trouble installing XP with 3 different install discs

[ThePiston]

friend is getting all kinds of erros installing XP. on 2 different discs the files would copy, but the PC would freeze when it rebooted, on 3rd CD he gets "Setup cannot copy the file: netcicap.inf". He has switched ram, CD-ROM has always been ok, CPU seems fine, mobo is questionable as is HDD since both are new.

 

[ThePiston]

we're going to run Spin Rite to see if it's his HDD. any thoughts? Bueller?

 

[ThePiston]

just found out he's using a 300W PSU... problem with 2400+ mobile?

 

[tomstevens26]

The only time I've encountered a similar problem was when it was an older model motherboard and a newer model CPU. Windows installations would either freeze, have trouble copying a file, or would put garbled ASCII characters on the screen. Upgrading the BIOS to support newer CPUs fixed the problem. Not sure if that would help in your case but it might be something to look at if you haven't already.

Tom

 

[blckgrffn]

Make sure that the heatsink is making good contact with the CPU - I once had this problem and that was the solution.

 

[bigpow]

Sounds like RAM issue (timing? Was it overclocked?

 

[ThePiston]

not overclocked, he's got the following:
shuttle U35N Ultra
corsair value 512mb
AXP mobile 2400+

all stock, bios using optimized AND fail safe, both get errors
HDD is OK, check that using Spin Rite
Ram was swapped out... not that (might be slot thought, testing that tonight)
power supply has been faithful in another box
case seems fine
he only has one video card, so he can't swap it out

here's the weird stuff... he has 3 Winblows CDs, 2 are normal Windows Pro, and one has SP2 incorporated into it. On the 2 normal Windows Pro CDs, he gets to the first reboot and the box freezes and reboots. On the SP2 incorporated CD he gets a "cannot copy file" error on same file every time. You'd think it was this particular CD, but that's the CD I've used many many times with no problems. All CDs are *cough* backups on CDR.

I personally think it's the CD-Rom or the Ram slot or BIOS. We're flashing BIOS, swapping cd-roms, and switching ram slots tonight. Well, he is, I'm trying to help him from 3000 miles away.

 

[footbal07]

i have a pentium 3 that i use as a file server and when formatting ive had to pull the dvd rom out of my computer because the dvd rom in it gives me errors like that. it is an old 2x dvd rom but it worked flawlessly when i put my dvd rom in.