System Hangs during Windows-XP Pro re-install/Install. After CD boots at Black Screen "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..." is displayed and just hangs there I have the same problem on my Sony Vaio PCV-RZ22G 2.4GHZ w/ 1GB Ram. This system was running Windows-XP Pro just fine until we updated to XP-SP2 and the system stopped responding ( would not boot to Windows-XP ) So we tried to re-install XP via the CD but it hangs at the Checking system hardware screen (black screen) and never recovers. We also tried the Re-install via floppies with the same result. Then we Reformmated the HD and tried a fresh install with exctky the same hang point?? Very weird. I Install the same Windows-XP Pro on an other system under Vmware with no problems. But I would really like to have my very expensive system up and running again. I went to the SONY pcsupport website, followed all the instructions possible but still I get: "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration..." On a black screen using SONY Recovery CD, Windows XP Pro CD or Windows XP Pro Setup Floppies. When booting from harddisk the system just hangs after the BOIS & system info. Can anyone tell me what is going on? I even tried booting from win98 which does work until it reboots to start windows then it hangs also. "For the father nothing"

Can you give us your system specs? Tt Lanfire nf7-s v2.0 XP-m 2500@210x11 SP 97 512mb pc3200 Jou Jye 550w psu FX5600 WDCaviar 60gb Seagate Barracuda 80gb ;~}

Did you fdisk before formatting?

take LEXX's advice, boot with the xp cd, delete your old partition (if there is one) and make a new one. Format that partition and then install xp on the formatted partition. all these options are available when you boot with the xp cd if you havent already done so. plus, i'd try sp2 again after you fix it, it worked for me! 12yr old genius