XP installation hangs [modified]
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I'm completely stumped by this, and I suspect it's a hardware problem. I've got a 1.2 Ghz machine with 512Mb of memory that I've been running Win2K Server on for many years. I decided to reformat and install XP SP2 from scratch. The reformat worked, the initial files copy worked, but when it goes to do the initial boot it hangs. I tried F8 and booting into a command window and it hangs right away. The little progress bar at the bottom of the console screen zips across until it's a solid bar, and then the system hangs there forever. I've tried this twice now, reformatting from scratch and installing XP. I've also made a boot floppy and it does the same thing, as soon as it tries to access the HD. The only other H/W in the system is a floppy, DVD drive, and a generic VGA card. The mobo has network, soundcard, USB etc. Any suggestions on how to what to try next? Maybe a different HD? Is my RAM suspect? [Update] I tried installing Win2K Server just now and it works just fine, as I expected. So now I have a dual-boot system: a good Win2K and a busted XP. Again, I suspect a hardware incompatability, which is why I posted here and not in the O/S forum. [/Update] Thanks, Dave
QRZ? de WAØTTN
modified on Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:03 PM
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I'm completely stumped by this, and I suspect it's a hardware problem. I've got a 1.2 Ghz machine with 512Mb of memory that I've been running Win2K Server on for many years. I decided to reformat and install XP SP2 from scratch. The reformat worked, the initial files copy worked, but when it goes to do the initial boot it hangs. I tried F8 and booting into a command window and it hangs right away. The little progress bar at the bottom of the console screen zips across until it's a solid bar, and then the system hangs there forever. I've tried this twice now, reformatting from scratch and installing XP. I've also made a boot floppy and it does the same thing, as soon as it tries to access the HD. The only other H/W in the system is a floppy, DVD drive, and a generic VGA card. The mobo has network, soundcard, USB etc. Any suggestions on how to what to try next? Maybe a different HD? Is my RAM suspect? [Update] I tried installing Win2K Server just now and it works just fine, as I expected. So now I have a dual-boot system: a good Win2K and a busted XP. Again, I suspect a hardware incompatability, which is why I posted here and not in the O/S forum. [/Update] Thanks, Dave
QRZ? de WAØTTN
modified on Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:03 PM
Sounds to me like a driverissue. XP and server2k aren't identical after all. What storagecontroller does the mobo have? If it's non standard you should install the manufacturers drivers from a floppy during install (press F6 after core has loaded)
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Sounds to me like a driverissue. XP and server2k aren't identical after all. What storagecontroller does the mobo have? If it's non standard you should install the manufacturers drivers from a floppy during install (press F6 after core has loaded)
Thanks for the suggestion Jörgen. I checked around for drivers (Elitegroup 848P-A) and there don't seem to be any updates for the HD controller, other than for the CD. That one is 2.8 Mb, which is too big to put on a floppy anyway. I think this is a lost cause. I know what you mean about these O/S transitions. I tried to upgrade a Win98 laptop to NT a long time ago and had a similar experience. What surprises me is that I've found that XP seems to be much more forgiving than NT and Win2k ever were. I guess I'll just leave this machine at status quo. :( But on the upside, it still runs Win2K exceedingly well :cool:
QRZ? de WAØTTN
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Thanks for the suggestion Jörgen. I checked around for drivers (Elitegroup 848P-A) and there don't seem to be any updates for the HD controller, other than for the CD. That one is 2.8 Mb, which is too big to put on a floppy anyway. I think this is a lost cause. I know what you mean about these O/S transitions. I tried to upgrade a Win98 laptop to NT a long time ago and had a similar experience. What surprises me is that I've found that XP seems to be much more forgiving than NT and Win2k ever were. I guess I'll just leave this machine at status quo. :( But on the upside, it still runs Win2K exceedingly well :cool:
QRZ? de WAØTTN
It might be the old classic IRQ conflict. Disable all devices you don't need, such as audio, lan, modem and firewire (or reenable one). This will give the remaining devices a new IRQ, eventually nonshared, which might allow you to install. If the installation succeeds you can reenable them later if necessary.
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Thanks for the suggestion Jörgen. I checked around for drivers (Elitegroup 848P-A) and there don't seem to be any updates for the HD controller, other than for the CD. That one is 2.8 Mb, which is too big to put on a floppy anyway. I think this is a lost cause. I know what you mean about these O/S transitions. I tried to upgrade a Win98 laptop to NT a long time ago and had a similar experience. What surprises me is that I've found that XP seems to be much more forgiving than NT and Win2k ever were. I guess I'll just leave this machine at status quo. :( But on the upside, it still runs Win2K exceedingly well :cool:
QRZ? de WAØTTN
It's a bit of a pain, but you can slipstream additional drivers/patches into a copy of an OS install CD.
Today's lesson is brought to you by the word "niggardly". Remember kids, don't attribute to racism what can be explained by Scandinavian language roots. -- Robert Royall
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I'm completely stumped by this, and I suspect it's a hardware problem. I've got a 1.2 Ghz machine with 512Mb of memory that I've been running Win2K Server on for many years. I decided to reformat and install XP SP2 from scratch. The reformat worked, the initial files copy worked, but when it goes to do the initial boot it hangs. I tried F8 and booting into a command window and it hangs right away. The little progress bar at the bottom of the console screen zips across until it's a solid bar, and then the system hangs there forever. I've tried this twice now, reformatting from scratch and installing XP. I've also made a boot floppy and it does the same thing, as soon as it tries to access the HD. The only other H/W in the system is a floppy, DVD drive, and a generic VGA card. The mobo has network, soundcard, USB etc. Any suggestions on how to what to try next? Maybe a different HD? Is my RAM suspect? [Update] I tried installing Win2K Server just now and it works just fine, as I expected. So now I have a dual-boot system: a good Win2K and a busted XP. Again, I suspect a hardware incompatability, which is why I posted here and not in the O/S forum. [/Update] Thanks, Dave
QRZ? de WAØTTN
modified on Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:03 PM
NetDave wrote:
Any suggestions on how to what to try next? Maybe a different HD? Is my RAM suspect?
I take it that the system worked before your reformat. Some harddrives object to being re-formatted, it is unlikely to be RAM. Any failing Diskdrive may make the others inaccessible. To check the HardDrive, 1. Check your BIOS settings, ensure that drives A and C (and your CD Drive) are bootable! 2. Disconnect the harddrive and the CD Rom,(Power and Ribbon Connections, but note how they go back) and run DOS 3.00 from a (bootable)floppy. If it does not boot, try the floppy on a known system, else, change the floppy drive.this should establish that your hardware is workable. 3. Re-connect the harddrive, and try DOS 3.00 again. If it fails, your Harddrive is dinky. 4. Buy a new Harddrive, and try again. HardDrives are cheap these days. and do the same. Hope this is helpfull :)
Bram van Kampen