I'm trying to install Windows XP Pro. I formatted the drive and installed the setup files, when it restarts, it goes past the POST screen, but then it just sits there and idles at "Press any key to boot from CD....." I'm trying to install it on a 160 GB drive. I was first trying it on other harddrives with MSDN burnt CD's, then with a store-bought CD. It has to something with my computer. Help please.

In BIOS did you set the order of booting to CDROM first? The part I am not sure about is ...I formatted the drive and installed the setup files. What setup files did you installed and by what method?

i_XpUser

Report Offensive Follow Up For Removal

Type sorry

...I formatted the drive and installed the setup files. What setup files did you installed and by what method?

should read

...I formatted the drive and installed the setup files. What setup files did you installed and by what method?

i_XpUser

When it installs the "setup files" right after formatting. And I did it through the method of the Windows XP CD at the boot. And yes, I do have the CD-ROM drive set as first to boot.

Your post made me decide to try to have the harddrive set as first boot priority, and that didn't work, either.

When it installs the "setup files" right after formatting. And I did it through the method of the Windows XP CD at the boot.

What you should do is reformat the HD again from a 98 boot floppy disk. Otherwise Windows CD will not work as it didn't on one of my client's machine. Then set the boot order to CDROM first, restart the PC and run the CD again.

i_XpUser

How do I make a 98 boot floppy disk?

How do I make a 98 boot floppy disk?

Go HERE. Select Windows 98 SE OEM.

i_XpUser

it thinks that the drive is 23604 MB...

Tha fact you can boot from cd sugest all normal.

Did you partition the drive ?

After formating and the installer copies the setup files, does the system reboot ?

If not Run setup again delete the single aprtition and than create 2 partitions any size you wish.

When crated highlight C and press the enter key. After checking the installer will copy files across, once done the system will reboot.

At this stage it will ask you to hit any key to boot from cd IGNORE this and just allow the system to boot from the hard drive, it will do this as long as you dont hit the enter key when asked.

Or cant you get to this point ?

The other question is where is your cd rom Connected slave on primary, or slave on secondary ??

IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

the system does reboot after copying setup files. i do ignore booting from cd after it reboots, and it idles there. cd rom is master on secondary.

Remove everything from your drive, partitions etc.

Set the jumper onn the drive to the master pin's and connect the hard drive to the end connector on the primary, if not already done.

Set the CD Rom as master on the end connector on the secondary ide as you have.

Leave all other components disconnected for the moment.

Jump into the bios and change the hard drive configuration to read

User Type HDD and seletc
LBA -- Larg Block Addressing.

Set boot order as follows CD Rom , HDD, Floppy,

Place the XP Disc in the cd roma nd save the changes to cmos and reboot.

When prompted boot from cd, and follow the steps, parttion the drive as follows, C = 20 GIG D = 70 E = 70, when crated highlight the C drive and hit the enter key. Follow the steops from there.

See if the system hangs at the same point. Remember that XP will only format the C partition only when installing.

if you know how update the bios before doing all of this.

See how you go with that.

Regards

IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

I would do that, but I don't want partitions like that.

The partiton size is of no importance but a sugestion to help sort things out.

One thign you need to remember the C partition needs to be large enough for the os and any programs you wish to install.

Remember that XP takes up almost 2 gig in full install mode, Normaly a C partition of about 16 gig works very well.

IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT - SIGNATURE COURTESY OF BUZZ187

Check your Motherbords' bios specs and see if it can handle the greater than 137 gb
threshhold. If it cant then you will have to use the drive manufacturers software to set it up and then again to change a reg setting within xp.

Why not buy it tomorrow instead of today? It's sure to be cheaper and definately outdated! Except for GAS !!!!

I agree with the partitioning idea...IMO, running a single 160GB partition is not a smart thing to do & capoman brings up a good point about the 137GB limit.

If you set your C partiton relatively small, it'll run faster & more efficiently, & if you defrag occasionally (if you don't, you should), it will run & complete much faster on a smaller partition that a large one. Plus you can store important files & documents on the other partition(s)...if the OS screws up & you have to format/reinstall, you won't have to wipe out everything on the entire 160GB drive, just the C partition...everything else will stay intact

I can't get past copying files. It asks me to press enter to retry, esc to skip and f4 (i think) to cancel the installation. I ended up having to skip loads and then i got the blue screen of death upon reboot (fatal error or something similar). Any advice welcome

Do you have a spare cd rom drive laying around. If you do try changing it out with the one that's in your machine.I've seen all sorts of problems.From a bad cable to bad memory. I've seen cd roms that work in everyone else's drive except my own. Also,
pull all your cards out except video. in your bios, set plug & play system to (NO).
Disable all video shadowing and set video to pci/agp.Once xp is installed, install your cards 1 at a time. If it freezes then you'll know which card is causing a problem.
also once xp is in , change the bios settings back to where they were .(make notes).
disabling all shadowing & such is what you had to do to install win2k and Nt.

Why not buy it tomorrow instead of today? It's sure to be cheaper and definately outdated! Except for GAS !!!!