Serious Windows XP Home install problems

[froyo3652]

Overview of the problem
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Been trying to install windows xp for about a month now and i keep getting errors after switching out hardware to "troubleshoot"



Full description of the problem and symptoms
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I reformatted my computer a while back and the windows installation would say there wasn't a disc in the drive

I replaced my hard drive and got a new set of errors (can't remember them, unfortunately)

I replaced the cd rom drive and got new errors:
-The file I386\Ntkrnlmp.exe could not be loaded. The error code is 7. (Got this message on the first boot up after installing the cd rom)
-trap 0000000d general protection fault (followed by 2 paragraphs of letters/numbers(Got this message on subsequent boot ups))




Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
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Worked fine until I reformatted




Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
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Happens everytime I turn on my computer and it gets to the Boot from CD screen




I already tried these steps:
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Tried replacing my hard drive and cd rom drives with brand new ones




My software:
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Would be Windows XP Home






My hardware
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Unfortunately I have no idea





Other information that might be relevant
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n/a for now

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Can you list the rest of your hardware? Have you tested your memory with an type of diagnostic tools?

Also, take a look at this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318729

 

[froyo3652]

I haven't been able to test my memory, mainly because I don't know how

I was planning on borrowing a stick of ram off somebody and seeing if that does it, than buying my own...just wanted some info from someone who knows what they're doing as to whether or not it would be ram

 

[RebateMonger]

Microsoft Memory Diagnostic Tool and User Guide

Your problems sounds like a memory problem.

 

[froyo3652]

Thanks for the replies thus far

I tried running Windows Memory Diagnostic as you suggested only to get prompted to "insert a system disc" which I assume means I need windows installed to run this test

Are there any tests I can download and run with no windows up whatsoever? Somebody suggested memtest86, but said it's very complicated to run and I don't think I can do it on my own (if it's not too complicated, let me know and i'll give it a shot)

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Get to another pc

Download this http://www.memtest.org/downloa...emtest86+-2.01.iso.zip
Extract with something like winzip or winrar
Use this http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm to burn the iso file you extracted.

Put this cd in your drive and boot to it and run the tests, if anything fails your memory is bad and you need to remove 1 stick at a time and test until you find the bad one

 

[Slatz]

Most definitely a RAM issue...replace it..

 

[froyo3652]

Most definitely a RAM issue...replace it..

I've heard that it was most definitely a hard drive issue and then a cd rom issue, but it's still not working
:-( so you can see why I'd like to test it out before shelling out more cash

As for Isoreader, I can't seem to get it to work, I'm using windows xp SP 3 on the computer I'm using to burn cd's..there's only SP 1, 2 and vista download options

 

[Slatz]

Didn't hear that from me... Go ahead and waste more of your time then...

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: froyo3652
I tried running Windows Memory Diagnostic as you suggested only to get prompted to "insert a system disc" which I assume means I need windows installed to run this test

The page that I linked above includes instructions for making a bootable CDROM that runs Windows Memory Diagnostics.

 

[froyo3652]

Originally posted by: Slatz
Didn't hear that from me... Go ahead and waste more of your time then...

Will do that gladly, thanks for the help

The page that I linked above includes instructions for making a bootable CDROM that runs Windows Memory Diagnostics.

I got memtest86 to work, it's scanning as we speak

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: froyo3652

Originally posted by: Slatz
Didn't hear that from me... Go ahead and waste more of your time then...

Will do that gladly, thanks for the help

The page that I linked above includes instructions for making a bootable CDROM that runs Windows Memory Diagnostics.

I got memtest86 to work, it's scanning as we speak

Let us know what the outcome is, it could possibly be a bad hard drive/optical or even disc, but most likely its memory

 

[froyo3652]

Figured it out, apparently I have the 'upgrade' version of XP, which is extremely hard to decipher on the holographic disc itself...all I gotta do is install any windows and pop in my disc

I hate it when it's this easy

Edit: Question about installing with upgrade version...could I install anybody's windows (95, 98, etc)...pop in this upgrade XP and it will install?

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: froyo3652
Figured it out, apparently I have the 'upgrade' version of XP, which is extremely hard to decipher on the holographic disc itself...all I gotta do is install any windows and pop in my disc

I hate it when it's this easy

Edit: Question about installing with upgrade version...could I install anybody's windows (95, 98, etc)...pop in this upgrade XP and it will install?

Techincally you need a legal and legit key for these as well. Even still it should still ask for the disc and shouldnt error out.

 

[RebateMonger]

Yeah. "Upgrade Version" isn't the problem here. If a Retail Upgrade XP Install CD doesn't find an eligible OS, it'll ask for an Install CD from an eligible previous version of Windows. There's no need to have an OS installed on the hard drive before installing the "Upgrade" version of XP.

 

[froyo3652]

Well, I guess the errors I mentioned in the original post were being caused by ram not being inserted correctly (Thanks dad, what a true computer genius you are -.-)

When I put them in the RIGHT way, the errors disappeared and I got to the "Please insert a windows disc (95, 98, 2000, etc)"

Which is why I'm hoping the XP disc I just ordered from Newegg will install problem free, if it doesn't, I'll get back to you all

In the meantime, thanks for all the responses

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: froyo3652
Well, I guess the errors I mentioned in the original post were being caused by ram not being inserted correctly (Thanks dad, what a true computer genius you are -.-)

When I put them in the RIGHT way, the errors disappeared and I got to the "Please insert a windows disc (95, 98, 2000, etc)"

Which is why I'm hoping the XP disc I just ordered from Newegg will install problem free, if it doesn't, I'll get back to you all

In the meantime, thanks for all the responses

What do you mean by not inserted correctly? Had the levers on the side not locked in?

 

[bruceb]

Memory usually can only go in one way. I know on Dell's there is a keyway on the memory cards, where the contacts on one
side of the RAM have more connections to one side of the Keyway ... so basically, you can not install it wrong. The only thing you may have done, is not fully seat it. And on most pcs when it is fully seated the locks clip into place by themselves.