Computer Help...Having troubles with Win 2000/XP Install

[MYX]

Hey all,
I am trying to install Win 2000. The whole install goes in fine. I repartition into NTFS and do the install. Then it gets to a point and tries to re-start. It then hangs. The screen is still the blue "Windows 2000 professional set up" screen and at the bottom it says "Restarting computer..." at this point it just hangs forever. I tried this several times and thought that perhaps the hard drive was bad. I swapped it out and still had the same issue. So, I tried swaping out the CD drive. Same issue still hanging at the same point. What do ya think?

[PCtech]

I always try re-formatting/re-partitining the hard drive when I run into errors.

Here is something that was posted, that might help....recommends using a smaller partition, to see if that is the problem.

Might also try technet

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=41100

Good Luck, let me know how it goes.

[divemaster127]

Something is hanging you up on install, 2000 is bad about drivers, I would pull everything but the video & reinstall you should be able to eliminate the problem that way
thanks
dm

[missioncontrol]

When I re-install 2000 I allways pull out anything that isn't necessary... priner, scanner, NIC..... I also reformat the HD and I never have any problems

[leapinlew]

I've had this problem several times - sometimes it's hardware, but I've also seen a bad disc cause the problem. Try a different disc/optical drive.

[MYX]

I innitially tried a Win XP Disk and that failed at the same place. (I guess that would have been helpful info)
I have tried 2 CD Drives. I will try un connecting everything else and see where this gets me.

Here is going to show my install ignorance, but... How do I format a drive?
If I am at the Win2000 prompt can I still do this?
I can do many wonderful things with a computer when it is working, but trying to get it there is another story completely.

[leapinlew]

I innitially tried a Win XP Disk and that failed at the same place. (I guess that would have been helpful info)
I have tried 2 CD Drives. I will try un connecting everything else and see where this gets me.

Here is going to show my install ignorance, but... How do I format a drive?
If I am at the Win2000 prompt can I still do this?
I can do many wonderful things with a computer when it is working, but trying to get it there is another story completely.

While installing the program - your given the option to delete the partion and recreate the partion. If you delete the partition both XP or 2k will ask you what file system to format it - choose NTFS and NTFS (Quick) if it has it.

Now your cooking with Gas!

[leapinlew]

At this point though, I'm leaning towards some hardware -

memory, unecessary card installed (modem, nic, etc.), or the mobo itself.

Got any other history? For example: "the computer worked before I dropped it in the bathtub"

Good luck!

[krick]

Sounds like a hardware problem to me too.

Remove all the cards except the video card.

How big is the hard drive?

How much memory and how many sticks?

The easiest (and fastest) was to format a drive is to use a CD from the HD manufacturer.  You can usually download ISO disc images from their website.  For Maxtor drives, it's called MaxBlast.  Western Digital is called "Lifeguard Tools" or something like that.  The other manufacturers have similar discs.



Oh, and as an aside...
If you feel adventurous, you can slipstream Win2K SP4 into a copy of your Win2K disc and burn it.  In fact, there's a group that has made what's called the "Unofficial Windows 2000 Service Pack 5.1".  This includes all the service packs up to and including SP4 as well as the Update Roll up and a ton of other microsoft patches...
http://www.war59312.com/win2ksp5.php

The slipstreaming process is pretty easy if you use nLite...
http://www.nliteos.com/

The benefit to doing all of this is that once you're finished your install, there's only a few windows updates to do instead of a hundred.

Oh, and while you're in there hacking, you can also modify the installer so it doesn't ask for the serial number.  I think it fools the installer into thinking you have a corporate copy or something...
http://www.thetechguide.com/articles/win2kserial.html

Note that all that I describe above requires that you have an actual Win2K CD.  Just so nobody thinks I'm advocating software piracy or anything.

[PCtech]

At this point though, I'm leaning towards some hardware -

memory, unecessary card installed (modem, nic, etc.), or the mobo itself.

Got any other history? For example: "the computer worked before I dropped it in the bathtub"

Good luck!

