Problem with clean install of XPpro

[whatever]

Hi ya,

I recently did an upgrade install on my pc so I could use my new 200GB HD. I went from win98 (I know it's old, I'm just slow sometimes) to XPpro with no problems. I copied everything I wanted to keep from my original 80GD HD across to the new one. I then booted from the XPpro disk so I could do a clean install and wiped all the partitions on the 80GB and re-partitioned it. I then started the set-up installation process. Now here's the problem, after it has copied the files over for installation and reboots, it never comes up with "Press any key to boot from CD", it just says "Boot from ATAPI CD-ROM" and restarts the whole set-up process, so I never get to the actual installation on the HD.

My 80GB HD is a Western Digital Caviar EIDE.

I've tried a number of things, but to no avail. I'm hoping someone here would have an idea of what I could try.

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by whatever after it has copied the files over for installation and reboots, it never comes up with "Press any key to boot from CD", it just says "Boot from ATAPI CD-ROM" and restarts the whole set-up process, .

Usually around this point setup realises that it has installed the files it needs on the harddrive, stops trying to boot from the CD and boots from the harddrive, how long do you wait before pressing any keys or switching off the machine?
What have you got plugged into the machine while your are doing the install?

[whatever]

I never get a chance to press any keys, it just boots from the CD automatically every time, it can't even boot from the floppy first (I tried changing the boot order in the BIOS).

The things I have plugged into my box are: a Radeon8500 video card, a DVD-R/RW DL drive, 512RAM, umm dunno I think that's it.

I don't have my other 200GB HD plugged in during the installation process.

[whatever]

I played around with my BIOS; first I selected 'fail-safe default' setting, and then later I tried 'optimized default' settings. These both resulted in the same thing, after the memory test has happened, it now says

Primary Master Hard Disk Fail Floppy Disk(s) Fail (40)

Therefore I can't get it to boot to anything but the XPpro install CD and it just loops around and around and never completes the installation of the files that are copied to the HD. Help please

[bozo]

If memory serves me right...I don't think you should see "Press any key to boot from CD" AFTER the initial setup files are coppied, and reboot occurs.

Did this HD work ok before?
Is the HD recognized in the bios?
Did you Format the newly created partitions?

If yes to all the above, then I would look at HD failure...go to WD site & run their diagnostic tool.

Perhaps you could slave it to the new drive, and try installing XP that way.

[Panama Red]

When you say "upgrade" are you using an XP Pro upgrade disk? Or is this a full OEM or retail XP Pro disk that you're using to upgrade your pc? Either way it should boot from the CD. The upgrade will just ask for a proof of a previous OS. I think I'd put the 80Gb drive in another pc and wipe it out. Use the WD tools to write zeros to it. The start over.