Problems Installing Windows XP

[imperial]

Ok, so I tried installing Windows XP Pro, and for some reason my install was corrupt and never finished. Now my computer freezes on startup most of the time at Verifying DMI Pool Data... Sometimes I get lucky and it boots to the CD, but when it tries completing the install it freezes. If I try booting normally to the HD first, it freezes, because I have no complete install of Windows anymore. How can I fix this? I've tried multiple CDs. I would like to keep my files if possible but I am willing to reformat everything if that is whats needed but I cant even get to that step anymore. Please help! Thanks in advance.

 

[Old Rich]

To perform a clean install . . Prior to installing, enter BIOS ( Setup ) and make sure the CD/ROM the first boot device. Put your XP Disc in the drive and disconnect all external peripherals except the keyboard and mouse, and be sure those are not USB.

Once you set your BIOS to boot first from cd . . when it restarts you will see a black screen with a prompt "Press any key to boot from cd" . . do that and you will be able to delete partitions and recreate the ones you want and proceed to formating and installing XP

That message can pass quickly, so have a finger on the keyboard when you boot. This will delete all data on the drive so be sure you have your important data backed up.

This is a good guide to reinstalling XP . . you might want to print it for reference during the install.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

as is this: http://www.doverproductions.com

You will have to reload drivers and applications, After the installation, you will need to download and install the MicroSoft Critical Updates. Alternately, this would be a good time to install SP-2, while windows is clean. Prior to connecting to the internet be sure you enable the XP firewall. Once your installation is complete and you install an Anti-Virus, you can restore your data from backup.

Good Luck and have fun . . wrs

 

[imperial]

To perform a clean install . . Prior to installing, enter BIOS ( Setup ) and make sure the CD/ROM the first boot device. Put your XP Disc in the drive and disconnect all external peripherals except the keyboard and mouse, and be sure those are not USB.

Once you set your BIOS to boot first from cd . . when it restarts you will see a black screen with a prompt "Press any key to boot from cd" . . do that and you will be able to delete partitions and recreate the ones you want and proceed to formating and installing XP

Thanks. Thats what I've been doing, with first boot device set to CD and pressing any key to boot the cd. However I havent tried it with all peripherals disconnected. Just external though right? If this doesnt work should I try taking out my sound card/network card ect? My mouse and keyboard are USB so Ill have to borrow someones keyboard/mouse...also, since I cant access windows I cant back up my files, or is there another way?

 

[Old Rich]

Right . . Internals should be ok . . the USB things really seem to fool XP during the installation. . M/S should have fixed this by now, but they have not.

You could put the drive in another pc as slave to copy files . .

Have fun . . wrs

 

[imperial]

Right . . Internals should be ok . . the USB things really seem to fool XP during the installation. . M/S should have fixed this by now, but they have not.

You could put the drive in another pc as slave to copy files . .

Have fun . . wrs

Aha, alright thanks a lot for your help!