Yeah, with XP and 2K, and 2 different hard drives (I didn't catch that before..DOH!...I'm kinda thinking Hardware as well.

Just out of curiosity were you trying to upgrade an older OS, or was it a new drive, or did some software go screwey and you decided to just reinstall the OS....maybe the bathtub scenario from above? 

Good Luck!

[MYX]

It was the computer we used at the church before we got the new one. It had Win98 on it. I tried to go straight up to XP. It has 3 sticks -o- memory I think (I left it at work last night) I think that it was a total of 2 - 128 & 1 - 256. I think that it is sdram (pc100) not positive though. It is a P-3 not that it maters. 550 MHZ.
Actually I am not sure if this will even be fast enough for the OS + MAME. I just need 2000 or XP for screen rotation as I am building a cab with a vert screen.

[missioncontrol]

I've run 2K on pentiumII 333 mhz and had MAME on it and it all ran fine with 1 128 MB RAM so your setup should be fine....

If you are still having problems you could make a copy of your W2K disk and use the copy... I've had to do that before....

[PCtech]

The problem is PROBABLY NOT one of these, since you have tried more than 1.

Hard Drive
Install Media (Win2K, WinXP disc)
CD-rom Drive

I would start with the Memory (remove either the 128's first, or the 256's first) and try the install that way.
If you have a spare video card, that would be my next guess.

I have read a couple things that say a REALLY long pause at that point can be caused by a HUGE hard drive (I guess the bigger they are, the longer the pause)...not sure if that applies to you or not, but with a machine that age, I guessing the hard drive isn't super big.

Are the parts with so far been known good items?....been burnt myself on that one so many time.

[Havok]

I can almost guarantee you it's the video card. What model is it? Perhaps an older model?

[MYX]

It looks like a generic box. Just from looking at it, it looks like a SIS??? It is an older machine.
When I start the machine SIS is the first thing to come up. I am about half way through trying to install XP. I disconnected the modem, NIC, and sound cards. We will see. The SIS board will come out once the os is installed. I have an arcadeVGA card that will go in.

[Tiger-Heli]

I just need 2000 or XP for screen rotation as I am building a cab with a vert screen.

Pretty sure you could also do this with Win98 and iRotate or a similar app

[markrvp]

I can almost guarantee you it's the video card. What model is it? Perhaps an older model?

I'm having the same problem MYX is on a P4 1.5 Ghz machine.  I'm trying to put in a new hard drive.  I've tried both a Win2000 install CD and an XP install CD.  Same problem.  It either hangs up when it says, Loading Windows (right before where you can choose to format), or after you hit Create Partition.

I've got an ATI 9250 PCI video card in there.  My ATI 9200SE AGP caused the whole motherboard not to boot which is why I put in the PCI card.  It boots on the old drive with the ATI PCI card and also an older Diamond Stealth SIII.    Should I try putting in the Diamond Stealth card and installing Windows?

[leapinlew]

I can almost guarantee you it's the video card. What model is it? Perhaps an older model?

or after you hit Create Partition.

Mark - to me, that sounds like a weird place to lock up... I've had this problem when using SATA harddrives which required XP SP2 disc. I would definetly try it with the other video card - don't see how it could hurt anything. 

Was it working before the hard drive upgrade? I'm going out on a limb here, but do you have another power supply you can try? And lastly - there any heat issues? I've seen machines freeze all over the place (including the BIOS) that was having problems with the processor fan not spinning or not spinning fast enough.

[leapinlew]

It looks like a generic box. Just from looking at it, it looks like a SIS??? It is an older machine.
When I start the machine SIS is the first thing to come up. I am about half way through trying to install XP. I disconnected the modem, NIC, and sound cards. We will see. The SIS board will come out once the os is installed. I have an arcadeVGA card that will go in.

Let us know...

[markrvp]

I can almost guarantee you it's the video card. What model is it? Perhaps an older model?

or after you hit Create Partition.

Mark - to me, that sounds like a weird place to lock up... I've had this problem when using SATA harddrives which required XP SP2 disc. I would definetly try it with the other video card - don't see how it could hurt anything. 

