Can't install XP on my computer...

[Srikanth]

A couple of days back, my computer started crashing frequently. It was running on Win2k Pro. So, I brought a new copy of XP and tried installing it on my computer. But it started crashing while installing.
Once it crashed at the point where devices are being installed, a couple of times when copying files.

Then once in a while it gave me a blue screen with the following message:

A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA

If this is the firat time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any Windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable components, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup OPtions, and then select Safe Mode.

Technical Information:

*** STOP: 0X00000050 (0XFFFFFFFF,0X00000000,0XFFFFFFFF,0X00000000)

My computer specs are:
Intel Celeron 667 Mhz
192 Mb RAM (One 128 Mb and one 64 Mb. Though the 128 one is 133 Mhz and the 64 one is 100 Mhz)
Intel i810 based motherboard with built-in video and sound card (AC 97)

I tried changing the RAM but to no use.
What could be wrong?

Your help is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Srikanth

 

[GtPrOjEcTX]

"what could be wrong"

hard disk failure?
are you upgrading or formatting and clean install?

 

[RustyNale]

This LINK has some info on your issue. Most of the time, bad ram is the culprit, but it can also be caused by other issues. Read on..

 

[intelbugger]

Try doing these :

Reset BIOS to default settings and then change only those settings that need to be, necessarily changed.

replacing memory.

Try using another copy to check if it is an error with the copied install, or check it out on another machine

 

[Srikanth]

GtPrOjEcTX,
It's a new install on a clean formatted 6.4 GB hard disk. Though its not that big compared to the 40, 100 GBs available today.

intelbugger,

i tried resetting the BIOS, but it didnt work.
Rustynale,

It cant be bad RAM as i tried changing them. I think its a faulty video ram b'coz the system runs just perfectly in pure DOS environment, i.e when i boot from a boot disk. But in windows, it just crashes.

I don't think theres an error in the copied install coz I tried installing Win2k pro on it and it again crashed, Though it didnt give the STOP error message.

 

[Srikanth]

Update...

I tried disabling video caching and BIOS caching, the computer did boot completely into Win XP. But then it crashed after a couple of minutes.

 

[Mem]

Update...

I tried disabling video caching and BIOS caching, the computer did boot completely into Win XP. But then it crashed after a couple of minutes

When I had a bad stick of ram go faulty I too couldn`t install XP,I would try a different video card if you`ve already ruled out the main system ram .