[BigDIV]

Hello all, I have searched through this site and haven't found a situation that specifically addresses the issue that I am having. I am working on an older Gateway laptop that has all of the original installation discs that includes WinXP Pro. I am attempting to reinstall WinXP Pro onto this system to no avail. It continually stops w/ 2 minutes left during "Finalizing Installation" "Saving Settings".

Here is a short break down of what I have done so far:

1. Using installation discs:
a. Booted to CD ROM...selected to completely erase OS from HD
b. Rebooted to CD ROM...selected automatic installation
c. Followed all prompts and all went well until the dreaded 2 minute break...

2. Contacted online support from Gateway. Was directed to follow written instructions from their website, if install still ceases, download GWSCAN 5.11 and boot from floopy to scan HD for problems.
a. Performed reinstall using suggested instructions...same lock-up @ 2 minutes left
b. Downloaded software and scanned HD...no problems
c. Tried install again...still no joy!
d. Scan software also allows to write zeros on entire drive; so I tried this, rescanned after write process...no errors found; tried reinstall again...still no joy!

3. Contacted online support again and updated situation asking if there was a way to download new installation software since current discs could be bad. Was told to again try installation using printed instructions (how redundant can they be?) and if this didn't work, then I needed to PURCHASE new OS because they didn't support the installation discs that came with this system anymore. They indicated that I could purchase ANY OS disc to install on this system.

Now my questions are...
1. Is Gateway blowing smoke; can I load any OS onto a Gateway system? I was led to believe that Gateways required PROPRIETARY software and I don't want to waste time purchasing/installing OS and find out it won't work.
2. Has anyone had this same problem and found a way to work through this final stage of installation.
3. Can this installation disc be repaired in anyway so I don't have to spend money; i.e. maybe copy to HD of another system; affect fix; reburn to CD and try again?

I am open to your inputs on helping fix this problem.

Thanks in advance...

Big DIV

[bearone2]

erase os/auto installation??????

save what you want in the way of docs, pics, address book, etc and boot to the xp restore cd, do a full install and follow the prompts.

remove any/all partitions, create one partition, format quick ntfs and the install starts.

i have a gateway p3/600 laptop that came with 98se and i did the above and put win2k on it.

[BigDIV]

I guess I didn't clearly state this before; I was just trying to paraphrase. Let me try again. I have already completed saving needed files to disc and booted using the restore cds. I followed the prompts for a "Full" install which erases (formats/fdisks) HD and I followed all prompts to ensure a single partition, loading of OS files and creation of NTFS. System still locks-up w/2 minutes left under "Finalizing Installation" "Saving Settings".

BigDIV

[Tstright]

You can load Any OS on your Gateway, You'll just have to download drivers.

[tuxmaster]

If a System is Locking up On a operating system reinstall It could be hardware.

You doing a slow format or NTFS quick.

I would ask them if they can replace your disks they may be bad.

[LitomoSilver]

Or you could try burning a new copy of the reinstallation CD.

Might work...but first, I suggest you have the CD checked to make sure that it's still good and that you're able to copy everything off that CD and burn it to a new CD...then you could try again and see if it'd work that way.

[Rich-M]

XP fails to install for 4 reasons. bad or incompatible ram, dirsty or corrupted cd, dying cd drive (and this drive may do everything else perfectly, but cannot install XP) or weak and dying hard drive. It has to be one of those things.

[pllobell]

Originally Posted by Tstright

You can load Any OS on your Gateway, You'll just have to download drivers.

I think as far as XP goes you need to use an company specific cd to avoid activation. For example, on my Dell laptop, when I reinstall XP Pro, I need to use a Dell XP Pro CD, otherwise it will as me for a key and I'll need to activate it. (Yes, I have a license for XP Pro on it, don't get any ideas).

I can't be certain for a Gateway but I would assume it's the same deal.

