I’ve just bought a new AMD 2.0 with 256 DDR RAM and 80Gb HDD. I chose to install the OS myself. I partitioned my drive with FDISK (primary DOS partition), and formatted it as FAT32 (format c:/s). The problem is that I can’t install either Windows 98 or Windows XP Pro (with SP1). With XP, the installation begins but cancels early on with a variety of error messages (error with win32k.sys file; irql_not_less_or_equal; write operation error; insufficient memory; not enough virtual memory available; page_fault_in_nonpaged_area). The furtherest it got was when it said that it was “installing devices”. Was having so many problems that I decided to cut my losses and install Windows 98. I deleted and recreated my primary DOS partition, formatted my drive and ran setup from the CD-ROM drive. But early on during start-up, “APPLICATION ERROR” appears and I can go no further. I don’t know whether there is a problem with the partition, formatting of the drive, hardware (the computer is brand new from the factory) or the software?? I have enabled large disk support and only have 1 partition on the drive (100% of HDD space of 80Gb). I’m planning to use FAT32 until I can get the OS running. I want to do a clean XP install, and not have to upgrade from Windows 98. Can anybody help me please? I’m going completely crazy here. Why am I getting so many different installation error messages? Many thanks

I would delete the partitions you used with FDISK. Change your boot configurations in your BIOS to boot to CD Rom first. Pop the XP CD in then reboot. Try partitioning and installing through the boot to CD option. If you have not done it before, you can set partition size/format/install by doing this all in one easy process. Error messages... I don't even want to venture a guess. Could be a mix of software/hardware causing them. I'd suggest trying to boot to CD to install. Good luck.

HOW TO: Install Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941

I know how to install it, but I'm having problems installing it! What do all of those error messages mean? Could my HDD be faulty? I'm really going nuts here.

Are you actually Booting from the XP CD - you should see a Black Screen with 'To boot from CD - Press any Key'? If you do that then you should be able to do all your Partitioning and Formatting from there If you are planning to use FAT32 with an 80Gb HDD then bear in mind that XP will not permit FAT32 Partitiions greater than 32Gb Lesley

Problem sorted out! Took system back to supplier who ran a BIOS update and now everything runs prefectly. Apparently there was a problem with the BIOS/motherboard accepting 256Mb RAM (problems), as opposed to 128Mb (no problems). Well, it works, so I'm happy. Thanks for all your help everyone. Rob G