Failed Windows 2000 Installation: Bad Drive?

[PipoNYC]

My brother's Dimension L550r was riddled with viruses, spyware, etc. I decided to do a clean install of Windows 2000 Pro (which I've successfully done before). Everything went smoothly: I reformatted the drive and installed the OS. When I restarted the computer, however, it froze just as Windows was done loading. I tried starting in Safety Mode, to no avail. I figured I did something wrong so I reformatted and reinstalled but it didn't work.

I figured the hard drive, a 40G Western Digital Caviar of about 3 years, had crashed. I went ahead and ordered an 80G WD Caviar from ZipZoomFly. Again I did everything as I'd done before yet AGAIN, the system froze just as Windows 2000 Pro was finishing loading.

What could the problem be? Could it be the little 3V battery on the motherboard? (I've never changed it.) Could the new drive possibly have been defective? (If so could I have installed Windows on it at all, which I clearly did?) Is it possible that it isn't the drives at all but something else?

[Cricket]

Might be RAM problems. Test the RAM with Memtest86+ or DocMemory.

Did you change the IDE cable yet?

Cricket

[rjfvillarosa]

Not sure if you know this but whenever you do an OS install you should make sure that no other peripherals are plugged into the machine, you want the bare minimum only, keyboard, mouse and monitor. (speakers optional)

[Digitalic]

At what point EXACTLY does the system hang?

Two key points I would look at, other than a RAM problem which I tend to think is unlikely here as it is a Dell which should have compatible memory, is a video card problem if it`s at the welcome screen or a bad NIC card. If you have a NIC installed try removing it or disabling an onboard NIC.

[PipoNYC]

There were no problems with the RAM prior to reformatting and reinstallation so I doubt that possibility. (And how would I test the RAM now that the computer won't even start up properly?)

As for peripherals, only the bare essentials were in place when I did the reinstall.

The weird thing is that both the old and the brand new hard drives froze when loading Windows 2000 after the installation. Could it be the case, though I doubt it, that the new drive ALSO malfunctioned in some way?

(I used the same DELL factory installed ribbon cable that was on the old hard drive, which functioned well until I did the clean installation.)

[PipoNYC]

The system hangs just as it is almost done loading Windows (after the installation asks me to remove the CD and restart), at the point when the horizontal field at the bottom is about filled with blue boxes). That's when it just stops and the Windows Logo above it sort of scrambles.

[Digitalic]

Sounds video to me. Do you have another vid card you could plop in and try? I think if the HD or ribbon cable was bad you`d have had a plethora of errors during setup and never have gotten to this point but if you have a known good cable try it. One thing at a time though to try and nail it via process of elmination. Last resort would be a bios upgrade and then we`d have to consider MB problem.

Don`t forget about the NIC. Windows searches for a network to connect to if a nic is installed or enabled. Under normal circumstances this can cause up to a minute boot delay. If you have a bad nic......it won`t get any better.

Having the absolute bare essentials is also a good practice during an install as suggested.

edit: If you had the case open for one reason or another, double check that all cards, cables, ram, etc. is seated properly.

[rjfvillarosa]

How many sticks of memory have you got in the machine? if you have more than one, try removing one and then boot up, swap them if you have more than one to eliminate a bad stick.

[PipoNYC]

Thanks to all, especially Digitalic, who is now my hero (or heroine), for being on-the-money with his (or her) diagnosis.

[rjfvillarosa]

What was the problem, NIC or video?

[Digitalic]

Ummmm, that would be HE!!!! LOL

BTW...what did fix the problem?