Can't get Windows to complete installation

[BarryG]

I'm very frustrated. I've tried to get either ME or 2000 onto two different computers and I keep getting error messages. Either they can't properly open CAB files or they can't find a file on the CD or the file that was extracted is corrupt or regserv calls up a vmm error or *something*. The first computer is an HP 6730 and the other is one I've put together with an old AT form Atrend 6310M board. Both have Celery chips. <sigh> If it weren't for the fact I'm trying to make useful saleable computers out of them I would buy a sledgehammer and use it.
Can anyone shed light on this situation? Both CDs have recently been used successfully to reload OSs onto other computers.
Barry

 

[gwag]

posibly bad cd drive? uncapable of reading some files, I have had teh cant find issue and hooking up a good drive for the install solved it. also went much faster.

 

[BarryG]

I tried swapping out every part I thought could affect it. Hard drives, optical drives & RAM. Finally I took out just the right RAM sticks. Apparently it's a RAM issue. One computer is loading W2K just fine right now. The other has given it's hard drive up for a different computer which is also loading W2K very well. <sigh> I just don't get it.
Barry

 

[Wolfshanze]

Is this a new MB? What chipset is on the MB?

Last time I upgraded, I went with the Asus P4P800SE MB, which uses the Intel 865PE chipset.

This chipset supports some funky enhanced IDE modes that are NOT compatible with older OS's like WinME (not sure about Win2K).

Because I like dual-boot systems, I tried installing WinME on my i865PE chipset MB, and for the life of me, it would not complete installing the OS. I tried everything I could think of, and WinME would never complete installing, it kept hanging during installation...

I finally found out what the problem was, in BIOS there was a toggle to take the IDE from "Enhanced" mode to "Compatability" mode, and bing-bango, WinME installed with no problems at all.

Though I do not know if this is your problem, it is something worth checking out... depending on your MB chipset and your BIOS features, look to see if there is some sort of enhanced IDE setting that is causing you the headaches and see if you can toggle it off.

 

[BarryG]

Neither is new. Both were made when 95 & 98 were still the current OSs. In any case I found out it was the RAM that was causing the headaches. Now that those two sticks are in retirement everything is peachy keen.
Thanks for the tip though. I'll keep that in mind the next time I build something newer. I'm rebuilding older computers for sale to a, shall we say, lower end market with lower expectations.
Barry

 

[Wolfshanze]

Hmmm, glad you got it working.

From what I understand, the i865 chipset is the LAST Intel chipset that will support the older Win9X OS's. If I'm not mistaken, the i9XX chipsets do not support Win9X at all.

Not sure if that matters to anybody, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[BarryG]

Lately my choice is Win2K. XP just robs too many resources. I know, I know, sooner or later I'll have to go with XP. <sigh> If only they would make something that was leaner and meaner. BTW, I've never used Linux but I'm not all that gung-ho about something that has so many variations of it out there. Is there no "standard"?
Damn RAM. That's two sticks of 128 megs down the tubes and an arse load of wasted time.
Barry

 

[Wolfshanze]

I've used WinME for some time for compatability with older software that just won't run right on WinXP (and WinME isn't quite the hog properly patched and on a modern 3.0GHz system), and of course, I have the ubiquitous WinXP for more modern software, so I love having a dual-boot system with both OS's.

Glad you figured it out though!