Windows XP Setup crashes

Hi all

My Win XP crashed whilst using Media Player 10. It wouldn't restart after that and would stay stuck on the WIN XP startup splash screen.
Decided to format and reinstall. Format goes well but the PC get stuck during the installation - the most it reaches is when it says 'Installing Devices' and there's 35mins to go.

Here's my system:
P4 3.4GHz
Asus MB P4P800 SE
1GB RAM
ATi 256MB X800 Pro
Sound Blaster sound card
2x S-ATA 160GB HDs (one connected at the moment!)

Do u think its software or has my hardware gone nuts? Any ideas?

Thanks

Damian

 

Try running Memtest86+ overnight, see if it crashes or you get any memory errors:

http://www.memtest.org/

 

I'll give it a go and get back...thanks!

Damian

 

Hi

I checked the memory with memtest for over 2hrs and everything passed ok. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Damian

 

Ok

How can u do that when OS is not installed.

 

It was a bootable floppy which loaded memtest in 'DOS'.

 

What happens after that? does it asks for a file or something?
Are you using an original copy of win?

 

Yep, I've got my original copy of Windows. The PC freezes a different parts of the installation but at exactly these places. For example... the earliest it gets stuck is just after format when its loading the setup files onto the HD - here it gets stuck at 3%. No error message...just freezes. Sometimes it passes that point and copies all the files to the HD but just as its 'initilizing' the files it gets stuck. Other times it passes both these points and reaches the Win Setup screen and gets stuck with 35mins to go whilst its 'installing devices'. No error messages in any of them.

 

Have you over clocked your computer?

I suggest you reset the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery. Look for a jumper with 3 pins situated next to the battery. The plastic will be covering pins 1-2. Take it off and place it on pins 2-3 for approx 10 seconds.

Make sure the motherboard isn't shorting out anywhere. Did you install the stand-offs?

Double check all the cables to make sure they are in tight

 

Try using a different ROM drive.

 

If the install 'hangs' in the first phases, it's usually hardware related.
Make sure to check "every single" device for compatibility with XP.


Keyboard: regular or USB keyboard? Remove USB keyboard, and connect to PS2
connector, if so.
Remove modem too if you have one ....to simplify install. And network
card. Put original graphics card as well.


Insure CDRom is set as master, and cabled separate from disk drive, and
connected to IDE connector on motherboard. I suppose your CDRW is the only
CD device you have? It may just have been going at the wrong speed for
copying. Redo your cabling as I suggest. And the XP CD needs to be in
first CD device (if you have CDRom & CDRW).