WinXP won't install - Any ideas?

[Toxic]

Been running WinXP Pro for a while now. Today I decided to clean up the drive a bit and removed Norton System Works via the Remove software thing in the control panel. Uninstall went without a hitch. Upon rebooting, XP started acting strange (ie, no internet connection, most apps would not load, or were VERY slow to load, etc.)

After a quick call to my ISP (and them telling me to call MS at $35 a call) I decided to format and reinstall the OS. No dice. Install gets thru the detection and then when it reaches "setup preparing to install windows" (or similar), the screen goes black forever. I tried installing Win2k and met with the same results. After a call to the XP install support line (free, thank God), they are clueless. No idea why it's happening.

Took the old HDD out, and installed a new one [right out of the box] (I was going to install it anyway), but same results.
Thinking I had a hardware problem, removed everything BUT the CPU, Ram, HDD, Floppy, and CD drive, ....no dice.

Said screw it, and installed Linux without a problem. (With everything plugged back in....to me confirms no hardware/memory problem). I don't really need Windows, but I enjoy the occasional game. AFAIK, I can't run UT2003 under Linux without running a server....soo, if anyone has an idea as to what is going on, I'd appreciate some pointers/clues/hints. Thanks

 

[IamDavid]

Took the old HDD out, and installed a new one [right out of the box] (I was going to install it anyway), but same results.
Thinking I had a hardware problem, removed everything BUT the CPU, Ram, HDD, Floppy, and CD drive, ....no dice.

How about the Video card? I have had this problem when installing a XP system with a AGP video-card when there was onboard video.. Even if I disable the Video and told the bios to boot to AGP I still had problems..

 

[Toxic]

I don't have onboard video, However, I might try that. I have a GF2/GTS AGP and a generic PCI video card laying around that I could throw in. I don't think it would be a big deal to install with a GF4 card, but you never know. Keep the ideas coming in. Thanks for replying.

 

[IamDavid]

How about the onboard virus detection (or something like that) in your BIOS? Make sure its disabled.

And by any chance you GF4 card be the GF4 MX from PNY? I could never get that card to work when installing XP, I had to use a different card then switch back after installation..

Good luck, hope you get it figured out..

 

[Toxic]

No onboard virus enabled. I have the Gainward TI 4200 card, but I'll throw one of the other ones in to see if that's it. I know I installed it with the GF2/GTS card before, so I'll start there. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[igiveup]

Nothing really helpful to add but as long as we are messing with the bios you might want to reset it to the safe defaults. Make sure Power Management in the bios is Disabled (shutting down the monitor???) also.

Also, make sure your CD is clean. Maybe it has something on it that is keeping it from going further?

I don't know. I am grasping here, your problem sounds odd.