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Win XP install errors - upgraded pc

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perlmonger

Member
I need help. Please. I'm trying to install win xp pro on a recently upgraded pc. I took an old PII 400 gateway and swapped in a ECS KT600A and Sempron 2400+, 512 MB Crucial Value ram and a GeForce FX5200 128MB video card. I'm still using the old 9.2 GB IDE HDD. The pc powers-up fine and I've set up the bios to minimal specs. Here's the rub. When I start the win xp install, I get "file xxx not copied correctly" errors when the installer is copying setup files from the cd to the HDD. It's not always the same files but some of the files are always incorrectly copied. I press enter to retry the copy process as instructed and the installer continues, sometimes after 3-4 retries. This continues until files are all? copied and usually I get a BSOD-like stop screen that mainly says that there was an error and the file cdfs.sys is probably at fault. Also says "page fault in non-paged area". The third time I tried the install, I got through to saving the installation (next to last step) and the install hung. (splash screen continued to change, but HDD spooled down, status bar stayed at 12%, time to finish stayed at 9 minutes and pc quit making any sounds except for fans for 30+ minutes.

  • I've tried another install disk - no change
  • I've went back through the BIOS settings and set everything to "fail-safe" settings

Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe the old HDD is toast? It worked fine with the old setup running knoppix 3.7 (HDD install) I also popped the knoppix cd in and it loaded right up but when I clicked on the K menu it hung. I'm out of my league here. All help appreciated.

Thanks
 
Run this program Zap63 from a boot floppy. It will zero out the MBR. When it asks you to type "yes", use all caps (no idea why, but it will fail if you don't).

I have had the same problem doing a Win install after a Linux install, and nothing worked till I tried this.
 
jacksmithusa, the zap63 utility seems to be designed for fat file systems. Can I use it to zero the mbr and then install ntfs? I'm assuming that if it is zeroed-out it doesn't matter, right? Thanks
 
Did you replace the power supply in Ye Olde Gateway GP6-400 with something that can handle a Sempron 2400+ and an FX5200?
 
No, I didn't replace the power supply, I thought I could squeak by until I replace the case. The comp has just the floppy and a single cdr and one HDD. I'm probably pushing it though. I've zeroed-out the MBR and trying another go at the install now. If that fails I'll go with a new PS. I'm also in the process of getting memtest86 and figuring out how to run that. I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks again for the assist.
 
Another question is what speed your memory's rated for, and whether you have it properly set for 1:1 operation with the CPU's DDR333 frontside bus. Don't run it out-of-sync, is generally good advice.
 
Update: New error!
This is really starting to pi$$ me off. I made it nearly all the way through the install this time and got the BSOD with the IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR EQUAL error. I immediately checked the CPU temp and it was 30 degrees c. I've downloaded a bootable iso image of memtest86 that I've burned to cd and I'm now trying to figure out how to work it. I popped in the bootable cd and restarted but apparently there is some install flag active that returns me to the xp install regardless of what cd is in the drive. Anyone know how to clear the install so I can boot from the memtest cd?

Thanks
 
mechBgon, I'm using PC 3200 DDR400. I let the bios set the timings (by SPD) and it's set at 200mhz. The FSB is at 166. Should I run it at 166?
 
Originally posted by: perlmonger
mechBgon, I'm using PC 3200 DDR400. I let the bios set the timings (by SPD) and it's set at 200mhz. The FSB is at 133. Should I run it at 133?
Click to expand...
Since Sempron 2400+ is designed for a 166MHz (DDR333) bus speed, I'd run the CPU and memory at 166MHz bus speed.

Out of curiosity, what's the wattage of the Gateway's power supply there. We have some of that era of Gateway at work, but I forgot what they're rated for... 185 watts or something?
 
Anyone have any ideas about how to bet out of the installer when I restart. It currently says "booting from the CD" and goes back to the install even if there is no CD in the drive.
 
Yeah, bring the RAM down to sync with the CPU at 166MHz, is what I'd do. If your install keeps failing, you might try bringing CPU and memory down to 100MHz bus to reduce the power consumption, or just hurry up on your new case & power supply.
 
Any ideas on how to get it to quit the install? I want to try booting it from a bootable memtest86 cd but no matter what disk is in the drive it goes back to the installer and says an critical error has occurred that stops the install program. I'm stuck in a loop here. If this wasn't for the kids I would have left knoppix on it. I'm a much better with *nix than a with windows.

Thanks everyone for the help!
 
I think on these boards you can hit the F8 key during POST to call up a boot-device menu, you might try that. Or just ensure that CD-ROM is the first boot device and that your CD is actually bootable (try it in a different system).

Big picture: it's Crucial RAM. Not very likely to be faulty RAM. My guess is you are not pumping enough wattage into da cottage there 🙂 and asynchronous CPU/memory operation is probably not helping either. How about try a run at 100MHz for both the CPU and RAM, as a fact-finding step.
 
Hallalieuja or however you spell it! Changing the DRAM bus speed seemed to do the trick. I know it still needs more powah but at least I got the OS installed. Thanks a million everyone and a special god bless to mechBgon!
 
Now your kids need an edjumacation in not installing every shiny thing they see on teh IntarWeb 😀
 
I've pretty much nailed that one down. Their accounts are set to limited, I use clarkconnect as my server/firewall, I have squid installed for port forwarding and proxy services, privoxy for ad filtering and have content filtering configured. I also don't let them surf unsupervised. There's alot of bad stuff out there.

Thank you and god bless!
 
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