Windows XP Pro freezes at 34 minutes during install

[marconi]

I used to have xp pro sp1 on my pc but then had a load of spyware issues so I thought I would do a clean install and at the same time replace my burnt out HDD. The one that I am installing the OS to is the original HDD for the pc, the new one replaces my D: drive. I have all the bridges right for master and slave and have tried unplugging all external devices and the D: drive. Nothing seems to work!

My install freezes at 34 seconds. I have also copied the xp oem (hollogram) disc data to a new cd-rom to see if the disc is damaged.

As I say, I have had xp pro running on the pc before and the only change is the new HDD (western electronics). So I just can't work out why it won't work now!

My pc is:

Asus k7 motherboard
AMI Bios (not sure what version)
AMD Athlon 600mghz
256 ram
Creative nVida 3D gforce graphics card
Creative Soundblaster platinum sound card

Regards
Marconi

 

[Liquidlen]

Welcome to Techspot!

It would be more helpful if you post what exactly is happening when the install stops.( I can't remember 34 minutes/seconds in)

If you Bios is recognizing the drives then try copying the Wind CD to a partition on the HDD not being used for the O/S install usiing a boot disk to format and copy the files . Then try your install from there.

 

[iss]

if you have an optical drive then it should be D: drive not a hard drive. 34 minutes is the point at which windows begins installing.

 

[marconi]

Hi,

No I don't have an optical drive, just a normal ide hdd. The freeze is halfway through setup installing the files. The status bar freezes and the 5 little squares at the bottom right stop moving, so I guess it has frozen?

Have tried taking out everything that is not required, doing f5 and selecting standard pc. Also I have searched the internet and everything. I have had a couple of friends look at it who know a lot about computers (they run IT departments) and they can't get it working!

It's strange because it all worked before I changed the hard-drive, is there any chance it could be a problem with the boot sector and is this re-written when you format the drive?

Cheers,
Marconi

 

[marconi]

not sure how to do the copying to hdd, is the CD something I need to create on another PC or can I just copy from the oem cd?

 

[iss]

Dude, a Cd rom or DVD rom IS AN OPTICAL drive. if you have a CD Rom it should be the D: drive. your Hard drive should be C: By default widows loads on C: if your hard drive is D: that is probably why windows is not loading.

 

[marconi]

Ah, okay. I thought an optical drive was something entirely different, it was when I was at college, all those years ago! I have two physical hdds one a C: and the other should be the D: and then I have a CD-rom which I imagine is the E:.

However when you go through the selecting partiition part of the setup proceedure it tells me the D: drive is there, but no drive letter there? and the cd-rom is called the D: drive? Alsthough it does call the recognise the C:.

 

[marconi]

I've now tried the new hard-drive on its own and the install on that one freezes too. I wonder if I am going to have to bite the bullet and take it to a shop.