XP died and cannot recover - hardware?

[kirk2]

System:
HP pavilion m7570a
Windows XP media centre edition
Pentuim D 2.66
Nvidia 7600 GS
160Gig (origional) 320 Gig Hard Drive (new)
Computer is 1yr and 6 months old from purchase date
more details here:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...roduct=3208816

XP started to fall apart a few weeks ago after I removed a few programs and ran updates, defrag etc. Things were running fine for a few days after the cleanup. I leave my desktop on/standby all the time and about 2 weeks ago I went over to use the computer and it was not responding. I thought a restart would sort it out. When I restarted it would freeze up and the bottom task bar wouldn't load. This has happened many times, the first was a month after I purchased the desktop at which time I phoned HP and the end result was that the technitian was not sure what it was and that if it happened in the future, I shold hold the power button in till it switches off. I have had to do this many times. In the past I have tried recovering to a previous date but have always felt that it needs a clean install. So when this happened I though it was time for a full recovery.

I tried to restore from the recovery partition. It displayed a i/o error and said something along the lines of a fault with the hard drive.
I tried a full recovery with the recovery disks that I created when I first setup the computer and that would not work ither.

Called HP service: they said: Software issue. Error when creating recovery disks and would send a set of origionals.

A week later I got the new recovery disks and when I tried them, I got the same result.

Called HP service: they said: Hard Drive faulty.

So I got a new hard drive installed.

I have since tried to recover windows and it still wouldn't recover.
I tried full version of XP sp2 and that wouldn't work ither. I assumed that this has something to do with the XP software being registered only to the origional system.

I took it to the local HP repair agent and when he plugged a ps2 keyboard in( I have a wireless mouse and keyboard which came with the computer and was working fine), the computer wouldnt recognize it so he said the motherboard was at fault and I would have to get a new motherboard and possibly memory and anything else he could possibly charge me for. He was able to assess this by plugging in a monitor and a ps2 keyboard, switching on, reading the first message on the screen and hey presto I was in for $500 - $1000.

Having been in this gloomy situation before and having paid $1300+ to have the motherboard etc replaced on the advice of a professional only to find that there was nothing wrong with my computer the last time (previous computer), I decided to have a look at it myself.

I searched the sites and found that the CMOS needed to be reset. I removed the battery for 20 minutes as advised on one of the forums and the keyboard worked again.

So I started from scratch.

Stripped the computer and checked for visible damage = nada
Reset setup to defult F5 and save F10
Ran PC doctor = no hardware issues
Ran ultimate boot CD utilities = could'nt find any hardware issues no matter how hard I looked
swaped the memory sticks around = no change
Checked the hard drive = 320GB Seagate (new) SATA passed all tests
Checked the old hard drive that XP was installed on and apart from being formatted = passes
Ran memtest = passed

As the XP operating system is unique to this computer I tried a Linux based operating system. Downloaded Ubuntu 7.10 which runs on a live CD

installed as instructed and got to the point in the installation where it hangs at installing System, Partitions Formatting and the message at the bottom of the
progress display says creating ext3 file system for / of partition #2 of SCS13 (0.0.0)...

the partition # has varied depending on the partition setup in the more than 5 times and variations I have tried to install Ubuntu.

the first time I tried the reccommeded setting which was 50% which was about 150Gig
in searching the forums I learned that if the hard drive or the partition is too big then you cannot use fat 32 or ext3 and need to create partitions using gparted

I setup a few partitions using gparted
I have fould the following link most helpful: http://www.pcmech.com/article/installing-ubuntu-linux/

I followed the instructions in the above link and have got to the same point in the installation where it hangs.

Could it be true that the motherboard or the memory are to blame?

The issue seems to be when the operating system installs on the hard drive everything stops. What could be causing this?

If so why am I able to format the new hard drive?
I am also able to save an openoffice document to my documents when running Ubuntu live?
Should I try Wubi or a similar program to do the installation?
Should I try the installation option at the following link for the live CD install https://help.ubuntu.com/community/In...tion/FromLinux
I have tried creating partitions prior to installation as discribed at the following link under the heading: setup http://www.cnet.com.au/software/oper...9280171,00.htm
Should I try to install Ubuntu 6.06 and then upgrade?

Thank you for looking into this...

[law99]

I have seen memtest fail to find a problem, try using one stick then the other.
Did you try safe mode on the old HD?

[kirk2]

I just typed a long explination to update you on where I am up to and when I pressed submit, I went to the login screen and lost the hole thing. Don't worry, I probably did you a favour.

Here is the short version

As seen in another forum, I am have checked and am formating the new Seagate 320 GIG HDD with PowerMax utility. Then create C: partition 9765 Meg and install XP. This has something to do with the chipset.

Should I try one stick at a time first?

I have another HDD which I plugged into the DVD IDE cable and unplugged all the other drives and it recognised the operating system, I tried to start up in standard mode but it didn't work. Should I try safe mode? I thought I should ask first before I mess that HDD up.

[law99]

Trying one stick of memory or trying to get into Safe Mode can not mess up a HD that I have ever heard of??????

[kirk2]

I have tried one stick and then the other and both start up fine.

The PowerMax low format took 4 days on the 320 Gig HDD. Seems a bit long to me.

I have started over again. My goal is to set the computer up as it comes from the factory.
The only new hardware will be the 320 gig HDD.

So I will put the old IDE hard drive from my previous computer aside for now. This old HDD has a full version of XP pro installed on it and is different to the XP media center edition that is for the HP computer that Iam trying to recover with the new hard drive.

I will attempt a full recovery with the recovery disks that I recieved from HP. They automaticlly create partitions etc. See the following link:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...e=5445&lang=en

I have plugged everything and checked that it is correct.

I have reset the CMOS as outlined on the HP website.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...6&lang=en#N816

Up to this point I should have a good basis to initiate the recovery. Do you agree?

I will let you know how things go.

If you feel that I should be trying something else, your suggestions will be most welcome.
(I am learning as I go.)