XP Help Needed

[jay529]

Im not a Computer Guru so ill do my best to explain my problem...

Ok ive been using WinME for that last 3years but yesterday I decided I wanted to try XP. So I went got it then come home and try to install it (its the XP upgrade). I have my first problem when I put the cd in my D-Drive (a CD-DVD player). It makes exlporer not respond (freeze up and I have to restart the computer) So then i put the cd in my E-Drive an CDRW and it runs fine. The menu pops up and says 1) Install XP 2)Preform addional task 3)Check sys compatibilty

So I did number 3 and it says...
Software that doesn't support XP
ºNVIDIA nView Desktop Manager


So I go ahead and then do number 1 (Install XP) So it starts and goes all the way thru and does its first reboot. This is where the problem is. The computer starts up and goes to the new load screen (All black says WinXP in middle and has a bar underneath it to show its loading.) But all of a sudden the whole screen goes black and then does nothing (like the computers frozzen) I though maybe its normall and like it sit like that for 5 hours hoping somthing would happen. Nothing did so I restarted. XP goes to the same loading screen then the computer goes black.


Things I've also tired:
- reformat, install ME and then XP
- reformated installed Win95, Upgrade to Win98 then install XP
- reformated installed 98, downloaded all the Win98 critical updates then install XP


This is starting to make me very angry... If anyone know what I could do please respond ASAP.

[Coffee]

Sounds like there's a problem with the CD your trying to use, I would have to say, try and get hold of WinXP including SP1 and then do a fresh install of XP without the other OS's being installed first.

The problem could also be with your HDD, try downloading any diagnostic apps for your make of drive. Try also cleaning the lens of your CDROM if you've had it a while it could be unclean and cause some files not to be read properly. Check your memory had no errors, Microsoft has a memory checker you can download, just do a search on the MS website, it's the only version of the app so shouldn't be too hard to find.

Also you may want to make sure there's not too much dust inside your computer, can always make things either over heat or just simply currupt.

Coffee.

[jay529]

Like I said its an upgrade version, So I can't install it without having an OS on the harddrive. It always goes to that one XP loading screen and then just goes blank. And I have tryed cleaning the disk.

[efc]

Since you have reformated twice, you are not trying to save your data. That makes it easier.

My recommendation is that you perform a clean install of XP. Yes it can be done with the upgrade. Also format the drive ntfs. Change bios setting to made CDROM the first boot drive. Then restart machine and follow on screen instructions.

Here is a good step-by-step. (http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsXP/expertzone/columns/honeycutt/02october07.asp)

[jay529]

What is ntfs and how do I format it?

[efc]

NT File System (NTFS). It is one of the options that you will see during the clean install.

[jay529]

I am having a problem with it booted the CD. I out the bios to read the CD first and it when I start the computer it says: Boot from ATAPI CD-Rom: Failure...

So I though maybe if I put up the startup disk in i can get it like this.
A:d:setup
But then it tells me I can't run that program is dos mode.

[efc]

Read the step-by-step instructions in above post. It covers that problem.

[jay529]

Ok I tried the disk method from the step by step(Since my CD-Rom isn't bootable) and when I get to the 2nd disk I put it in and then it says...

File \ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded
The error code is 7
Setup cannot continue Press any key to exit

:mad: Err this is not cool... :mad:

[jay529]

Ok So I tried another method found in the Step-by-Step...
I am doing the "New Installation(Advanced)"

So it goes to the blue screen and alot of thing happen at the bottom (of like things that are getting installed) And then it stops and says Starting Windows... and that is when it freezes..

Please someone must be able to help

[Reverend]

Sounds like you may have an issue with ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface).

Try the solution here Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 812580 (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en;812580)

[jay529]

So I tried what your article says to do (Press F7 to bypass yada-yada) But my computer still hangs at the "Starting Windows" part. I belive XP hadnt even started installing yet, because all it does it say Loading (Insert 50 different things here)... Then Stops at Starting Windows.

[Big Booger]

I have a suspicion that the XP disk you are using is corrupted or has some damaged/missing files. That or this is a hardware issue.

http://www.techzonez.com/modules.php?modid=8&action=show&id=15

We have a guide that shows step by step with screenshots how to install this. If you follow that guide and it still fails, well, I'd say to A) return your XP disk and get a replacement or B) check your hardware (some computers, Sony, Compaq, HP, require a BIOS update before XP will work.)

What kind of PC are you installing this on? Is it a home build or an OEM? Also what components are installed? This could also be a driver hanging that is preventing the OS from booting.

You might want to remove any and all unnecessary hardware for the time being, install the OS. Then replace the hardware piece by piece.

For example, if you have onboard graphics (graphics built on the motherboard), and a graphics card installed in either an AGP or PCI slot, remove the AGP/PCI graphics card, same thing with sound, TV out, USB/FIREWIRE PCI, or any cards in those slots.

Then try installing XP. If it works. ONce in the Operating system, you can then shut the PC down, ground yourself, and add 1 card. Restart. Then install the driver for that card step by step.

