HDD won't boot into Windows XP

[murphyslabrat]

I happen to be one of those low-budgeted people you hear about, who don't have $1200(or even $350) to spend on a new computer. So, I am trying to build a computer for my parents with spare parts. However, I cannot get WinXP to even fully install. After the file transfer from the CD(the blue screen of undeath); it restarts, POSTs, asks to boot off of CD, then goes blank with a flashing cursor(there's also a curser watching this cursor).

Quick answers to possible questions:

I did also try it after removing the CD.

The hard-drive does work when slaved to a working drive.

The hard-drive boots to XP on a different computer, a GateWay Pentium II. While that is preferable to using a Pentium 4, it is unacceptable.

The drive does this with another similiar model(both desktop Pressario 5000 series), it exhibited the same behavior with two Pentium III boxes(Gateway e-4200, full-tower and mini-tower versions) and a Pentium III Celeron box(desktop Pavillion 6645c. Ironically, this is the PC the drive came from-with Win98 SE installed).

It DID work with a custom-build Athlon 1200 box.

I have several other drives that do the same thing.

I do not have any installation disks other than XP. However, I do have the COE stickers for two Win ME's(I am assuming that this means that I legally own those copies, correct?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
-Murphy

 

[murphyslabrat]

*bump*

 

[murphyslabrat]

*bump* Anyone?

 

[dawza]

Sounds like you might have a bad install CD. HDD sounds like it is good, and while it cannot be ruled out from the info you give, a bad optical drive seems a very remote possibility.

Try burning an ISO of a live Linux distro (i.e. Ubuntu) and see if you can install that successfully. It won't be XP, but at the very least you will know that your problem almost definitely lies in the XP installation CD. Having an install CD go bad is not uncommon, and if you can get your hands on a working copy of the CD, you should be able to install with no problem, provided you have a legit COA.

 

[Jiggz]

Try again but this time make sure you are not overclocking. Use default settings in Bios or shall I say conservative settings? After booting from XP CD, delete all partitions. Re-partition. Then format using full format. Check the hsf also to make sure the cpu is not overheating due to non-contact. Better yet, install with the case open to ensure it stays cool. Post back.

 

[Blain]

Try hitting F8 key before Windows loads and go to last known good configuration.

 

[Billb2]

I'm guessing that either:

The BIOS is pointing at the worng boot device (When it goes to reboot during the install, shut down, enter the bios and reset the boot device to the HDD with the install in it)

The MFT on the drive is corrupted. This can happen with drives that previously had an OS on them. (Enter Repair Consul and type fixmbr).

 

[murphyslabrat]

dawza

Sounds like you might have a bad install CD. HDD sounds like it is good, and while it cannot be ruled out from the info you give, a bad optical drive seems a very remote possibility.

The optical drive on that box IS flaky, but I have tried switching it out; but to no avail. I have also tried sticking the HDD in another box, and that had no effect.

The disk is good, I was able to install windows on another box.

Jiggz

Try again but this time make sure you are not overclocking. Use default settings in Bios or shall I say conservative settings? After booting from XP CD, delete all partitions. Re-partition. Then format using full format. Check the hsf also to make sure the cpu is not overheating due to non-contact. Better yet, install with the case open to ensure it stays cool. Post back.

Dude, I wish I had overclocking settings available. But, again, it is not a PC specific problem.

I have reformatted it using high- and low-level formatting. I have had two hardrives that worked with a quick-format and not a low-level one(the disks died within two months), but such is not the case. BTW, the drive works excellently when it is not the boot disk.

Also, the case side-panel is off anyway. I am too lazy to be constantly pulling the panel off and replacing it ;j

Blain

Try hitting F8 key before Windows loads and go to last known good configuration.

After the install boots from the disk, it copies the files to the HDD; then boots from that cache. It is that second boot, the one from the cache, that it will not boot from.

Billb2

The BIOS is pointing at the worng boot device (When it goes to reboot during the install, shut down, enter the bios and reset the boot device to the HDD with the install in it)

No, I tried that already. Along with removing the XP disk from the CDD.

Billb2

The MFT on the drive is corrupted. This can happen with drives that previously had an OS on them. (Enter Repair Consul and type fixmbr).

I was unaware of that command. When it comes to text user-interfaces I am sadly deficient. Thanks for that, I will try it ASAP.

If the above works, I will post to let you guys know. In the meanwhile, thanks for the help!
-Murphy

 

[murphyslabrat]

*bump*

 

[Jiggz]

I don't know what else to tell you. But if the hdd works well as slave there is no reason why it can't work as master or worse yet as OS hdd. If it works perfectly as a slave you can still install OS on a slave drive. Configure it as a slave to your optical drive and install the OS. Just make sure the boot sequence will be cd->floppy->hdd0. Goodluck!