Is it the MB the culprit here? 5

[javierdl]

This is the taughest case I've had so far.
The 2 main problems are:

1. Many files cannot be copied during the copying-files part of the setup (right after running "winnt.exe" from the i386 folder (under DOS).

2. And when finally under a different attempt, it succeeds copying all files without a problem...it freezes right when it says: "Setup is starting Windows 2000" (really?!!!) -

The following URL will show you at what stage of the installation of XP and/or 2k the setup stalls/freezes:

http://webfolio.sunnylandbaja.com/temp/winstartup.jpg

At this point I suspect the problem is the mb, because by now I have already moved the HD into my own computer, and successfully installed XP there, but when moving the HD back to its original PC it wouldn't be able to load WinXP (the screen was solid black). I also moved this HD into a third pc, and it didn't work either.
I have also swapped its CDrom with mine, but it keeps giving the same results, so I know now the CDrom was not the problem.
Could it be really te MB the problem here?

Thanks in advance guys

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[TekTippy4U]

Click THIS
anything?

Original here
anything?

Excluding this post only -
Can't you atleast SEE the TEXT to Copy and Paste into the Address Bar?

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[javierdl]

Well, I ignore why I couldn't see the "choices" before, but I do see the links now.
And when I went to the first link and saw those screeshots it made me realize that I was pressing the F5 key while booting up, not while running the XP Setup!
So confirm one thing to me please: I am to use the F5 key in the XP Setup, right?

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[javierdl]

Btw, what choice you think I should go for? (HAL)

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[TekTippy4U]

" I am to use the F5 key in the XP Setup, right?"
YES YES

"Btw, what choice you think I should go for? (HAL)"
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

as as aside sometimes - an not necessarily going to help, but a trick is to load SMARTDRV right before running setup.

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[javierdl]

Excellent! Just as I thought
Thank you TT4U, I'll proceed now then...

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[javierdl]

Very much aside of this thread:
Can someone please post this message for me in the following thread:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=949186

I meant to reply this message earlier but Tek-Tips seems to be experiencing a problem with its database ...

edfair, I downloaded Debug98 from :

http://chefax.fe.up.pt/mirrors/freedos/files/dos/debug/

However, I've got only Errors when typing:
display c000 (and along with the rest of the codes)
also just the codes alone (without "display")

I guess I am not using the right syntax.
If you tell me "exactly" what to type then we'll eliminate my not knowing the syntax.

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[edfair]

Don't know if the syntax holds but:
d c000:0000 (for start)
d (for next page)
q (for quit)

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[javierdl]

YES! YES! YES!!!!!
It finally worked! On the 4th day of working at it

I am finalizing the XP installation on this damned pc!
Needless to say, I couldn't have done it without you guys
I am forever grateful.

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[TekTippy4U]

OK- now tell us WHY it worked...please!!

I am very happy for you - Congrats!.....Cheers!.....Ole!

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[edfair]

I'm going to make a SWAG that it has to do with the chipset drivers built into the OS but missing the .inf file that points to them. Causes the bus master IDE controller to be minimally usable and the primary and secondary controllers to be unusable.

No telling what else might be missing in the install.

Don't recall if there was any mention of a motherboard CD or drivers diskette in all of the thread.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[javierdl]

TT4U, well, I simply did as you said
I just waited for that setup screen to show (2nd one I think), and pressed F5, then I chose the option you recommended, and the rest is history.

Ed, you lost me. Is this something I should reply to?

JDL

http://www.sunnylandbaja.com

 

[edfair]

Motherboards generally come with a CD containg drivers for those chipsets that are used as glue to tie the major hardware pieces together. As the operating system is loading it will ask for the driver disk that matches the hardware it finds if it doesn't find a suitable driver built in. But if it screws up identifying those glue devices it may load the wrong driver, or no driver. And that leads to some device not working.

Computers using the Intel PIIX4 board were bad about losing their CDs when the bridge chip drivers corrupted. Next boot the OS tried to load the correct driver which was in the OS but the .inf file that pointed to it was missing so the OS loaded something that didn't work. The .inf was on the M/B CD, but if you didn't have it you fought the CD problem till you found it on the Intel site, the computer manufacturer's site , or replaced the M/B. Without the .inf you ended up with the primary and secondary controllers with error indications.

No need to respond, just my rambling and speculation. Glad you got it back up. And 4 days isn't even close to a record. Just be happy when they go in correctly the first time.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.