[BigDIV]

To answer the questions brought up through everyones' replies:

Tstright: You can load Any OS on your Gateway, You'll just have to download drivers. I have a drivers disc from Gateway, so this is probably the best way to go.

tuxmaster: If a System is Locking up On a operating system reinstall It could be hardware. I agree, however, I have "checked" HD using Gateway Scan and drive is good. Everything seems to be running great except for not completing last 2 minutes of install. You doing a slow format or NTFS quick. Did that already. I would ask them if they can replace your disks they may be bad. Did this too and was told that I would have to purchase new discs and that they would be more than happy to process this purchase for me at their website.


LitomoSilver: Or you could try burning a new copy of the reinstallation CD. Might work...but first, I suggest you have the CD checked to make sure that it's still good and that you're able to copy everything off that CD and burn it to a new CD...then you could try again and see if it'd work that way. I would love to do this, but how do I have the CD checked to make sure it's good?

Rich-M: XP fails to install for 4 reasons. bad or incompatible ram, I can get more RAM, system only has 256MB and could use more anyway. dirty or corrupted cd, I believe it is the CD myself, but don't know how to check it to be perfectly sure. dying cd drive (and this drive may do everything else perfectly, but cannot install XP) Not sure on this, but it is just as you said, all other discs work except install disc. or weak and dying hard drive. It has to be one of those things. I am currently trusting Gateway's HD scan right now because I did swap out the HD to see what would happen and got the same result with test drive too.

And to answer the latest reply by pllobell: Gateway (and others) have strongly ensured me that any legitimate OS loaded on this system would work (except of course Vista, because of H/W limitations).

I am encouraged by all your inputs/suggestions and as I mention above, if there is a way to verify that the disc is good/bad I would love to hear how.

Thanks again for all your help.

BigDIV

[LitomoSilver]

Quick and easy test...copy off everything of the XP CD from Gateway and burn it onto a new CD. I do it all the time and it works when I use the new CD.

The CD/DVD reader laser may be dirty. You'll have to try cleaning it out. Instructions on that, you can find anywhere.

Although, I think there're programs that check to see if your CD is readable, I wouldn't know what kind, so I can't suggest you on that.

[BigDIV]

I will give it a try...my initial reaction to this, and I am not nearly an expert mind you, it seems like taking a letter with miss spelled words, running it through a copier in hopes of clearing up the spelling...but it couldn't hurt.

I personally believe that Gateway uses a master version of their software to load their computers and the disks sent out to the consumer are...come what may. Meaning that these disks have never been tryed before and now we have "crap" disks that they won't replace without our purchasing them.

I'll fill you in as soon as I can. I have back surgery today and will be laid up for a little while.

Thanks for you help!

BigDIV

[ozrom1e]

If you want to check the disc to see if it is good then take it to another computer and try copying the whole disc to the hard drive that has enough space on it. If the disk copies correctly it should be good if not then it is probably defective.

When the installation gets to the saving settings and stops how long are you letting it go to save files? Some computers are extremely slow at this and take quite a while.

[BigDIV]

Well, here's more...

I have tried loading WinXP using disks from my own computer, just to see if it would at least load with a known good version. I re-partitioned and re-formated prior to and still got the same stopage w/ 2 minutes left to go. This leads me to believe that the problem does not reside with the software. (Maybe RAM? See below)

During all previous loads, I let them run for at least 30 minutes or longer after it stops, just to ensure it wasn't talking to itself for some reason or another. Still no progress beyond 2 minutes left to go.

I have a request out for additional RAM to see if this will help...system currently only has 256 MB. However, this is the same amount of RAM the system had when bought brand new from Gateway in 2002. I again look back to how Computer manufactuers load software on their systems prior to shipping; they probably load software directly to HD without using the whole system, hence no limitation because of little RAM. When I get the additional RAM, I will let you all know of the result. FYI...we have already tried swapping HDs in the begining of all of this, to no avail.

Again, I appreciate all your help and if anyone can think of anything else that I may be overlooking please feel free to write in.

BigDIV

[tuxmaster]

On a Failed windows install I first test all the memory HDD and RAM, IF a gateway has a way to check the L1 and L2 cache then I would check that too.

If that passes remove hardware not needed to install the OS see if that works. Also check the Midea for scratches.