Windows xp install hangs at setup is starting windows

[bobhri]

Windows xp install hangs at setup is starting windows on new hard drive. I ran diagnostics on hd and it is good. I also disconnected the hd and booted to windows xp cd. It hangs again even before it can determine there is no hd. So the problem is not the drive.
I tried 2 different windows cds - same thing!
I swapped out the cdrom - same thing!
Must be a memory, cpu or mobo problem.
Any suggestions on what to do next. How to proceed? Thanks, bobhri

 

[Harvey]

Clear your CMOS using the jumper, and reset your preferences. My preferred boot order is:

1. Floppy drive (if you have one)

2. CD-ROM

3. First hard drive.

MemTest86 will test your RAM. Download your preferred version, here.

Good luck.

 

[bobhri]

Harvey, I don't know how likely it is that both memory sticks are bad, but I removed each memory stick and the xp install stalled with each one seperately. So I guess it's not the memory, however I will download memtest and run to be sure.

I never cleared the cmos before. What can I expect after clearing the cmos. Should I record bios settings before doing that??


Thanks for the help