS portion, and it gives me the 'cannot find boot disk'
error. I put in the XP cd and it boots to the initial setup. I also
tried to install Win 2000 and got the EXACT same result. Ran hardware
diags, checked out fine.

Any ideas? I believe this is a known issue, but I cannot find a
solution. Thanks in advance!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Perform a regular format and not a quick format.

Differences between a Quick format and a regular format during a
"clean" installation of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302686

Also, do not hit "any key" when XP's setup reboots the first time.
XP setup will reboot on its own. In other words, ignore the
message to press "any key" to boot from your CD Drive the
first time setup reboots on its own.

Windows XP Setup Restarts the Setup Program When Your Computer Restarts
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;826976

How to Troubleshoot Windows XP Problems During Installation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310064

Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

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:

| I have a legal copy of Windows XP Home Ed and recently obtained a
| unmountable boot error. I ran the known fixes (chkdsk /p, fixmbr, etc)
| and it booted with errors. Ok, fine I'll just do a clean install.
|
| Problem is with every install attempt it gets through the ms-dos
| portion, but reboots directly back to the initial setup screen. For
| some reason it will not boot to the GUI. I've tried removing the disk
| after the MS-DOS portion, and it gives me the 'cannot find boot disk'
| error. I put in the XP cd and it boots to the initial setup. I also
| tried to install Win 2000 and got the EXACT same result. Ran hardware
| diags, checked out fine.
|
| Any ideas? I believe this is a known issue, but I cannot find a
| solution. Thanks in advance!

 

[Jim]

I'll post results tomorrow, thanks for the help thus far.

 

[Jim]

I installed a different harddrive, same result. I'm aware of the
'press any button' problem, that isn't the issue. Although I'm curious
if a biosflash will help, it seems to be trashed. It takes longer than
usual to detect the IDE drives. So I hooked up another cd rom and
booted a few times, same result.

I have two sticks of memory, I've tried installation with each.
Reseated all the cards/cables.

I'm going crazy, what could this be? I've fixed dozens of friends
computers, and I can't fix my own.