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[SOLVED] XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

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1.1K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  Tumbleweed36  
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#1 · (Edited)
I am having the exact same problem but in my case, as xp starts to install MS says I should get an option to press any key to boot from cd. It very often occurs that I am not given that option and although I know that the data is on the hdd the program load
goes back to the start point all over again. This has occured on three new hdd and I have ONLY had luck on installing onto a 4.2 gig hdd that is far too small for my needs so if anyone has an answer I will be eternally grateful. CB
 
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#3 ·
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

HDD are all ide. Further info, mobo Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L/S3L. CPU Intel Pentium D (dual processor) @ 3.2 Gig clock. 4 x 1Gig Crucial Balistix DDR2 memory cards PC8500. MSI, (ATI Radion) graphics card on PCIe x 16 slot. Sony DW-D22A cd/dvd writer. Mitsumi FX320S cd rom. XP OS currently on Seagate Medalist ST34312A 4.2 Gig HD.
OS fails to install on Hitachi Deskstar HDT722520DLAT80 200 Gig and Western Digital WD400BB 40 Gig . When I move the hd into another pc as a slave I can see that loading has occured but the hd will not boot and complete the installation. The BIOS seems OK as F7.
Thanks to all. CB
 
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#5 ·
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

Already tried each and every memstick in all four slots with no luck and have cleaned edge connectors. If I go Start, My computer, System tasks, View system information then the pc acknowledges only 3.6 Gigs of memory because (as I understand it) some memory is allocated to other uses. Theoretically this is confirmation that no memcard is bad. These cards were new when I got them. Regards to all.
 
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#6 ·
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

the initial load goes into ram and it hands over to the h/drive on the first reboot

recheck the jumpers on the back of the drives are correct

master to the end black plug
slave to the middle grey plug
 
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#7 ·
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

Thanks Dai for this confirmation, I once tried to load with no hdd connected so have seen it go into ram. I conclude that if the memory has one bad transistor on one chip data corruption will be inevitable. Is this a valid conclusion? Assuming that initial load is not corrupt, the drive jumpers and cables are correct, having been checked, checked and rechecked ad infinitum, how is it that the memory refuses to boot the hdd and allow the OS to install and thus become usable? Perhaps it is that when the PC shuts itself down for that first reboot the RAM, with no power supply to sustain the memory, becomes blank and the PC mobo knowing this instructs the cd/dvd to reload round and round in circles. Logical but computers are not neccessarily logical. I have tried two brand new power supplies with no benefit. When the PC tries to reboot I have even changed the BIOS boot order to hdd 1,2 and 3 (cd & floppy disabled) and so force the hdd to boot. NO CHANCE. It comes back with "Disk boot error insert system disk and press enter". Obey this order and I return to the get go and reload to memory. Sorry to be so long winded as your opinions and help are appreciated. CB.
 
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#8 · (Edited)
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

If the board has two (I didn't check) IDE connections (Primary and Secondary)......Take the Western Digital drive and put it alone on the END of the ribbon cable with NO jumpers. Then, make sure your boot order is set to:

CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if any)
Hard Drive - 3rd

If there is a hard drive priority option, make sure the WD drive is listed first in that area.

Don't forget to save before you exit.

Give that a whirl and see if you can load on the WD drive.

If it doesn't, then give Cable Select settings a go and see if that helps. BTW, you are using an 80 connector cable and not the older 40 connector cable, aren't you?
 
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#10 ·
Re: XP Pro fails to boot after successful 1st half of install

MY PROBLEM SOLVED. Thank you to everyone who used their valuable time to help me. I went out and bought an 80 conductor cable and as soon as my PC recognised it I was allowed to install the OS. In fact this communication is sent from my reloaded PC. THANK YOU ALL.
 
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