Windows XP repair install freezes on installing network

[Bob42]

I had a network problem, so i tried to do a repair install. Now the second part of the install just sits on installing network with 32 minutes left. Any ideas?

If this message seems short, it's because i'm posting from my PSP. -_-

[Panama Red]

I had the same problem Tues nite with a Dell Dimension 3000. After several attempts, I pulled the hard drive, put it in one of my machines to save files and favorites. Then is was nuke and pave time. Had plenty of Adware/spyware/trojans/and a couple viruses when I tried to clean it out before the repair install. Hate to tell ya but you're probably better off time wise to do the same.

[Bob42]

Unfortunately, there isn't another computer with SATA in my house. So I can't really just save what I want. I don't suppose anything specific causes this? The little dots in the corner keep cycling, but it makes no actual progress. Just keeps giving stupid messages about how exciting my new Windows install is...

[Panama Red]

Yup, same scenario I had. Tried it four times before I gave up. First two times it hung at 34 minutes and then wouldn't go past 32. I finally gave up and resorted to a nuke and pave.

[cimics]

I had this problem and after talking to about 7 different tech support people over 5 days, finally pulled a solution out of them. This is for those whose Windows XP repair install stalls at 32 or 31 minutes, saying "installing network", and where disabling hardware devices hasn't solved your problem:

1. When you are stuck at 32 or 31 minutes, press shift + F10. A command prompt box should pop up saying "C:\windows\system32".

2. At the prompt, type "taskmgr". The task manager window should pop up.

3. Click the "processes" tab

4. Find the process that is taking up all of the system resources (more than 90%) and click on it. Probably "spoolsv" or something to that effect (I'm relating that from my memory, as I have no desire to go through the repair install process again).

5. Click "end process". At this point your hard drive should start working again, the windows progress bar should begin to move, and you will cross that hitherto uncrossable 31 minute barrier!

6. Go through the rest of the install. It may freeze again (it did for me at 13 minutes), but make sure you give it some time to work before assuming it's a freeze. Once you determine it is indeed a freeze (esp. if it's at the 13 minute mark), then repeat steps 1 -5. It should then continue to progress. I experienced two freezes: one at 31 minutes and one at 13 minutes. At 2 minutes it looked at first like it might be a freeze but it was just slow. So don't be trigger happy about ending a process but do it when it is clear you're stuck.

7. Check to see if you can surf the web. If you can't, check to see if you can ping another server. If you can do that, then you need to reinstall your tcp/ip stack. Now I'm a little fuzzy about what the tech support person told me, but it involves going into the registry to wipe out some entries and then going back and to the network settings in windows and adding a TCP/IP protocol, so you should find some other info on the web or call tech support to walk you through that.

[jayb1234]

You could use the Windows Files and Settings Transfer Wizard to save the files you want to another computer. You will need a serial data transfer cable or a network setup to do that. Start the wizard at all programs-accessories-system tools-files and settings transfer wizard, and click on "connecting your computers" on the first screen of the wizard for instructions on the setup. After saving the files you could reformat and reinstall.

[cimics]

That works as long as your motherboard didn't die on you unexpectedly. If it did and you cannot find an identical board, then you won't be able to utilize the windows files settings and transfer wizard.