XP will not install...

from WinCustomize Forums
My wife is trying to install XP on daughters machine. She's having problems, so now I'm involved also. ;)
It's a PII 500MHz, 640MB RAM. I've had XP on a slower machine, so this should work. The trouble is, everytime we get to the screen that says "Press ENTER to install XP", we press enter, and the computer reboots. It's an endless loop. We have removed all cards except video, changed HardDrive, changed CD ROM, reset CMOS, reset BIOS, and a few things I don't remember...... nothing makes any difference.
I don't know what info may or may not be important, so here's what we're working with.......
Jetway 693AS motherboard, Pheonix BIOS. SIS 6326 8M AGP video. Western Digital HD.

Any suggestions? Do I need to supply more info? (just let me know what)
Thanks in advanced.....

15,434 views 26 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try it using another keyboard.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Koasati, Did you use the Data Life Guard tools from WD to set up your HD? I dont know if it will help, but it is something you can try. Heres the link in case you dont have them Link

Zero.
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
UMM..LoL..on 2cnd thought, this disk has the lifeguard tools on it as well as a few other things that might help Link

Hope it helps,
Zero.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Different keyboard didn't help.

Checking out the link DZ.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Even though that machine is a bit old, I would agree that you should be able to install XP.

Suggestions:

If the old drive was working fine, I would reinstall everything to bring computer back to where it originally was, then boot up on that drive to verify it works and your cables are still communicating with the MoBo.

If all is well, run the Upgrade Advisor from the XP disc and see if you have any driver or hardware issues you need to download and install previous to attempting install again.

Then do the old Boot sequence set-up in BIOS so CD is first and Hardrive is last, clean CD surface with a soft rag and insert CD, reboot from disc.

If you still have a problem and you have another XP disc around, try that one just to see if you can get an installation to the Hard Drive. If so, then = Bad XP disc. Return for a good one.

It sounds like either incompatible hardware or drivers somewhere, or a bad XP disc to me.

Will check around for more info.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
""Then do the old Boot sequence set-up in BIOS so CD is first and Hardrive is last, clean CD surface with a soft rag and insert CD, reboot from disc.""


I forgot about that Corky, but I am sure Koasati had that figured out. But you know, if you do not have the boot order arranged properly it will just restart..LoL..
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah, through that in just in case, DZ.

Here is the only thing I found that resembled your issue, Koasati. Link

I have to sleep, it's an early start for work tomorrow.

Will check on your progress tomorrow.

Good luck
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hmm - didn't know the Pentium 2 came in a 500 mhz flavor. Learn something new everyday!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That was helpful Kona..
I suppose that the frustration of other issues would not allow for any slack in that area..I guess that must be the whole problem..

Koasati..stop forgetting to add that extra "I" then XP will install perfectly..according to Kona..::nods::

Sheesh, Why didnt I think of that..it's all to simple..

::Sighs::
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Koasati..stop forgetting to add that extra "I" then XP will install perfectly..according to Kona..::nods::


I don't get your joke - I didn't use a "I" anywhere in my previous post. So what are you talking about?
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I had a problem like that sometime ago, it turned out it was my PCI nvidia card.

I don't recall the model number, but there were other video card manufactures and models that had similar problems. Every time I needed to reinstall XP I had to swap out the video card with an old one. Once installed, I could plug my nvidia card back in and the machine would work great.

This may not solve your problem and I can not locate the link I found the information on so I can not go into specifics on the problem. Perhaps this will give you another path for investigation, though.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
ya know how some people are naturally immune to horrible diseases like plague, typhoid, hepatitis, etc? maybe you're just fortunate enough to have a system with a natural immunity to operating systems created by a corporation which--as a final resort against just the situation you've described--has nothing better to offer than 'if nothing else works, uninstall everything but the video card and a harddrive'.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I had a similar problem with an old computer when XP first came out. My last resort solution was to install Windows2000 on it, then upgrade it to XP.
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oops!... The wife told me it was a PII, and I thought nothing of it, but I find out this morning it's a Celeron.... sorry 'bout that.

Anyway..... thanks for all the suggestions. We think we've narrowed it down to the motherboard. It appears to be headed south.

Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Randy...try copying the i386 folder contents from the CD to the HD...and install from there.

It'll remove the CDRom from the equation....[as a fault source]....

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
certain Nvidia Video cards will stop an XP or 2000 pro install dead in their tracks and reboot the pc..it was a BFG 4600TI for me .. but i have heard others with different cards and the same problem... Try a different v card, install the os .. then when its all set up switch the v card back....hope this helps
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
are you pressing the wrong key? lol, jj. hey, jafo, wats ur email???
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Julie had the proccessor tested while I was at work yesterday ..... it was bad. New motherboard, and processor.... still not working. Replace power supply, better, but still no cigar. Replace video card with my old GeForce MX440....... BINGO! XP installs! Now we can't get it to dialup. Replace modem, and all is good. The only thing left of the old machine is the case, and sound card. Daughter now has a 2GHz system. YAY!
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
LoL..Well good for her! She needed a new PC obviously. im sure she's very happy and rightfully so!
Now go get her that DVD Burner she wants as well!!

LoL!

Zero.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Did you put your newer video card back in after the reinstall? My guess (and HG_Eliminator's too) is that it will work fine... at least until you need to reinstall.

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I Think You Need A Minimum of a Pentium III, to Install XP, but I not sure. You can check the requirements of the installation of your XP version on a microsoft.com search. Also, find a local computer guy in your town, by doing a Yellow page search, and go pay him/her a visit, you'll fing that a PIII will be allot easier to work with, and may not cost allot for you to upgrade to-especially if she likes playing computer games, and will probaly need some of todays current software, for what ever her needs will be, a PIII Is still the minimum for most software, games, and hardware requirements-In most cases, so try and find a PIII, with 550Mhz Processor, on a motherboard, with at least 5 PCI slots, and 1 AGP Slot for her Graphics Card. Hope you can find it, and good luck.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
XP needs a minimum of an Pentium II (Or AMD K62 or K63) running at 400 I believe.
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Here it is from MS, for the Home addition:

- PC with 300 megahertz (MHz) or higher processor clock speed recommended; 233-MHz minimum required;* Intel Pentium/Celeron family, AMD K6/Athlon/Duron family, or compatible processor recommended
- 128 megabytes (MB) of RAM or higher recommended (64 MB minimum supported; may limit performance and some features)
- 1.5 gigabyte (GB) of available hard disk space.*
- Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor
- CD-ROM or DVD drive
- Keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

(sound card, speakers or headphones recommended for full XP experiences)