If you find that when you put a card in and the PC won't boot, then you've narrowed down the culprit.

Keep at it!


------------------------------------------


One other thing, so when you see the XP starting page, and it hangs, have you tried rebooting directly after the hang, but as it boots tap F8 repeatedly. that should get you into the safemode prompt. Choose to boot to safemode. IF that hangs, you'll see the line where it hangs. Take note of that.

Write down the line where it hangs (if applicable), and then post it here. IF it doesn't hang in safemode, well, then you can be assured it is most probable that it is a driver hang causing the startup issue.


If ME were still installed I'd tell you to use the XP hardware check to see if the hardware in your PC will cause you some issues.

You just pop in the XP cd, click check system compatibility, then click check my system automatically, then next, next, and you'll get a page that will show either no system incompatibilities or system incompatibilities.

That may help troubleshoot the hardware problem, if any.

[jay529]

Ok I am currently reading that guide... My comp is between step 2 and 3, well the end of 2. That is where my comp hangs (Says Starting Windows)... But I will continue reading the guide

[jay529]

Booger Me and my dad built this comp like 3 years ago (So home built) But I am thinking maybe it is the BIOS? My BIOS is "Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG" any info on how to update it so I can install XP.

[Conan]

Booger Me and my dad built this comp like 3 years ago (So home built) But I am thinking maybe it is the BIOS? My BIOS is "Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG" any info on how to update it so I can install XP.

Fiind out the make/model of your Motherboard, then go the manufacturer's web site to look for BIOS updates.

[evil_fantast]

I've been using windows xp for about a year(since the time i bought my new pc) and i got something like the problem you have some days ago. after the xp boot screen windows would not load. i formatted but it did not resolve the problem.
I would consider that you have a problem with your boot partition. Boot your pc in DOS from a startup disk or your bootable me installlation cd. then run fdisk and erase your primary boot partition. Reboot and run fdisk again. Create a new primary partition. Set it as active partition and exit fdisk. format this new partition (Should be the same drive letter it was initially) and run windows setup again.
If you run xp setup i recommend you convert your created fat32 drive(above) to ntfs. :D :D ;)

[Coffee]

Jay529, after evil_fantast's post you may well have fixed the problem, however, this is a fairly simple thing to sort. Usually the problem that you have lies with the CD that you are trying to use, if it is getting all the way to the last stage as you say then there's a problem where the files are now not quite making it to the HDD thus causing it to not respond / crash.
So boiling it down to the greatest affectors, which are the CD or the HDD. You say you've tried cleaning the CDROM's laser & maybe even the CD, although if there are any scratches and the CDROM being at all old, it may never get over the scratch. On the other have it could always be the HDD which has the problem, there could always be a damaged sector somewhere which the XP installation wants to overwrite but can't and once again causing it to crash.
However not to completely rule out any other hardware that could be causing a conflict at the point where the installation gets to. So try to make a note of the last or next thing the OS wants to detect and check it out.

Now, there is one problem i've just thought of with evil_fantast's suggestion, which is that the computer would have to make it past any boot sector problems to get to where your problem is. As I don't know if it's worked or not I shall keep my suggestion down to the minimun, which is!... Try and get hold of another CD with XP + SP1, if poss ;-P

I have actually come across this problem myself before however I can't remember what I did but it wasn't a problem for very long, infact all I probably did was restart the computer, but then I try to make a point about keeping my machine as clean as possible.

Coffee.

[jay529]

OK I would like to try the FDISK thing. Is there instructions on how to do what you said evil_fantast?

Boot your pc in DOS from a startup disk or your bootable me installlation cd. then run fdisk and erase your primary boot partition. Reboot and run fdisk again. Create a new primary partition. Set it as active partition and exit fdisk. format this new partition (Should be the same drive letter it was initially) and run windows setup again.

[jay529]

Conan I went to the manufacturer's website looking for a bios update and they were absolutely no help. I couldnt even find my motherboard on the site..

Manufacturer's: www.spacewalker.com
MotherBoard: AI61 / AMD K7 Processor / Based AGP Main Board

[Conan]

Conan I went to the manufacturer's website looking for a bios update and they were absolutely no help. I couldnt even find my motherboard on the site..

Manufacturer's: www.spacewalker.com
MotherBoard: AI61 / AMD K7 Processor / Based AGP Main Board

I found something here:

http://www.bios-drivers.com/drivers/78/78070.htm

Be careful though, as flashing your BIOS could result in a dead motherboard.

[jay529]

Conan do I want to try somthing that might kill my motherboard?

(I still wanna know how to do what was said about the Fdisk thing)

[Conan]

Conan do I want to try somthing that might kill my motherboard?

(I still wanna know how to do what was said about the Fdisk thing)

Well flashing your BIOS is really a risk but then if successful, it could solve the problems you are having. It's best to do the BIOS flashing while your board is still under warranty. I had an MSI board die during a BIOS flash a couple of months ago, RMA'd it and they gave me a new motherboard.

[Lian]

Buy a new Windows XP CD from another shop, and install it from the new CD.