Installing Windows XP Professional - What is wrong? Please read

[dud]

OK, I am in the process of re-installing XP Professional on a system with an 80 Gig that previously had XP pro on it - but the HD had an "Unmountable Boot Volume" error that I could not recover from. Well, I wiped the drive clean and reformatted it. I then boot from the Win XP CD and the blue screen comes up with the message that it is loading all the required files. OK, so everything is fine, right? Well, the message "loading Microsoft Windows" comes up (as always) and then after about 10 seconds or so the screen goes black and the system goes into a coma forever. I try this again and again but the same thing happens. I then tried installing Win 2K pro and the same thing happens.

I know I am NOT unique and am hoping that at least some users have encountered and successfully conquered this prob. PLEASE let me know how. Please reply or send PM if you can help. Thanks ....

 

[Ryan]

try replacing the IDE cable. I was having the same problems as you on my system, and it was the cable. I don't know what was wrong with it, but after I replaced it I never had the problem again.

Edit: Yea, this shoudl be in the software forum/

 

[LeeTJ]

i had this happen to me and it turned out it was the cpu. i replaced the cpu and it loaded fine.

weird thing, i didn't have the first unmountable error thing, but i had the freeze after the "windows starting" thing.

i don't know if that helps or not.

 

[FoBoT]

switch the ram, maybe you have a bad stick

 

[Insane3D]

Try switching out the case, power supply, CPU, motherboard, memory, video card, optical and IDE drives and it should work fine...

 

[dud]

Thanks for the advice. I wil try the IDE cable first then move on from there. I tried swapping the RAM (I have 2 - 128 MB sticks) but that did not help.

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Try switching out the case, power supply, CPU, motherboard, memory, video card, optical and IDE drives and it should work fine...

funny thing is, I tried ALL of those things. Even RMA'd the MB and the final piece i exchanged was the CPU. Guess what it was the CPU all along.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Try switching out the case, power supply, CPU, motherboard, memory, video card, optical and IDE drives and it should work fine...

Finally, someone posts a reasonable response.:Q

 

[Booster]

Buy prebuilt computers. I'm so sick of unnecessary computer problems I don't think I'll ever venture to build a new one by myself.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy

Originally posted by: Insane3D
Try switching out the case, power supply, CPU, motherboard, memory, video card, optical and IDE drives and it should work fine...

Finally, someone posts a reasonable response.:Q

Now, this is rarely the issue...but if all that doesn't work, replace the furniture that your PC is on, and get a new comfy chair for the PC area. Even the most stubborn copy of Windows XP will usually come around after that...

 

[AthlonXP]

you might want to try the software forum.

 

[theNEOone]

wow, i'm surprised that nobody redirected him to the correct forum.

 

[Booster]

Originally posted by: AthlonXP
you might want to try the software forum.

It's a HW issue, I'm sure.

 

[Insane3D]

Hmmmm...if it is a furniture issue...is that hardware or software? A computer desk is obviously hardware, but a nice comfy chair is more software...

 

[squirrel dog]

could be your lighting is all wrong. I go for the indirect "jungle look "

 

[m2kewl]

you're delaying the inevitable...get the sledgehammer

 

[ElFenix]

yeah i was having that problem... switched mobos and computer works fine now. went to extremes to isolate it too

 

[GoingUp]

you could have bad ram too

 

[dud]

I want to thank all users who actually TRIED to help me with this problem. I posted in this forum thinking I had a hardware problem and that someone here might have experienced the same problem. I did try to replace the IDE cable to no effect.

Thanks to all with the insight to check my furniture or to replace every single piece of hardware I own. The answer was right before my eyes ....

 

[LeeTJ]

Originally posted by: m2kewl
you're delaying the inevitable...get the sledgehammer

nah, me i'd rather just get the clawhammer.


























OH you don't mean THAT hammer do you?

 

[Insane3D]

Thanks to all with the insight to check my furniture or to replace every single piece of hardware I own. The answer was right before my eyes ....

No problem...I like to give back to the community some of the knowledge I've learned over the years...

Do you have any idea how tricky it is troubleshooting the furniture - PC relationship?!?!

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Booster
Buy prebuilt computers. I'm so sick of unnecessary computer problems I don't think I'll ever venture to build a new one by myself.

lol

People who can't figure out their PC problems are just hopeless. Maybe they should stick to getting a Dell or something.

 

You should start by troubleshooting.
It could be nearly anything from power supply, to ram to a bad ide controller.
Use that awe inspiring grey matter that us humans are so known for on mother earth.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: dud
OK, I am in the process of re-installing XP Professional on a system with an 80 Gig that previously had XP pro on it - but the HD had an "Unmountable Boot Volume" error that I could not recover from. Well, I wiped the drive clean and reformatted it. I then boot from the Win XP CD and the blue screen comes up with the message that it is loading all the required files. OK, so everything is fine, right? Well, the message "loading Microsoft Windows" comes up (as always) and then after about 10 seconds or so the screen goes black and the system goes into a coma forever. I try this again and again but the same thing happens. I then tried installing Win 2K pro and the same thing happens.

I know I am NOT unique and am hoping that at least some users have encountered and successfully conquered this prob. PLEASE let me know how. Please reply or send PM if you can help. Thanks ....

Wow, it sounds like you have the I.D. ten- T error.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: SammySon
You should start by troubleshooting.
It could be nearly anything from power supply, to ram to a bad ide controller.
Use that awe inspiring grey matter that us humans are so known for on mother earth.

Wrong.

I fix these for a living and it's not going to be the power supply. The error code specifically states a HD control issue.