Can't Install XP after malfunction!

Xtasy

Banned
Nov 23, 2001
568
0
0
My brother f'ed up the computer, and the only way i could fix this bug, probably a virus maib, was to reformat. I put the cd rom drive as my first boot device, put in my xp cd, and planned to do a reformat and fresh install. After i boot the cd, after loading the necessary preparation drivers such as scsi, raid, or ide drivers and chipset drivers and video drivers (etc..), it won't go forward to the terms of agreement page. So all i have been able to get up to is the part where it starts the winxp installation, i can't even get to the part where it asks you if u want to reformat or repair your winxp. I was able to switch the hard drive to my working comp and delete the old partition using the method above. I put it back in my broken comp and i still couldn't get to the terms of agreement page. I switched cd - rom drives with the one that i used that actually worked on my working comp, but it still wouldn't get past that point. I also cleared my cmos just in case and loaded optimized and default settings in my bios. I even reflashed the motherboard bios that i had at the time i installed xp. I just can't find out why i can't get past that point to freshly install windows xp. Please help me out.

System Specs:

Fic Az11e
1200mhz athlon tbird
384 mb of pc 133 ram @ pc100
40gb seagate barracuda IV as primary master
cd-rom as secondary slave
dvd-rom as secondary master
:|
 

Smolek

Diamond Member
Aug 30, 2001
4,985
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Have you tried reloading another version on there yet? If that works just do the "Advanced" (full) install of XP which will be the same as what your trying to do now
 

Xtasy

Banned
Nov 23, 2001
568
0
0
I can't do that anymore since i deleted the partition. I also tried the advanced install, which would do the same thing i am trying to do now. Ne ideas ne one, I already removed all the pci cards, switched memory with my working comp, cleared cmos, reloaded optimized and fail safe settings in my bios, unplugged my dvd rom drive. Wut else is there to do, or did i pick up some stupid bug.
 

Xtasy

Banned
Nov 23, 2001
568
0
0
did that, i isolated the problem to the mobo, or some weird compatibility problem with my hd or cd and my mobo. Note, my config worked for about a 1/2 year already up until recent stability issues due to a possible virus i got downloading songs.
 

c8

Member
Jan 18, 2002
40
0
0
Clean Install WinXP using the 6 floopy sets or Bootable CD.

Make sure you do not install the 4-in-1 drivers....

Microsoft Windows XP has native XP support and 4-1 drivers usually are not needed.

The 4-1 screwed my WinXP too.
 

Doh!

Platinum Member
Jan 21, 2000
2,325
0
76
How about the cd itself? Does it have any scratches on the surface?
 

kursplat

Golden Member
May 2, 2000
1,547
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probably want to strip it down to bare bones too, while doing the install. fewer variables
good luck
 

Xtasy

Banned
Nov 23, 2001
568
0
0
I did strip it down to the barebones only using my vid card, monitor, one stick of 128mb working ram, mobo and cpu and cd-rom and hdd. the winxp cd works on my other comps. don't know what to do ne more.
 

kursplat

Golden Member
May 2, 2000
1,547
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man... what a b#%*h.... did you pull the MB out of the case and do abuild on the work bench ?
have you tryed what Smolek suggested ? a total wipe with say a win98 boot floppy and then install 98 ?
good luck
 

TomBilliodeaux

Senior member
Sep 29, 2000
788
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I am having the same problem as you are. I did the same things also included doing a deep level format using Maxtor utility.
I did not have a virus, my XP install was messed up when i tried to install a second version of xp on a different partition. It trashed the first version, so I thought I would just reinstall.
Ever since, I cannot install XP on this computer.
I can take a hdd that has XP installed and it will run fine, but will not install XP on any hdd.

I too have wiped bios, swapped memory, etc. The odd thing is that it will not install XP nor W2K. I tried using a new hdd and that would not install either. I am believing the mobo 2nd channel was damaged by XP. Tonight I will try stripping down to only the primary channel using my hdd and cdrom as slave. That will rule out the mobo 2nd channel being damaged.

This machine will not allow a Drive Image cloned partition to be installed either.
IT is acting as though the file transfer between bios and the IDE channel is damaged.

I tried copying the i386 folder to the hdd partitition and using the floppies to install. Kept getting errors saying "file not found", even though they were there. When they were not there, I could not copy them from a cd that had the files.
It was like the files were being randomly marked as hidden in bios.

I have tried installing from an original Microsoft Wxp Pro CD that has never been used before. Made no difference. I have taken copies of the install XP cd and the same hdd to another computer and installed XP (virgin install on that computer) with no problem.
I originally thought it to be a mobo issue, but seeing others with the same occurance, I believe this is a Microsoft issue.

When one is installing, you do get these warnings "Trying to write to your mbr". I am wondering if it is also not writing to bios in a way that communicates to the mbr of the hdd.

 

speed01

Golden Member
Jan 23, 2001
1,167
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Might want to check that the mobo built in virus protection is turned off. I've seen it create similar problems from not allowing anything to write to the Master Boot Record.
 

TomBilliodeaux

Senior member
Sep 29, 2000
788
0
0
tried that speed01.
did not work. Tried to install this hdd on another machine that has Wxp by unplugging its hdd and plugging this one in (blank and formatted).
Wxp will not install to this hdd for some reason.
 

kursplat

Golden Member
May 2, 2000
1,547
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0
hey xtasy.... you still havin problems ? or is it fixed . this threads been open a loooong time.
let us know , man.
 

crisp82

Golden Member
Apr 8, 2002
1,920
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Join the club. I too have had this problem, and have only been able to install WinXP Pro as an upgrade for 98/2000. I have no idea what causes it. Have you guys tried the Microsoft Knowledge Base?