Can't install XP

Hope I.m not messing up here as I posted something else re this the other day. I can't even get the machine to start the install from my CD. Starts and when it gets to the licence screen I select " I agree ",F8 key. Machine hangs and only will allow " I do not agree " .Any ideas at all? Have reinstalled the OP several times before without problems but after the RAID crisis I seem to be dead. The machine will boot and run,no problem but has several major problems. Does not rec A: drive,noMMC.Taskmanager,sound etc. Can connect to the net,get mail no problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

You could have any number of problems here: bad RAM, failing hard drive, bad BIOS, even a bad floppy drive can cause all kinds of misery. If you can get into BIOS (usually F2 or Del at power up), set it to default values (usually F10). If you're using a SATA hard drive, make sure it's enabled correctly in the BIOS. If you're using 2 SATA drives, make sure you have them set for RAID0 or RAID1, whichever you want to use. If you're using a std. IDE hard drive, make sure the BIOS sees it and the CD drive(s) and floppy drive correctly. That's why we loaded default values: so that all the standard stuff would be turned on. If you're using a USB keyboard and/or mouse, make sure that USB keyboard support and legacy support are enabled if you have that option. Set the boot order to floppy first, CD second, hard drive third. Insert your XP CD, save the BIOS settings and reboot. If you continue to have problems, it could be that you're using a SATA drive and you need the 'F6 floppy' for windows setup. You can download the F6 drivers from your motherboard maker's web site. If you're not using SATA, your hard drive may be bad. Go to your hard drive makers web site, download and run thier diagnostic. Also, visit the memory downloads here at MG and grab a bootable RAM diagnostic (Microsoft Windows Memory diagnostic is good, or one of MemTest programs, look for the bootable one). Run the extended RAM tests for at least 3 or 4 passes. Run the hard drive in depth/advanced diag. These tests can take some time, so get a 6 pack of your favorite brew, be patient, and kick back..... If all the hardware passes the diags, then we may be dealing with a bad motherboard or BIOS... post your progress and we'll continue to try to help.....

hopperdave2000

 

Tnx fr reply but I don't think I communicated properly. I have the machine running. NO RAID array now. This machine boots fine EVERYTHING works but the few things I mentioned. 2 SATA drives , identical 80Gig Maxtors, both run but there certianlt a problem here.My intent is to be able to get the OS to let me run install and then go to Repair install. Tnx

 

OK- I'm a bit slow today- my coffee hasn't kicked in yet. The PC is running fine. But you want to do a repair install, right? Boot to the XP CD. Press F6 at the moment the first blue setup screen comes up. You'll need the F6 floppy mentioned above. When setup asks what you want to do the first time, do not press R for recovery console; press Enter to install Windows. Insert the floppy F6 disk when prompted. At some point you'll press R to repair the current Windows installation. If you get prompted to format at any point, DON'T DO IT! But you knew that already. Unless you have some type of hardware issue mentioned above, a repair install is usually a pretty straight forward procedure..... If you continue to run into problems, you might just want to run the steps and diags I posted earlier..... good luck Cap'n!

 

Tnx Hopperdave2000. Have tried what you said but no luck. Still keeps hanging on the F8 accept licence key.