System information: Harddrive: WDC WD400 40GB. Mobo: GA-7VRXP Rev 2.0 Processor: Athlon XP 2000+ (I think that is the only pertinant info, if you wanted full specs, please ask) My family's computer became very unstable, rebooting itself at random and windows listed the reason as an unidentified driver error. As the computer had been loaded up with spyware, stupid programs from the internet, ect. I decided to go ahead and reformat the master harddrive and clean install Windows XP Professional. It is an OEM upgrade version I purchased from my university at a student discount and does not include service pack 1. After I wiped the harddrive I got the following message when attempting to install XP Pro from my disk: To install WindowsXP on the partition you selected, Setup must write some startup files to the following disk: 19470 MB Disk 0 at ID1 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR] However this disk does not contain a Windows XP compatible partition. To continue installing Windows XP, return to the partition selection screen and create a Windows XP compatible partition on the disk above. If there is no free space on the disk, delete an existing partition, and then create a new one. To return to the partition selection screen, Press Enter :/ Unfortunately this happens no matter WHAT I do. I deleted all the material on the harddrive and created a new partion, which the setup describes describes as "[Raw]". There is no option to select to format anything (only choices are delete partion, create partition, install onto a specified partition, and exit without installing WinXP). As far as I could tell I was removing all the content... AND removing the formatting of the drive (and therefore calling it "Raw"), without giving me the opertunity to format it. I tried formatting the drive with FDISK as well as using the windows 98 disk for install, and in this case I get the following error message. Run-time error R6003 -Integar divide by 0 I tried looking this up on Microsoft's website and found this (I couldn't find anything about not being able to install to a harddrive in the Troubleshoot Windows XP Professional page): Computer Stops Responding When You Install Windows, Run-Time Error R6003 - Integer Divide by 0 View products that this article applies to. This article was previously published under Q296168 SYMPTOMS When you attempt to install Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), your computer may stop responding (hang) after Scandisk checks the computer drive and before Setup starts. When you run Setup with the /is parameter, you may receive an error message similar to one of the following: Runtime Error R6003 - Integer divide by 0 -or- Boot Sector Write. Continue Y/N? The computer may then stop responding (hang). CAUSE This behavior can occur in the following situation: * You attempt to install Windows Me on a new hard disk. -and- * Boot-Virus Detection is enabled in the computer Basic Input Output System (BIOS). RESOLUTION To resolve this issue, turn off virus detection in your computer BIOS. To gain access to your computer BIOS Setup Utility, consult your owners manual or computer manufacturer. WARNING: Changing settings of your computer's BIOS may cause the computer to stop responding. However turning virus protection off in the bios, does not change the situation. I even took the harddrive out, put it in another XP Pro system, formatted it as NTFS (it operated perfectly in that system) and tried installing XP Pro again, only to get the same message. I'm INCREDIBLY discouraged right now, I've done everything I can think of to get XP installed without any luck what-so-ever. Any help would be INCREDIBLY appreciated. If you know anyone who might be able to help, please forward this entry to them. *NOTE* I've changed the cables (It actually has an expensive set of rounded cables now) and double checked the jumper settings on the back of the drive.

I believe an "upgrade" version of windows xp requires windows 98, or 95 to be installed first. ________________________ Site promotion guide

Do you have a recovery CD from your original windows installation be it 95, 98 or ME? If so you will have to load this first. Then upgrade to XP after you have an operating system installed. You cannot load XP from an upgrade CD alone

The previous advice regarding using an upgrade version is wrong. The upgrade version of xp is identical to the "new" version, except that it will ask you to validate that you own a copy of a predesessor windows (98,me,2k,xp home) by asking you to put the older windows cd in the cd drive early in the install process. You do not need an os installed to use the xp upgrade install disk. You can and should do a clean install of xp given your situation. As for your problem, it sounds like a memory or motherboard/bios problem. Go into your bios setup and select the "load fail-safe settings" option if there is one of these available. If the motherboard is more than 3-4 years old you may need to replace the cmos battery that maintains the bios settings. This is not the likely cause of your problem, but may be an "if all else fails" option. Next, with the machine unplugged, remove your memory sticks. If you have more than one, put only one back and try to install again by booting from the xp disk. If you get errors, shut down, swap memory sticks and try again. If you have only 1 stick, take it out and reseat it carefully. If you can borrow a stick from another machine, do this. When you try to reinstall XP be sure to unplug any usb devices. Have only the monitor, keyboard and mouse attached. Unplug any additional hard drives. What model video card are you using??? Do you have another available?? If so, swap the video card and retry the install after trying the memory swap option and the stripped down system described above. Finally, does the xp install disk look like it is in good shape on the recording surface --is it the original ms oem disk?? Let us know how you do.

Part of your original post is confusing, so I will make two assumptions and suggestions. If the problem followed the hard drive into the other system, then the problem is either the OEM upgrade disk or the hard drive. If XP installed fully while the hard drive was in the other system, then completely install the OS on the hard drive while it is in that system, then move it into your system. All it will do is look for drivers for your hardware, but it should be installed. Has the upgrade disk ever been tested on another system before? It probably is OK, but use a known good copy if you have to. If you know someone with a "complete" XP disk instead of an "upgrade", ask to use it, then when it asks for the "activation key, license", or whatever you want to call it, just enter your info. Since you seem to be a student at a college, take your problem to your computer lab and ask the Administrator for help. Most will.