XP Install hanging

[Stroker Ace]

Got my fiancee some new hardware, mixed it with some old.


New:

Case w/ 300W PSU
AMD XP 2200 (266 fsb)
ECS K7S5A Pro mobo

Old:

WD 13GB HDD
generic DVD-ROM
2 x 256 MB generic PC133

Soo.... i pop everything into the new computer and her old XP install doesn't boot. I'm not SUPER suprised, so I put in the XP cd and go to the "repair" option on the boot menu.... it goes to install XP, and it hangs in the middle of the installation 3 or 4 times in a row.

It hangs during the "installing devices" part of the install, right after the screen flashes blank and then comes back, everythign freezes, i can't move the mouse.


Now, I ran memtest86 and some hard drive tests before I bought this stuff (this hardware is a cheap upgrade attempt to escape some gremlins in her old system), so I am fairly confident that these work fine.

What do I do now? I have a slipstreamed XP Pro SP1 disk at work, maybe I can try installing from there.

Would reformatting the HDD help at all? I wouldn't think it would be any more effective than an XP "repair", but what do I know. I mean, I'm sure the reformat is more STABLE, but the repair should at least *install*, right?

[Ergo]

What kind of video card is in the system? Certain cards (Nvidia in particular) are notorious for causing this problem. Installing a different card may take care of the problem, and you can add the other card back when the OS installation is finished.

[Lunch of Kong]

The different motherboard might be messing things up.

Try this:

When asked the first time if you want to Repair, say "No". Continue as if it's a new installation.

When asked for the Windows folder location, specify the previous Windows folder.

This time, when the install screen asks if you want to Repair, say "Yes".

[Bull]

Try a side-by-side install. Tell it to put it in a folder other than Windows. This has the benefits of a fresh install, but allows you to move stuff over as you get the time or when you need the space.

[Stroker Ace]

Ah crap, forgot to mention, the video card is an NVidia GF4 MX 420 PCI.

I'll try a diff. card, then I'll try the parallel install. I'm kinda antsy about the "new directory windows install", because she only has a 13GB drive and it's already kinda full.

Thanks everyone, I'll keep ya posted.

[Bull]

I'll try a diff. card, then I'll try the parallel install. I'm kinda antsy about the "new directory windows install", because she only has a 13GB drive and it's already kinda full.


I would go with Rogers wacky question tree scenario before you did the parallel install. You'll know in a few seconds if it's going to work.

[Lunch of Kong]

Yeah. The 2nd-repair-option-question-tree installation method detects and replaces the windows xp motherboard drivers. The initial repair option doesn't do this.

I had a similar problem, and this was the technique that fixed it.