Strange XP Install Problem....

[Naja]

I am trying to install XP Pro on a brand new WD Raptor, But I am running into a strange problem repeatedly:

The install seems to be going fine until I hit the EULA page--Then It will NOT accept F8-I Agree. The ESC-Cancel works, and so does the Page-up and Page-down, BUT F8 does NOT.

I can't install XP if I cannot agree to the EULA.

I have 2 different keyboards--so its not a keyboard problem.

I've restarted and shutdown numerous times--made no difference.

I've tried Control+F8, Alt+F8, and probably every other combonation that you can think of.

I had this problem on the Enter-Continue page when I first built this PC a few months ago---fixed itself. Now its back--just a different variation of the same problem.

Anybody know what the problem is?

TIA

[lil Jimmie]

Does your keyboards have the F-lock keys?

[Naja]

If you are talking about the F1 thru F12 then Yes they both do.

One is a compaq keyboard that works fine with this PC.

The other keyboard is a Micro Innovations that I bought at walmart a few months ago. And No the crappy software that came with it is NOT installed, and wouldn't be on a fresh installation anyway.

I've been changing my BIOS settings, and when XP wouldn't detect the HD--my only option was F3-Quit It won't take that either--I have to do a hard reboot.

This doesn't make any sense at all. Some functions work and some don't. Even on the same setup page.

Any thoughts?

[andyms18a]

if you have access to another winxp computer you can use thes http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp to make a unattended install file windows will load with out any user imput

[Naja]

Sorry for the delay. I managed to get it to install. Its only took about 20 tries. The first time it went to install--it froze with 34 minutes left. I did a hard reboot and tried again and it went thru with no problems at all.

I kept changing the bios settings, etc around and I think that that's part of the trick.

I ended up installing it on sata RAID port 1 set to IDE after installing a 1 HD array--go figure.

This is similar to what Colb Dog ultimately did in this thread:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=80389

Maybe its an asus thing, but it took 11 hours to install this drive and XP.

Now that its operational I am going to change it to sata non-raid port 1 and see if it still functions when I get the time. If not, then I'll just put it back where it is and be happy that it works.

Thanx, andy, for the link. I don't have time to read it now, but I scanned it and put it in favorites, so I can get back to it.

[Naja]

Final update: I switched the sata Raptor from sata raid port 1 to sata non-raid port 1 and it still functions just as well. So, its found its home.