[tigger634]

Help please. I am trying to load Win XP (SP2) onto a computer, and it crashes at the 34 mins point every time.

Any ides please.

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Hi tigger634...

When you formatted the HDD, did you use the Quick Format option or do a Full Format?

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi tigger634...

When you formatted the HDD, did you use the Quick Format option or do a Full Format?

wannabe1

[gen244drdr]

I'd also be checking for hardware problems if you can. IE. Bad RAM for example. If you can, unplug any unnecessary devices during install and try to eliminate what's causing the problem. Also, you could have bad sector on the hard drive at just that point (and the full format could bring that to light mentioned above)

[tigger634]

Thanks guys.

Wanabe:
The computer was running Win98. during the install to XP the format was carried out as part of this. Thus deleting 98. I have since tried to format again using the Win 98 disk, not sure if it did quick or long format. Xp install still crashes at 34 min point.

Gen:
Just added some extra RAM, got a 128 and 256 stick in it now. At firs switch on, comp shows all the RAM in start up.

Am thinking of trying to install 98 fully, then go for XP install. Good idea ??

Tiggs

[wannabe1]

Try taking out the 128MB stick or RAM and put the 256MB stick in the first slot. Unhook any hardware you don't need such as the sound card (if not using onboard), printers, and any USB devices.

Format the drive using the XP installation CD making sure to delete all partitions on the drive and using the full format option. Thet let windows install and see how it goes.

Is this XP CD an OEM or a Retail version?

wannabe1

[tigger634]

Thanks. I'll give that a go. But, which is the first slot ??

OEM or Retail [u]

[wannabe1]

The first slot should be marked as either 1 or 0 depending on the motherboard manufacturer.

If this is an OEM cd, is it the one designed for use with your machine? If it's not, it may be trying to install drivers (chipset, video, sound) that are not on the machine and may be the source of the hanging installation.

wannabe1

[tigger634]

errrrrr maybe neither

But I'll give it all a go. Thanks. Probably tomorrow before I get back to you.

Tiggs

[wannabe1]

tigger634, this isn't a pirated copy of XP, is it? If it is I would suggest that you install the legal copy of Win98 and forget about trying to install the XP...it ain't gonna work and we can't help you make it work...

wannabe1

[tigger634]

No, Not at all. LOL.

[wannabe1]

Ok...If it is an OEM version, do you know what machine it's for? If you bought it online, you might provide me with a link and I'll see if I can figure it out.

Go ahead and try the instructions I gave you a couple of posts ago and see if the OS will install.

wannabe1

[tigger634]

Wannabe1,

Thank you thank you. Complete sucess with the installation.

BUT.

Somewhere along the line I have lost 8GB from my hard drive !!! After the sucessful install, I went to do a Defrag. It showed that the hard drive was only 2GB, with only 340+ MB spare. I know it was ok before I started this.

Any clues ??

Hard drive is a Fujitsu MPC3102AT Pt number CA01675-B661000E and should be 10.24GB

[wannabe1]

tigger634...

Let's see if you have installed Windows more than once on the machine...

Go to Control Panel and double click "System". Under the "Advanced" tab...in the "Startup and Recovery" section, click the "Settings" button. In the "System Startup" section, click on the dropdown menu for "Default Operating System". Is there more than one entry there?

wannabe1

[tigger634]

OK. I'm not going to get on with this fault till Sunday or Monday as the computer is at my parents.

So if it does have more than one version of windows, where do I go from there to delete it/them?

Reformat and start again ?

Tiggs

[wannabe1]

No...you won't have to format and start again (hopefully)...there are ways to remove "extra" installations. I'd also like you to look at the partitions on the HDD.

Right click "My Computer" and choose "Manage". In the left pane, expand (click +) "Storage" and click on "Disk Management". Post me a screen shot of the resulting window.

wannabe1