!!!FIXED!!! CD-ROM stops responding part way during XP instalation

[KingstonU]

UPDATE: FIXED!!

Finally got a break from midterms to get back to work on this. Got my hands on another cd-rom drive and this one didn't lock up during instalation so it went smoothly (There was also a little bit of BIOS tweaking but don't know if that fixed it). Thank you all so much for all your help. :beer: :beer: :beer: to all.

It's really cool that people are willing ot help out strangers like this, this is a great forum, I'll be sure to do the same for someone whenever I can.

Cheers!

<<--------->>


My computer has been giving me problems, so I'm trying a fresh XP install to see if it fixes it.

I tried to re-install XP and during instalation everything was going ok but then it said it needed some files from the D: drive, so I browse and try to select it but it has a red question mark beside the D: icon and it says it does not exist, I try to open and close the cd rom tray and nothing happens, it won't open or respond at all and yet it was just working fine during the rest of the instalation. So I just press cancel and have to press cancel twice for 2 different things.

Windows finishes installing but I am missing a bunch of stuff, like it only has the classic skin and I can't seem to set up my internet. I open the cd and go to add files from the cd like explorer and networking etc... but I get 2 error messages (which I have pictures of but can't upload.

So I try to just restart the whole instalation but I get the same thing where the cd-rom stops responding at the same point into the instalation. So to try and get it to respond I unplug and plug it's power suply which gives me the blue screen of death... So I restart again and it still stops responding at the same point in the instalation.

How can I get it to be recognized so I can finish this properly?

EDITED with info

All my hardware is 3 years old:

Motherboard: Chaintech Zenith ZNF3-250
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ ClawHammer 2010MHz
1028 MB of Kingston DDR PC3200 400MHz
XFX 128 MB Nvidia GeForce FX5200
80GB WD Caviar EIDE HD 7200/8MB/ATA-100
Windows XP Pro SP2
CD drive: AOpen 12X DVD+/-RW

I think my BIOS Revision Number is 5.0.31


Thanks a lot. Help is very appreciated

 

[robisbell]

need the following info.

Motherboard Manufacturer and Model:
BIOS Revision Number (if known):
CPU Manufacturer and Model and Speed:
RAM Manufacturer/Type/Model Number/Module Size:
CDRW/CDROM/DVD Manufacturer and Spec:
Disk Drive(s): Manufacturer, Model:
XP CD (Original MS or System Restore):

 

[KingstonU]

Updated system info in original post

 

[KingstonU]

here are the screen shots of the point in the instalation where the cd rom stops being recognized, pictures showing that it is looking for it but can't see it, the error messages, and error messages I after i've installed the incomplete form of windows when trying to add in explorer and other things from the cd but get error messages, hope these are in order and make sense.
Thanks a lot again

the point just before it stops recognizing the cd rom every time

it's looking for D:\i386 in the cd but can't find it

the cd rom drive either doesn't show up or it has a red question mark logo

image 4

image 5

image 6

image 7

error once in windows 1

error once in windows 2

 

[robisbell]

it's going to take some time, seems chaintech isn't in the motherboard business anymore, and your model is just a ZNF3-250, not the Zenith.
do you know the date for the current BIOS firmware you have?

 

[KingstonU]

Is this what I should be looking for, for the motherboard?

ZNF3-250 specifications and downloads

I'm downloading the Bios Update (from a friend's computer) if that will help, but I don't know how to update my bios

 

[robisbell]

I'll be able to help you on that as soon as i see the bios file. you may already have the last update they did for that board. I am wondering what's the condition of the XP cd, and is it original or a copy?

 

[KingstonU]

The XP Pro SP2 CD is original, and I have a very hard time finding imperfections on the cd sruface. I tried using a friend's fake XP Pro SP2 and it was very very lightly imperfect and froze at the exact same spot in the exact same way.

I have downloaded the new bios version, on the website it says it was updated 2007, I put together this PC three years ago and have never touched my bios. Is there information from the file that you need? Anything I can look at that would give you more clues?

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Try a new cable. Zero fill the HDD and reload windows.