Was it working before the hard drive upgrade? I'm going out on a limb here, but do you have another power supply you can try? And lastly - there any heat issues? I've seen machines freeze all over the place (including the BIOS) that was having problems with the processor fan not spinning or not spinning fast enough.

It's inside the arcade cab and it was pretty warm in there.  I'll put a fan on it tonight and try again.  Thanks for the tip.

[MYX]

Still a no go. I even removed all but 1 stick of memory and still gets stuck. BTW I did watch and was doing a full format (not quick). I am banging my head against the wall trying to make this thing go. I reset the bios thinking that perhaps something was tweaked there but got the same issue. I am thinking that perhaps this is not the computer that will run my cab. I was really hoping to NOT have to invest in a computer seeing how much $$$ I am already in this for already.

[Tiger-Heli]

I was really hoping to NOT have to invest in a computer seeing how much $$$ I am already in this for already.

That's why we told you NEVER to save and total receipts for this stuff.

[MYX]

Yeah, the reason for that is I have seen a lot of folks on the forum that have asked, so how much is this thing going to cost. I wanted to know. Alot is not a good answer (although true). Seeing as I am on the good side of it now (so I think) It is not hurting as much knowing how much I still have to spend, unless I have to add a computer on it too. 

[Tiger-Heli]

It is not hurting as much knowing how much I still have to spend, unless I have to add a computer on it too. 

It wouldn't be a whole computer - just a mobo, CPU, Memory and HD, at worst.  Probably one of the cheapest parts of the project, if it makes you feel any better.

[leapinlew]

Still a no go. I even removed all but 1 stick of memory and still gets stuck. BTW I did watch and was doing a full format (not quick). I am banging my head against the wall trying to make this thing go. I reset the bios thinking that perhaps something was tweaked there but got the same issue. I am thinking that perhaps this is not the computer that will run my cab. I was really hoping to NOT have to invest in a computer seeing how much $$$ I am already in this for already.

You've tried a different hard drive? And what about Power Supply? Those can cause you funky issues.

Basicly, if you've done everything that you've said you'd done - there is only a few components left... Run down a list of everything you've tried - lets see if we can find the issue.

[MYX]

Ok, PIII, 256 m RAM (PC100), SIS Video, Win98
I First tried installing XP
had the hang issue when it wanted to restart
Got a different Hard Drive
Hang Issue
Thought that it was the Install disk
Tried Win 2000
Hang issue
Thought that perhaps the CD Drive might be bad
Swapped CD Drive
Hang issue
As per recomendation removed NIC, Sound, Modem
Hang Issue
Switched back to WinXP Install disk
checked time on Bios thinking that perhaps the battery might be dead. Time was spot on accurate.
As per recomendation removed all but 1 stick of memory
Hang issue
Banged head against wall
Head issue

[Tiger-Heli]

Try one of the other memory sticks in case the one you left in was the bad one.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Ok, PIII, 256 m RAM (PC100), SIS Video, Win98
I First tried installing XP
had the hang issue when it wanted to restart
Got a different Hard Drive
Hang Issue
Thought that it was the Install disk
Tried Win 2000
Hang issue
Thought that perhaps the CD Drive might be bad
Swapped CD Drive
Hang issue
As per recomendation removed NIC, Sound, Modem
Hang Issue
Switched back to WinXP Install disk
checked time on Bios thinking that perhaps the battery might be dead. Time was spot on accurate.
As per recomendation removed all but 1 stick of memory
Hang issue
Banged head against wall
Head issue

This could be a couple of things as far as I can see.....

1) The memory sticks.... that's already in hand...
2) Dead Mobo
3) Graphics Chipset

I know it's already been mentioned but I'll also take bets on your graphics card.  On board SIS chipsets from the P3 period are absolutely notorius for having problems with some screen modes.  They fall over a lot when confronted with many of the DOS modes.

Also! SIS chipset video from that period will more than likely NOT work with windows XP at all.  That would also suggest that they might have significant trouble with Win2000 as well.  Try installing Win98 and see if that boots.

