Can't install XP!

[den2k2]

I can't seem to be able to instal windows XP. I have repartitioned and formatted the hard drive several times, tried different RAM, different video card, surface scanned the drive but nothing works. I can install windows 95 but even that messes up sometimes.
What happens is the screen goes blank and like a little red dot diminishes in the middle of the screen. Usually just as it gets to the main part of the XP installation, sometimes it does it earlier or half way through.
I can't think of anything that could cause this sort of problem.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[HAL9000]

Bad monitor maybe?

[den2k2]

I'm not sure. I'll check and get back to you
Thanks
PS. sorry about the double post thing. I should read forum guidelines before posting!

[den2k2]

Nope! no luck. kept hanging up on me. Really frustrating me now!!! Ah well. Thats computers for you!

[Big Tone]

I had a problem like that before and it turned out to be a bad stick of ram. Did the ram sticks you tried have a different make of chp on them or were they the same? If they were the same it could be a compatibility issue. Other than that have you used the fail safe defaults in the bios and tried the install with only the bare mininum of hardware connected?

[den2k2]

They are different makes and I have had the computer up and running before now so I don't think it is a compatability issue. I have tried with just the video card and the failsafe defaults to no avail.
My parents' computer is really slow and it's annoying me now!

[Gold_Disk]

Have you got Win 2K anywhere? Try installing that first then XP on top of that.

Just an idea.

[den2k2]

Nope, if i did I'd just leave that on anyway.

Right now my machine seems to just stop doing anything at random points, sometimes as the win95 install is loading up, sometimes as it is configuring the new hardware and it won't get past that part usually. When I try install XP it usually hangs when i put disk #6 in (I have to use bootdisks).
/crys in the corner. I want my computer back!

[andyms18a]

first thing to do is open the case and remove any pci cards then go to the bios and disabble onboard sound /modem/network/ if present then check the bios for first boot device and set it to cdrom then check the bios virus protection is switched of if you have more than one hard drive unplug them and just have the one your instaling windows on same with cd/dvd just have one make shore thay are on diffrent cables both set to master then put the xp cd in the drive and start your computer affter the bios check it will say press any key to boot from cd press a key and the cd will boot at the first screan it will say to set up windows press enter next it will ask you to view the licence aggrement and press f8 then it will ask you if you want to repair windows just press enter to setup fresh then it asks you to chose a location first hit the d key this will deleat the partition it asks you to conferm hit enter then L next it will ask you whair to install hit enter and it maks a new partition and offers to format dont run the quick format let it do a full format as it checks the hdd for problams then it will start to install if your install fails or hangs now then you have eather a bad copy of windows or damaged hard ware most likley the ram post back with progress

[den2k2]

Thats what i've been doing for the last however many days with varying degrees of success, none of complete success so far. As I have said before, I tried different RAM that works fine in my other computer and I also can't install Win95.
I don't know what hardware is causing the problem and it's driving me nuts!

[andyms18a]

can you change the ide cables and all so which power supply do you have make and output watege

[trulad]

One time I had trouble installing XP on a friend's machine. I ended up using a Win98 start up floppy and doing FDisk,deleted then reinstalled all partitions,then used the Format:C command and when that was done I set the BIOS to boot from CDROM first,and booted with the XP CD and all was happy. May your soulution be as easy.
Trudy

[den2k2]

My power supply is a 'Pro - V switching power supply' with a 300W output. The rest of the machine is in my sig. I could change the ide cables. I'll try later and send the result.

I wish it was that easy trulad. I have being trying that for days

[andyms18a]

did this computer ever have windows xp on it and did you have any problams that made you format and reinstall win xp
all so check the system temps in the bios how hot is it ?
this still looks like a ram problam perhaps this motherboard dont like this ram

[den2k2]

i had it working fine and the reason for the reinstall was i could not start windows...it got to the loginscreen and restarted, making a cycle of reboots. and a format was due anyway.
The temps are not hot at all.
I have not changed anyhardware since having it running fine.

[andyms18a]

as you had problams befor then you need to test the hard ware download your hdd manufactures diag software and test the hdd try some moor ram try a difrent vid card it may even be a mobo problam if posable get a hardware diag prog that runs from a floppy at work we have pccheck but that is a comershal program costing £500.00+ but thair are lots of free and trial ware products out on the internet

[eldon]

May want to check your processor,if its going bad it will cause some of the symptoms you describe

[RayH]

The problem of going to startup screen and rebooting in a continous circle pointed to either a bad video card and/or RAM. I eventually replaced them both (under warranty).

[den2k2]

Discovered that it was the mobo: leaking caps aren't a good thing right? So I'm due another, should be fun trying to find a slot A mobo these days .
Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm very grateful for your help.

[andyms18a]

glad to hear your geting things sorted as for the slot a mobo it wood probabley be cheaper to get a new cpu and mobo eather a combo all in one or a mix and match for less than £100.00have a look at this http://www.ecsusa.com/products/k7sem_v3.html
we are selling them by the bucket load at work