I've got an 1800 series Compaq laptop, model number 18xl280 (on the HCL). The problem is, when you finally get into the Windows 2000 GUI during the first part of the installation process, it either locks up (mouse works and you can move the setup window) or I get a 0x7F error (blue screen). All of this happens randomly and without a particular cause. I've tried fiddling with the BIOS settings, but as a laptop, I don't have many to work with. The farthest I've gone is all the way to where it installs COM+. Most of the time it stops before it gets to hardware detection or it stops inside hardware detection. The thing is, I've got standard hardware in this thing and the whole computer itself is on the HCL. BTW, I am performing a clean install from the CD, reformatted the hard drive using FAT32. NTFS doesn't work on this computer and I get 0x24 NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM errors. Twice I have gotten 0x0A IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors. The system is currently inoperable. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Remember, the error that I need help with is the random lockups and 0x7F.

Hello Robert: I had a similar problem on my son's computer about a month ago. I went through hell and high water to try to find the problem. I shut off all com, LPT, & USB ports, and the little bugger would lock-up either before or during the hardware detection, WITH THE SAME ERROR! After much pain and anguish, I finally tried a simple thing. I realize that you are using a laptop, and there may be nothing you can do, but put a Win 9x back on the system. You see, I had added a new 64MB SDRAM DIMM to his system, to up it to 128, and it was bad! It appeared to be a harddrive problem, but after switching my HD, and my other back-up HD. You see, I too could not use the NTFS file system, and was relegated to the slower FAT32. After the HD swithces, it still would not boot Win2k on either HD. I took out the bad RAM stick, and low and behold...IT INSTALLED JUST FINE! WITH NTFS! Win 9x is not that demanding in the systems hradware test, and can usually work around simple memory problems. Win2k on the other hand is a cruel beast that demands perfection. I would recommend WinNT 4 instead of Win2k. You get the speed, reliability, and some multimedia that you like, once you download and install the service packs (6a is the latest). I got Microsoft Media Player 7 to work just fine, but after the install, and reboot, I had to turn off a service, and I think a device setting. Anyway, let me know if it works, or if I can help you any further. I do have a legal copy of WinNT 4 that I do not use on any of my computers, and if you are intrested, let me know. Have a safe New Year's, and be careful. Noel

Interesting offer, but I must refuse it unfortunately. Windows NT 4 does not have support for many of the things indemic to laptops: ACPI, PCMCIA, Cardbus, stuff like that. Interesting about the ram. Quite unusual. Thanks for the tip. I'll go try it. Funny thing is, I've looked all over the web and random lockups during setup is just not something people talk about.

Thanks for the tip. And thanks for the offer, but NT 4 though does not have support for laptop things like ACPI and Cardbus (from what I've heard). In fact, I did install a new RAM module into this computer. It has 64 base, I added 128 for a total of 192. I'll give that a try and get back here.

Stupid server said it didn't upload the first message. Well, anyway... I removed the RAM and that actually made things worse. It now locks up with a 0x7F error without fail before even getting to the GUI. I've tried fiddling with the bios settings once again, even setting back to default, but with no success. Why would my memory expansion cause the system to be slightly more stable than without? BTW, what brand of ram are you using (if you know)? The ram expansion is a PNY with Infineon chips on it. I don't know what's inside. Did you have to upgrade the BIOS on your computer?

hope this my help you good luck http://www.microsoft.com/DDK/DDKdocs/Win2KDB/w20_bugcodes_0ztz.htm