Possessed Compaq PC

[ctcsoft]

Ok got my hands on a newer compaq PC. Its my aunt and uncles and has been giving them problems. ( It was loaded with tons of crap. Spyware and Viruses ).

So I formated, tried to install XP Pro SP2 - No luck. It locks up on install.

Tried to install XP Sp1 - installs all the way through, but when the OS runs, after a short time of browsing or just using the pc, it locks up on you.

I believe I tried Win 2k as well. Will probably try it again. I've never had such a problem with getting an OS to load before and run. system # is pw534aa

any ideas? they have no restore discs or anything. pc had xp home edition on it before. any possibility it has to run on home edition?

 

[crossrode]

Originally posted by: ctcsoft

Ok got my hands on a newer compaq PC. Its my aunt and uncles and has been giving them problems. ( It was loaded with tons of crap. Spyware and Viruses ).

So I formated, tried to install XP Pro SP2 - No luck. It locks up on install.

Tried to install XP Sp1 - installs all the way through, but when the OS runs, after a short time of browsing or just using the pc, it locks up on you.

I believe I tried Win 2k as well. Will probably try it again. I've never had such a problem with getting an OS to load before and run. system # is pw534aa

any ideas? they have no restore discs or anything. pc had xp home edition on it before. any possibility it has to run on home edition?

Try installing OS with one DIMM of RAM in slot 1. If that fails, try a diffferent DImm in slot 1. RAM often causes software install failures.

 

[crossrode]

I forgot to mention, if you have added any RAM to the system (RAM other than what came with the computer), remove it and try to install.

 

[MichaelD]

In addition to the aforementioned RAM hints; lockups are indicative of overheating. Being that this PC doesn't belong to a geek who will actually clean it, it's probably full of dust balls the size of baseballs. Open it up and clean it out.

Additionally, most OEM PCs come with some kind of "rescue" partition (EISA format) on the HD which may interfere with the Windows partitioning utitily. Find out the make of the HD (Seagate/Maxtor/whatever) and download the manuf's HD utility disk. Typically, the downloaded program will create a bootable floppy that will let you check the drive for bad sectors and errors. I would zeroize that drive; use the manuf utility to completely wipe it.

Then load up WINXP_SP2 and go from there.

 

[crossrode]

Absolutely. Dust definately can be the cause.