Computer Frezzes during windows Install....

[jcovercash]

Im trying to install Windows XP on a computer I just put togahter. I have tried both windows 2000 and XP and get the same problem.

After it autoloads the installer from the CD, where it goes to the blue screen and preloads the setup files and drivers, it says down bottom setup now loading windows or something to that sort and it will just sit there. Eventually the HD will spin down and the keyboard doesnt function when It does this....

I need to install windows on this computer but have no idea how to get passed this.

It is a
300 MHz P2
S3 PCI Video Card
Toshiba DVD-Rom Drive
FDD
Western Digital HD
160 Mb Ram

Please help me out as it is important I get this running ASAP.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[KeyserSoze]

I had a similar problem earlier this year when I built my dad's computer. With 2k AND XP, it would just lock up during the install of either.

Eventually, after many hours of troubleshooting, I found out that the problem was Underclocking. What I did at the beginning was change the BIOS defaults to the lowest settings. (I think they were "Fail Safe"?) And basically the processor wasn't getting the information fast enough, or something like that.

I increased the speeds, and it worked just fine. And this was a brand new system, with all new components.

Try playing around in the BIOS, and let us know.

Hope this helps or at least sets you in the right direction.


EDIT: Oh yeah, didn't really look at the specs. That may be the problem.



KeyserSoze

 

[fredtam]

I'm not sure xp will run on that. It may just get bogged down.

 

[bacillus]

are you using the latest bios?

 

[Doh!]

Try w/ only one stick of RAM.

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: Doh!
Try w/ only one stick of RAM.

Ok I will try that,

XP will run on this I have ran it on a comp with similar specs.


Thanks,
Josh

 

[loup garou]

Try different ram and try a different video card.

 

[JustMike]

Originally posted by: fredtam
I'm not sure xp will run on that. It may just get bogged down.

It'll run, but probably not very well. I couldn't believe how poorly XP performed on a PIII 500 (which seemed to run Windows 2000 quite well)

 

[Doh!]

Originally posted by: JustMike

It'll run, but probably not very well. I couldn't believe how poorly XP performed on a PIII 500 (which seemed to run Windows 2000 quite well)

How much of RAM do you have? I installed Windows XP on a P3 laptop (500mhz) w/ 256mb of RAM & it ran pretty well.

 

[anandfan]

For me, install freezes have always been due to bad ram. The bios self-test just isn't good enough. Get the free program "Doc Memory" from http://www.simmtester.com .

 

[flexy]

in my opinion install freezes are often caused by incompatible h/w, like cd-rom drives which dont like dma settings etc. I once had that problem and could NOT install 98 on a new system which otherwise works like a charm, XP installed fine.

It always froze at the 98 install when it tried to install drivers.

I had to copy/clone an old win98 installation from an old P166 comp (totally different machine) on my new HD, then boot the new machine with the old 98 install from the former computer - the joke is that this worked flawlessly. I could boot into windows and then install all the new drivers and such for the new motherboard.

The problem must be in the drivers which are on the original win98/98se CDs.

Anyway dont have these problems now since i am running XP Pro for a long time now.

As a first tip....disable/disconnect ANY unnecessary devices and try to install...and then add the devices one after one.

 

[flexy]

I need to install windows on this computer but have no idea how to get passed this.

It is a
300 MHz P2
S3 PCI Video Card
Toshiba DVD-Rom Drive
FDD
Western Digital HD
160 Mb Ram

Please help me out as it is important I get this running ASAP.

Thanks,
Josh

You want to install XP on THAT machine ???????????

Edit: on the other hand...2000 should work...so should XP... (looking at the crappy comps we have at work which mostl have 2000...)

 

[jcovercash]

Originally posted by: flexy

I need to install windows on this computer but have no idea how to get passed this.

It is a
300 MHz P2
S3 PCI Video Card
Toshiba DVD-Rom Drive
FDD
Western Digital HD
160 Mb Ram

Please help me out as it is important I get this running ASAP.

Thanks,
Josh

You want to install XP on THAT machine ???????????

Edit: on the other hand...2000 should work...so should XP... (looking at the crappy comps we have at work which mostl have 2000...)

The point to me is not weither it will run the OS or not, its getting it to install it. I installed 98se on it and now it randomly frezzes during use of the comp... I think it may be the ram so Im going to use the test program you suggested amdfan.


Thanks,
Josh

 

[JasonandBecky]

Install freeze's are almost always from bad RAM.