Win 2K hangs on install - computer freezes - please help

[GroundedSailor]

Yesterday I installed a program called 'switch off 2.3' from here:
http://www.download.com/Switch-Off/3000-2344-10154101.html
I used it only once (after install) to shut down the computer.

When I tried to boot up again the computer (windows 2000 pro) stalls at the white boot screen which says Windows 2000 professional and has a blue progress bar - starting up - on a light grey background across the bootom of the screen.

Tried booting in safe mode, last known good configuration etc. but it hangs at the same or similar point. Also used a win98 floppy to boot but cannot read C drive.

After wasting a few hours I decided to put a brand new hard disk and do a fresh install of win 2k.

Now after the initial bit where it loads all kinds of drivers (blue dos type screen with 'Windows 2000 Setup' written at the top left and a white band across the bottom) the computer hangs where it says 'Setup is starting Windows 2000' in that band.

The next screen should be the one with welcome to setup and it goes through the license and partition etc. but I don't get there.

I thought the RAM was bad and swapped it for a 256MB PC 2100 but same result.

Computer:
MSI motherboard K7N2 Delta
AMD CPU 2200+
512 Crucial PC 2700 DDR or Simple 256 PC 2100
WD 80 GB HDD
Powerspec 9200 SE Radeon video card.
Floppy, CD-Rom CD-RW, NIC etc.
Antec 330 TruPower PS

What could be the problem? I've not had any trouble with this computer before yesterday. It's my office computer and I've already spent most of today working on it.

Any help appreciated.

TIA

 

[mikecel79]

Pull everything from the machine except for what you need to boot (HD, CD, Motherboard, CPU, Video, PSU) and then try. See if you still have the problem. If that works add the pieces back one by one until it freezes.

I don't think that utility had anything to do with it. Looks like it just executes the Windows shutdown command.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: mikecel79
Pull everything from the machine except for what you need to boot (HD, CD, Motherboard, CPU, Video, PSU) and then try. See if you still have the problem. If that works add the pieces back one by one until it freezes.

I don't think that utility had anything to do with it. Looks like it just executes the Windows shutdown command.

Tried removing everything but same result.

Also tried by making the 4 setup floppies and installing win2k but that too hangs at the same point in the install process.

What else can I try?

This is getting frustrating.

---------------------------

Update:

Tried clearing the CMOS - no help.

Managed to get it going by pressing F5 as soon as the install procedure begins (It says Press F6 if you want to load SCSI drivers or something). That gave me the option of choosing Standard PC - it was set on 'Other' - and the install went through flawlessly. Gonna try connect my previous HDD to see if that works.

Maybe I'm just bitter but I would stay away from the switch off utility. The author does talk of the registry so maybe it does make some changes:
http://yasoft.km.ru/eng/switchoff/faq.asp