Windows XP install questions

[KLIKitY]

Hey guys,

I've been having problems installing XP onto a fresh HD. The CMOS all seems to be in order, with the primary boot device set as the CD-ROM.
From boot-up, a message comes up saying:
BOOT DISK ERROR, REPLACE SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

Following this, I insert the Windows XP CD (which is a copy) and it seems to go into Set-Up as per usual. I format the C Drive into NTFS format and then the Set-up continues. Then as the Copying and Set-Up is complete before installation, the system reboots.
Then I went back into BIOS and shifted the primary boot device to HDD and reboot.
At this stage, the original message comes up again:
BOOT DISK ERROR, REPLACE SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER
If I insert the XP disk again, it reverts to Set-up but says there is already a copy of XP on C drive, which will be overwritten.
How do I get out of this cycle?

Building this PC (first time) has been an eye-opener but every stage has been fraught with frustration.. If anyone here has experienced such problems before, post me some advice and I will be very grateful. Cheers

P.S. I have a feeling that it's because I'm using a copy that is already installed on my laptop.....

KLIKitY

[Force Flow]

Do you have a floppy in the floppy drive, by any chance?

[KLIKitY]

nope.. removed all discs, when it told me that the system would reboot.

[Force Flow]

Try checking the HDD using the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.

What brand of HDD, btw?

[KLIKitY]

The HDD is an IBM/Hitachi 120GB. I have run the IBM Disk Fitness Test, with no apparent problems whatsoever. Is that a suitable diagnostic run?

[Force Flow]

If it passed, it should be ok, although I don't trust IBM drives anymore...

What are you using for a motherboard? Older ones have a partition size limit.

[KLIKitY]

Full Specs are as follows, if it's any help:
ASUS A7V600
AMD Athlon 2800+
Samsung DDR PC3200 512Mb
400W Tsukumo PSU
IBM/Hitachi 120GB 7200rpm
Logitech DVD +/- R/RW Multidrive

[KLIKitY]

Really? What do you find as a problem with the IBM drives? As you can see above my motherboard is a fairly newish model (which I bought brandnew).
It really is very odd, this problem.. the fact that the system recognises the HDD and recognises that Xp has been put on it, but it won't boot to it..

[morriswindgate]

Windows XP CD (which is a copy) and not a leagal one at that probably.

[KLIKitY]

I believe it is a copy of a legal and licensed CD. It works fine on my laptop, so do I need to buy a new number?

[Force Flow]

You will need a legal copy to register and activate the O/S.

[KLIKitY]

Oh right. Thanks very much for your help in the meantime.

[morriswindgate]

If it came with a Laptop then it probably has protection on it to prevent it from being installed on any other machine. This can be done thru information on the laptops hard drive in a hidden patition to coding in the BIOS.
It has nothing to do with the CD Key, but instead the laptop came with a protected copy.
You will need a regular copy of XP in order to install it.

[KLIKitY]

I see. So the copy that I have here is protected from use on any other machines, you think? Is there no way of buying a new license from Microsoft?

[Force Flow]

You could go out and get an OEM version of winXP.

[KLIKitY]

Still no joy, and it seems the problem is NOT a disc one. I tried a proper licensed copy of Win2000 today and the setup gets even less far.
A blue error screen with an UNEXPECTED KERNEL TRAP message comes up.
Ahhhh... the circle continues

[andyms18a]

test your ram with docmemory from http://www.simmtester.com/default.asp

[KLIKitY]

Cheers Andy, I ran DocMemory and the full diagnostic Burn-In test passed all the tests... Also, I tried doing things the old way with the HDD and using fdisk. The message that that gave was "Error reading fixed disk". So the HDD might be the source of the problem.. However, the HDD passed the IBM Fitness Test fine... just cannot be partioned... What do you think?

[andyms18a]

check your bios under disk drives is 32 bit moad enabled ? and dose the bios show the right size for the drive all so how have you got the hard drive and dvd drive set up are thay on the same ide cable or one one each both as master or cable select are the jumpers corect

[KLIKitY]

The BIOS shows the HDD to be the right size, the HDD and DVD are on seperate ribbon cables, both at the ends, in different IDE ports: HDD in IDE 1; DVD in IDE 2.
On the back of the HDD, there are four possible Master settings: 15 head, 16 head, 32 Bit, and Auto Spin Disable. Which of these is correct? At the mo (default setting is on 16 head) I havent changed the jumoers.
Also, where in BIOS is the 32 bit enabled part? Cheers

[andyms18a]

if you find the hard rive setup screan it shod say 32bit or LBA
set it to enabled all so try the jumper on the 32bit seting

[KLIKitY]

In the BIOS, I have the HDD as LBA (there is no 32 Bit option).. Also if I put the jumpers as 32Bit, BIOS only recognises a part of the HDD.. Someone has suggested to me that HDD (if there is only one and no slave) can be removed altogether. What do you reckon? I tried this suggestion out and BIOS didn't recognise HDD at all...
I have just erased the disk (using IBM's disk fitness utility, which I guess amounts to a low-level format. I have heard that these arent usually necessary, but my reckoning was that starting with a completely clean slate.. have I made a big mistake...? Well, BIOS still recognises it in the same way... just trying to Install OS is the eternal challenge

[Alfie]

Make sure anti virus is disabled in bios.

[andyms18a]

try another instal of windows 2000 now your hard drive is clean

[KLIKitY]

thank you for advice,but still the same problem remains.
In BIOS there is not virus setting ....

[Rof_lmao]

i wanna get windows xp from mirc, what do i have to download to get teh full windows xp up and running?

[Statica]

Moderator warning
Rof_lmao:

Check your PM.

[glc]

Check my latest reply in your thread in Drives and Storage. I was not aware till this minute that you had a crosspost going - please don't do that.

[KLIKitY]

gllc,

apologies for posting twice. will not do it again

KLIKitY

[KLIKitY]

Everyone above,

Thank you so much for the time taken to post and input on this thread..
I tried all your suggestions and nothing seemed to work. So, off I went to the retailer and RMA'ed the HDD and had the mobo fully checked.
Afterwards, put it all back together and XP installed fine. Faulty HDD was it.. Cheers again

KLIKitY


__________________
ASUS A7V600 KM600; AMD Athlon 2800+ Barton Core; Samsung DDR3200 512MB; nVidia G17GA 64MB; IBM/Hitachi 7200MHz 120GB; Logitech DVD+/-R/RW MultiDrive; 17" TFT Display