Windows wont boot.

Ok complicated problem... Im building a computer for a friend and, got the motherboard and everything in, (A Asus motherboard, p4 proccessor) and attempt to boot up and my windows xp and vista wont run the boot up installer i get a error message. So my attempt to get around this was to take the hardrive out and put it in my other computer and install windows. This process goes well i get windows installed and it boots fine. As soon as i swtich the drive into the other computer, i get to the windows loading bar and the screen flickers and it reboots...

I dont really know what to think i highly doubt its the hardrive as its brand new...

(BTW i managed to get linux on the hard drive in the new computer no poblem booted and everything, but they dont want linux...)

 

Leave everything hooked up in the new computer.
Turn it on
As soon as you press the on button start tapping the Delete key, that should get you in to the BIOS
Set it to boot from the CD first & the hard drive second
Exit the BIOS saving the changes & then do this,


Turn the unit on and put the XP disk in the drive.
Leave the disk in the drive and restart the unit,
Watch the screen for a message that says "Press any key to boot from CD,
Press a key on the keyboard,
Wait while it goes through starting from the disk,
[You may have to press F8 during startup to accept the EULA]
When you get to the screen with the box that shows the current version of XP installed press "D" on the keyboard,
Press "Enter"
Press "L"
You now should have a screen asking what file system you want to format to, NTFS should be selected by default,
Press enter,
The disk will be formatted and the installation will automatically begin when the format is finished,
During the installation the computer will restart DO NOT press a key to boot from the CD again !
At that point the unit will boot from the hard drive and continue the installation.
After awhile you will be asked to "name" your computer,
I suggest naming it the same as the main user ID so you are the administrator by default.
[Example, I have an XP unit named "testbox" the user name is also "testbox"
You will be asked if you want to turn on automatic updates, select NO or Not now,
You will be asked if you want to setup a network connection, click on skip,
You will be asked to enter a user name and password,
Enter the same name you used for the unit ,
Only enter a password if you want to have to log on every time XP starts,
[If you have more then one user you can enter passwords later]
Follow the prompts to finish.
When you get to the desktop the only icon showing will be the recycle bin
Click on the "Tour XP balloon [or icon in the taskbar by the clock] and click "Cancel"
Go to Start>Control Panel,
Double click "Taskbar and Start Menu"
Click on the "Start Menu" tab
Put a dot in the circle by "Classic Start Menu"
[That will put the icons on the desktop]
Click OK
Double click on "Folder Options"
Click on the "View" tab
Go down the list until you find "Show hidden files and folders"
[for future use]
put a dot in the circle by it
Click OK
Close the Control Panel
Double click on "My Computer"
Right click on the "C:" drive
Left click on "Properties"
Click on the "Tools" tab
Click on "Defragment Now"
Defrag the drive
When you are done start installing your other programs and applications
[Defrag again when finished]
When they are installed if you have the "activate XP" notice do the activation,
When you have gotten this far either go to Windows Update and do the updates or go to "My Computer" and right click on it
Left click on "Properties"
When the box opens click on the "Automatic Updates" tab
Put a dot in the circle next to "Automaic [Recommended]
Click OK.
In order for the Automatic Updates to begin right away turn the unit completely off then restart it.


BTW, Since you had Linux installed delete ALL of the partitions that are shown .

 

see thats the problem is the cd will not run on the built computer i can get to push any key then it hangs..

 

F8 at bootup>> Disable automatic restart on system failure.
Are you getting a BSOD now? If yes what??

Cheers...

 

If you put the disk in, start the unit, get to the "press any key" notce & it hangs when you press a key I suggest trying a different CD drive.

You have tried the disk in a different computer to make sure it will boot , correct ?

If it booted a Linux disk it should boot a XP disk unless the disk is faulty.

 

Hes said he tried to install it in a diff machine ... the disc isn't faulty, perhaps swap your drive with his temporarily.

Also just letting you know, you can't install Windows on one machine and transfer the HDD to another computer, unless the HW is EXTEMELY alike or exactly the same.