Problem trying install an OS

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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
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I'm trying to get rid of Vista from a new rig I built and "upgrade" to XP.

Vista installed fine it just doesn't work with my printer, scanner or some other programs I have. XP runs everything.

When I try to install XP I get a message saying the install has been shut down to prevent damage to the computer. At first it said it was caused by the file setupdd.sys. I did some checking and most people said that file was because of bad memory. I have 2 2MB of Corsair memory. Vista was showing the 4MB. So I assume the memory is good. I tried swapping the slots that the memory goes in. From 1 & 3 to 2 & 4. I still get the shutting down to prevent damage but not the setupdd error. It says to check if any new hardware or software is properly installed. If it's a new install to check with the manufacturer for any updates. And it says to run CHKDSK/F.

I have two HD. A Samsung 500GB and a WD 640GB. I can't remember which is which but when I unplug one I get the above errors. When I unplug that one and plug in the other one
It says Windows is preparing to set up then the screen goes black and nothing happens.

Also, since I switched the memory only one of my HD is showing up.

Does anyone know why I'm getting these errors? Both drives work fine with Vista. Is it a case of XP not liking one of the HD? Or something else. I'm a noob at this and this is my first build.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
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Dillybob

Member
Jun 24, 2008
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To "Upgrade" to XP, you have to format the drive first. HOWEVER: Backup all your important data first (formatting deletes everything). External Hard Drive would be best.

When you select the drive, be sure to format it. This takes a few minutes. Then you can go onto the installation, and shouldn't get any errors.

 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
0
0
Do I have to format the drive while Vista is installed? I was just putting in the Vista disc as if I was going to do an install. The when it asked where to install to I clicked delete. I had to delete because it wouldn't let me use the format option. It wasn't lit up.
 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
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I do have a partition now but the second time I tried I didn't have any. When I first installed Vista it made me create a partition. Then I took it out to put XP in. When that didn't work I put Vista back in but it didn't ask for a partition. Then I heard it was better to put the OS on a partition so I did.

Also I have no important data. Since I know I'm going to be formatting or deleting the drive, I'm not saving anything on it. That's why I need to get this fixed. I can't really do anything with the computer until I get XP installed.
 
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robisbell

Banned
Oct 27, 2007
3,621
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you may have to go old school and fdisk and even zero the drive before XP will be able to use it.
 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
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Sounds like a plan. If I only knew what fdisk and zeroing the drive meant. :laugh:
 
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Slowlearner

Senior member
Mar 20, 2000
873
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Use the hard drive manufacturer's utilities to first check then format the drive - its much quicker and simpler that way.
 
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Dillybob

Member
Jun 24, 2008
108
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Put in the XP disk and reformat the drive from there....if you haven't already tried that. BACKUP EVERYTHING FIRST (external drive or DVD's or whatever).

1: Put in XP disk.
2: Boot from it.
3: Attempt install on desired drive.
4: Format (there should be an option for it)
5: Install XP.

I've done it this way before. It SHOULD work, as it deletes everything from the drive.
 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
0
0
Originally posted by: Slowlearner
Use the hard drive manufacturer's utilities to first check then format the drive - its much quicker and simpler that way.
Click to expand...

Where do I find these utilities? Are they on their site?

Dillybob: I'm not sure what you say would work. When I try to install that's when I get the error messages.

Thanks for those links Robisbell. They seem kind of complicated though.

I have another question that might change how I go about this. After getting the HD error messages I unplugged both HD's. I still got the message about a bad HD. Should I be getting that message? I thought I would get something about not windows can't install because it can't find a HD. Does that mean I have some other problem or can I still try the suggestions you gave?

 
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Dillybob

Member
Jun 24, 2008
108
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The SATA Port (They are SATA, right?) may not be functioning properly....although I don't see why it wouldn't be. Did you cut the power (unplug the PSU or hit the hard-power switch) before swapping/ unplugging everything (every single time)? If you messed with stuff if it even had access to power could have damaged some of the parts....
 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
0
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No I didn't turn off or unplug the PSU. I didn't think I had to. I don't think anything is messed up because of that though. There is some weird issues though. Since I swapped the memory sticks from 1,3 to 2,4 my second HD isn't showing. When I had the memory in 1,3 and try to install Vista it only shows one HD as a place to install to.

Also when I first got the board a Gigabyte P35, I think one of the SATA ports was bad. Or at least my HD didn't work in that port. So I just don't use it. Right now I only need the 3 ports so it's not a big deal.

I'll be sure to turn off the PSU next time I unplug something. Thanks for the tip.
 
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vard

Junior Member
May 18, 2008
11
0
0
I wasn't sure if just the port was bad or if other parts of the board were bad too. Everything works fine with Vista.

When I try to install XP with one of the HD plugged in I get a black screen after it starts the setup. When I unplug that and plug in the other one I get the error message. That's why I think XP doesn't like my HD. Maybe it's something else but I don't know why it would do that. I haven't tried plugging that drive into another port.
 
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robisbell

Banned
Oct 27, 2007
3,621
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XP requires you to make a boot floppy with the SATA drivers installed on it. during the install it'll ask you to press F6.
 
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