problem installing xp pro, but not win98 2

[cheerioboy]

ok so my friends computer just sort of collapsed. Apprently out of nowhere it starts doing this cycle of loading to the windows xp loading screen and then rebooting, and it just keeps doing this. Nothing was important on the system so i wiped it all out and attempted to install xp. I kept getting read errors on certain files, which changed every time i tried to install xp. Then i went and downloaded a linux os and tried installing that in which it had the same dellemma of not being able to install or get certain files off the disc. But when it came to installing windows 98, it installed perfectly.

i've also tried using different cd-rom drives, two from my own system that i know are fine but ended up having the same problems.

also the hard-drive is fine since i was able to install xp on it with my computer.

anyone know what hardware might be faulty? I just dont understand if windows 98 can install but the otehers cant, what could possibly be wrong.

well thanks

 

[jimmy13]

If you say the data wasn't important, did you format the disc before trying to install XP??...if so what did you use to format it and using what file system?

 

[cheerioboy]

sorry i forgot to include that. yes, i formatted it for NFTS with xp. i guess windows 98 was fat32. Linux had its own filetype which formatted without a problem

 

[linney]

Have you checked out you RAM, XP is a bit more critical of faults than 98?

http://www.memtest86.com/

http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Both programs will create a bootable floppy disk that you can run on your friend's machine.

 

[EzLogic]

Also, your friend might have some hardware that is not XP compatible, yet win98 compatible. If you have time, try to put a different HDD and try to install the XP on it to see the result.

Ali Koumaiha
TeknoSoft Inc
Farmington Hills, Michigan

 

[cheerioboy]

linney, thanks for your information. I'm to run some of this by on her computer. As for XP not being compatible that shouldn't be the case, its been running xp for almost a year now with no problems.

but the ram, i'll check it out. With windows 98 running shes been complaining about it being really slow.

computer specs:

athlon 2400
asus motherboard
512 mb samsung ram
120 gig western digital hd
ati radeon 8500 dv
450w power supply

i supose i'll check out the ram and respond about the results. thanks!

 

[outonalimb]

Download and create a copy of the Ultimate Boot CD from the following web site:

http://ultimatebootcd.com/

It's full of useful diagnostic utilities and extremely useful for anyone who's troubleshooting a PC.

 

[cheerioboy]

ah. yep! it was the ram. ended up having 183 error just on the first pass. Popped in another stick and got it working fine. awsome help from people on the forums! thanks