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Can't Install XP

By DouglasB ·
When trying to install it gets to the "Windows is Starting" screen and hangs. I've swapped out the motherboard, power supply, memory, CD drive, hard drive, reset CMOS and it still hangs. The only thing not swapped out is the processor. If I put a HD with win98 it boots. Any ideas appreciated.

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by digiseg In reply to Can't Install XP

Please provide the details of the hardware that u have now including everything. Then only one can tell the exact solution.

Thnx

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by Sue T In reply to Can't Install XP

It sounds like you are using a hard drive that already has windows installed or partially installed. Do you have the computer set to boot to CD so you can put the XP CD in and have the computer boot to it so you can install? If you reset the CMOS it most likely defaulted back to trying to boot first to the Floppy drive and then the hard drive so it isn't looking to the CD drive for a CD to use for booting.

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by DouglasB In reply to

I am booting from the cd, it runs through install from the cd but locks at the place I mentioned above. Thanks.

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by MattIT In reply to Can't Install XP

Try formatting the harddrive using another cd. OR If you have two harddrives run windows on the other, format the secondary drive, swap the drives and then run a fresh install.

If that doesn't work, I'd say move that harddrive to another box and load it on as the master drive there, it could be that there is some sort of specific hardware conflict on your machine, If it doesnt work on another computer either you have two options:
1)You have a bad harddrive, see if you can get it replaced, or buy a new one
2)You have a bad Windows Disk, which you can take the necessary steps to alleviate.

The only other explanation would be that there is some sort of problem with using THAT windows disk on THAT harddrive, but i've never heard of a harddrive that isnt compatible with windows.

Good luck.
-Matt

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by DouglasB In reply to

I swapped the current drive to anothe computer, it works. I installed a new hard drive in the problem computer and tried using another XP Pro cd, that did not work. I have swapped out everything but the processor. Although it boots to a WIN98SE o/s.

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by adembo In reply to Can't Install XP

Delete and re-create the partitions if you have not already done-so.

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by DouglasB In reply to

Tried a known good drive so don't think it is a partition problem.

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by antuck In reply to Can't Install XP

Would need some more information as to what hardware you are using.

But, here are a couple of things. When you say you swapped out the motherboard, was it the exact same motherboard? How old is the motherboard?

One thing you can try and it has worked for me is to update the BIOS. I had a problem installing XP on an older system and after updating the BIOS, I was able to install XP.

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by DouglasB In reply to

Put in a new motherboard of the same make/model.

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by w2ktechman In reply to Can't Install XP

Windows XP uses Speedstep v.2 automatically. This can cause a problem with chipsets that only support Intel Speedstep v.1. If you have an Intel board, and it supports speedstep, disable it in the BIOS, then try to reinstall.

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