This could well be that Cruddy old SIS chipset video.  Win XP/2000 probably doesn't have a native driver for it. If you can disable it and stick another video card in you might get it to boot. But if it was me, I'd really not try to run WinXP or 2000 the mobo isn't designed to cope with it.

One thing you could do is to install a basic Win98 setup and then run the upgrade compatibility test that is included on most WinXP disks and see if that reports any problem.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[MYX]

Well, I have the ArcadeVGA card. Should I put that in and use my arcade monitor for the install? I will have to turn my head sideways to read anything though.

[Fozzy The Bear]

Well, I have the ArcadeVGA card. Should I put that in and use my arcade monitor for the install? I will have to turn my head sideways to read anything though.

First thing to do... as I said,  is do a basic win98 install then run the XP compatibility tester.  That might give you the answers you need.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[MYX]

Missed that, sorry.

[Tiger-Heli]

Well, I have the ArcadeVGA card. Should I put that in and use my arcade monitor for the install? I will have to turn my head sideways to read anything though.

First thing to do... as I said,  is do a basic win98 install then run the XP compatibility tester.  That might give you the answers you need.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

And/or, as I said earlier - leave 98 on it and use the iRotate program with the Arcade VGA (assuming they are compatible) - http://www.entechtaiwan.net/util/irotate.shtm

[leapinlew]

Well, I have the ArcadeVGA card. Should I put that in and use my arcade monitor for the install? I will have to turn my head sideways to read anything though.

First thing to do... as I said,  is do a basic win98 install then run the XP compatibility tester.  That might give you the answers you need.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

Yeah, I usually don't think about the compatability tester... I've never had good luck with it - it almost always reports that XP will run into issues. I don't believe it.

As Julian suggested though, running 98 on this machine may be a better option. Does 98 install and run on the machine?

[Tiger-Heli]

As Julian suggested though, running 98 on this machine may be a better option. Does 98 install and run on the machine?

Well, it used to run on it in Reply #10.  Whether it installs on it now . . .

[cdbrown]

Doesn't have a special onboard controller like a promise chip or something.  My old PC had a Promise controller which required special drivers to be installed during setup.  I'm pretty sure along the bottom of the screen it displays Press F6 for additional drivers otherwise it loads up standard drivers - of course then it can't actually control the hard drive properly.  It eventually asks for the driver which I had on the 3.5".  I eventually worked this out after a few restarts of the installation process.

[MYX]

I have a win98 disk here. I really doubt if win98 still exsists on the machine anymore seeing that I have formatted it like 20 times now. I have to try to find a licence #. I did not even know about irotate. ArcadeVGA is supposed to work under win98 and it is based on an ATI chipset.
From the ultimarc site
"When you plug in the card and start Windows, it will immediately display the desktop on your arcade monitor. Then, after loading the ATI drivers, the full power of the card is unleashed."  "The card functions in Windows 98, Windows XP and Windows 2000."

"It is based on an ATI Radeon 9200 chipset. 128 Mb SDRAM. AGP slot. It will run in any current AGP motherboard and auto-detects the AGP slot type (eg 2X, 4X, 8X). "

If I load up win98 and get it to work great, but then I can also look at Fozzies idea and run the compatibility check.

I should have written down the licence # prior to wiping the thing. 

[MYX]

BTW, with win98 do I need a boot disk or something? I have put the CD in and it just keeps restarting.

[testicle187]

If it wont boot up with the CD in you need a Windows 98 boot disk to load up the cd-rom drivers.

You can get one here:
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Download_Area/Downrights/win98se_usa_system_disk.exe

Put that on a floppy and go from there.

[MYX]

I have never thanked a testicle before, but thank you testicle.
I have downloaded it. We will see where this gets me. Yik, win98

[jcrouse]

If memory server me Windows 98 OSR2 did not require a boot disk. The CD was bootable. OSR2 was much improved over the original W98. I would try to find a copy of it if you are going to stick with W98.

John