 

[robisbell]

well, if you are absolutely sure the cd has no scratched and is a genuine XP Pro cd. I would suggest you either use UBCD or boot floopy, and erase any partition info, and reformat it and then try the CD. I noticed it's crashing during installation of the network adapter, is it built into the board or a add-on card? I would seriously recommend doing the BIOS update first, before youdo any of the other steps 1st.

 

[KingstonU]

ok I'm going to rei-nstall my floppy drive (never houht I'd need that agin) and try to update the bios, I have never done that before but I'll try to search how it's done, will update asap.

Also I have erased all partitions. I'm not sure why it crashes during the network adapter. I'm not sure if it is built in or add-on. I'll try removing all cards or whatever that I don't think not nessesary from my motherboard and try again.

 

[robisbell]

you can make a bootable usb stick, or use a bootable cd.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

and

http://www.bootdisk.com

 

[mrblotto]

I dont know why, but I always fdisk and format the hard drive with a DOS or 98 boot disk that has CDROM read capability (available at bootdisk.com). Then I copy the i386 directory from the CD to an 'i386' directory I make on the C drive and run 'winnt' from there to start the XP install.......it has the advantage of testing the readability of the CD disc, plus I have all the necessary files on the hard drive itself in case I need them in the future.........

In any case, I hope you get it working!

 

[robisbell]

well, burn the UBCD, and test your HDD. what network adapter do you have in that system btw?

 

[KingstonU]

ok I can't find that stupid Floppy drive that I stashed away somewhere.

I'm not sure what network adapter I have, how do I find out? Do you mean 1000/100/10 ethernet?

What do you mean by test my hard drive?

I've tried booting from a USB drive before and it didn't work, I guess I can try again. So I will try to burn a bootable cd from my friend's PC, what do I need to burn on it? The websites have so many files, which do I download and burn?

The problem seems to be that at that moment the cd drive becomes unresponsive when windows needs the stuff in the i386 folder. Could I put the i386 folder on my USB key, or my Aopen cdrom driver on there?

I am so glad I didn't try to do this until after midterms. I'm sorry for the trouble and thank you all so much for all your help.

 

[robisbell]

those links I posted will help you, the UBCD is a recommended tool, and the second link will talk your through making a USB stick bootable. I would also suggest you go through the boot options to see if it allows you to use a usb device to boot from.

 

[KingstonU]

ok, I have made the UBCD, what do I do now? Will this prevent the cd from not responding during the XP installation?

 

[robisbell]

no, what you'll do is use it to test the system and the hard drive, it'll take a little time, but it's necessary.

the following things you should run.

StressCPU
Memtest86+
Data Lifeguard (Western Digital)

the last one is to check thoroughly the HDD, when each one finishes, make note of any errors or inconsistencies they report. I will need all that info, before I can proceed.

 

[robisbell]

and yes, I'd go ahead and download the bios just in case.

 

[robisbell]

any update?

 

[robisbell]

okay, I finally received a manual from chaintech for your board. it tells me alot about the hardware and did some research using that info. I've found people having issues with reinstalling and the NIC being the culprit, unfortunately, they did not give you a way to control the NIC from BIOS. I have read where people ended up getting a different board, I will keeping checking on any other alternatives to that,

 

[Old Hippie]

okay, I finally received a manual from chaintech for your board.

That's above and beyond the call of duty. I'm buying you a :beer:. :thumbsup:

 

[robisbell]

no need, what any good tech will do, I double checked with Chaintech rep and there is no way with the BIOS they provided to disable the network adapter. I had a feeling it was and once I was able to determine that, and the fact the BIOS is crippled to the point a abasic function is removed, the NIC is the culprit. The posts I've read mainly say the people just outright replaced the board.

 

[WildHorse]

Do you have access to another computer you could use to download the free BartPE and burn it to a CD-ROM?

If you can, do that, then boot the troublesome computer from the BartPE CD-ROM, and from BartPE, run chkdsk /x to scan & repair the disk prior to Windows installation.

 

[robisbell]

he ran UBCD and ran the appropriate hDD diagnostics, and even did a thorough HDD wipe and reformat.