Windows problem and XP doesn't want to install?

[Boa Constrictor]

Hey, I was just trying to reinstall Windows XP on my system and for some reason the same thing happens at each attempt.

I boot from the CD, it starts installing, goes through drivers and then I get a black screen and thats it. The black screen doesn't say nothing and it gets stuck there. The only way out is to restart and if I restart, I have to start all over again and same thing happens.

The reason I wanted to reinstall Windows is because for some reason when I boot up, the computer hangs at the blue screen after it loads windows. It's not an error screen, just the blue background of the welcome screen but without the welcome. If I press CTRL ALT DEL at this screen it sometimes lets me in and loads windows.

I'm afraid to shut my computer off now because it might not reboot.

ADAWARE says Im clean, virus scan says I'm clean.

 

[MrChad]

Sounds like a hardware problem (potentially).

Have you added or replaced any hardware recently? You might want to run Memtest to see if it finds any problems with your RAM.

 

[Boa Constrictor]

Hmmm did not do any hardware changes. Memtest reported no errors

 

[Crusty]

Originally posted by: Boa Constrictor
Hmmm did not do any hardware changes. Memtest reported no errors

How long did you let memtest run?

I would leave it running overnight just to be sure. A few minutes of testing is nowhere near enough to come to a conlusion.

 

[Boa Constrictor]

No, I did Memtest for a day like a week or two ago. I didn't change ram for anything.

 

[MrChad]

Do you have any USB or Firewire peripherals connected? Disconnect them and see if you boot problem goes away.

 

[Boa Constrictor]

Hmm only my mouse. However my mouse has been shutting itself off recently when Windows goes into screensaver. The only way to get the mouse to turn back on is to hit it. However I don't have a different mouse to test. Do you think it could be due to the mouse?

 

[MrChad]

Perhaps, I've seen flaky USB devices cause boot up problems before. Try a different USB port for your mouse first, and then, failing that, see if you can borrow a friends mouse to test with.

 

[Boa Constrictor]

I'll try that.

Only problem is, I'm afraid to shut down my computer cause I may not be able to get in again, lol.

 

[Valkerie]

what's the specs of the system, for so many reason, Windows XP does not treat older or even damaged hardware very nicely

 

[Boa Constrictor]

Its old, (1GHZ) but it has been running Windows XP fine for like 2 or 3 years now. (since it came out). I'm replacing it with a new system soon anyway, but I need this system online when I get the new one in case I run into trouble putting the parts together.