problem with windows install NOW SOLVED

[Rusty Shackelford]

Ive been given a pc to use in the cab im building. The pc has no hd so im using one I have hanging around.
Heres the problem: I start to install xp evrything goes fine untill the part where it asks you to remove the floppy from drive a and re-starts and boots from the hd for the first time . It just wont happen.
Ive changed the boot order, took the cd out, run a chkdsk ( it was fine ) , plugged the hd into another pc ( windows is on there ). and also tried re-setting the BIOS.

Has anyone got any ideas?
Thanks in advance

[daywane]

I have reread your post many times.

I think we both know XP is not in drive A
drive "D" most likely
But your PC says drive "A"

A few questions.?
in your BIOS screen is the drives "C" and also drive "D" listed?
(Hard Drive and CD drive?)

do you know of the specks of PC?
can it handle Windows XP?

I bought a mother board off EBay not to long ago and the darn thing would not let me install windows XP on the HD.
I have a few HD with XP laying around. ( 6 and 10 gig HD) I tossed one in just for fun....
Darned if that did not work.
( I have not done any thing else with the PC , but a food for thought)
Toss your HD in another PC.... Install windows on the new HD
put new HD in the other PC... It might work

NOT A GOOD FIX but I am wondering how it works?
The drive "A" part ..... That is just wrong
never had that problem.... No Drive "C" I bump into from time to time.
I would also try this...
unplug drive A
boot screen will say no drive "A" found... " I think its hit F2 to continue"
I wounder what would happen on install if BIOS knows no "A" disk is installed

[BASS!]

I say try a different cable for the drive, then go for a new hard drive. Usually its a bad drive that causes this to happen. Bad drives can often pass chkdsk right after they are loaded. If not the drive/ cable, then it very well could be your motherboard giving you issues. Try a spare drive first:-)

Sam

[Rusty Shackelford]

thanks for the ideas so far 

I try the hd+ cable from my 'good' pc (also with xp) and see if that boots. I ll post back with results.

Specs:
3 ghz intel p4 I think the mb is a Prescott 800
1 ghz RAM
ATI 256mb graphics card
Samsung 80gb hd

[BobA]

You said you reset the BIOS.   Have you tried removing (disable) the FDC from the bios and physically remove power from the FDD.   Also remove the FDD from the boot up sequence.

[Rusty Shackelford]

You said you reset the BIOS.   Have you tried removing (disable) the FDC from the bios and physically remove power from the FDD.   Also remove the FDD from the boot up sequence.

Thanks for the input but im not sure what you mean! (FDD? FDC?) I reset the BIOS by just taking out the battery and turning on the power.

I connected the HD from my 'good' pc to the mentioned pc and it booted right up to the screen where you select which user you want. I could go any further because the mouse and keyboard where strangly unresponsive. A lack of drivers maybe?

Anyways I put it back into the good pc and I started getting boot file missing messages!
I lot of shouting and booting later I finally got it working again to be able to type this. I wont be doing that again in a hurry

I also tried putting the samsung hd on the good pc and the POST screen wouldnt even come on so I decided not to take that any further.

Im still not sure whats wrong because the samsung HD has windows setup files on it. It just wont boot into the second half of the set up.



Thoughts anyone?

[Rusty Shackelford]

Well problem solved! I got a new harddrive on my way home from work and volia! worked first time.

Uprightbass30- You were right about chkdsk I wont rely on that anymore.

Thanks to everyone who contributed 

Rusty

[BASS!]

Yay! I love when my brainless ramblings help! Yeah bad hard drives are a pain in the arse, and often look like a million different issues. I often load a new drive when I am diagnosing problems, just to rule that out.

[daywane]

You said you reset the BIOS.   Have you tried removing (disable) the FDC from the bios and physically remove power from the FDD.   Also remove the FDD from the boot up sequence.

Thanks for the input but I'm not sure what you mean! (FDD? FDC?) I reset the BIOS by just taking out the battery and turning on the power.

I connected the HD from my 'good' pc to the mentioned pc and it booted right up to the screen where you select which user you want. I could go any further because the mouse and keyboard where strangly unresponsive. A lack of drivers maybe?

Anyways I put it back into the good pc and I started getting boot file missing messages!
I lot of shouting and booting later I finally got it working again to be able to type this. I wont be doing that again in a hurry

I also tried putting the samsung hd on the good pc and the POST screen wouldnt even come on so I decided not to take that any further.

Im still not sure whats wrong because the samsung HD has windows setup files on it. It just wont boot into the second half of the set up.



Thoughts anyone?

sorry for your problems.
I did not mean for you to take a HD out of a working PC.
I some times take forgranted.
I have at least 4 small 6 and 7 gig HD's with XP pro on them
I only have them around because I have them. ( if that makes any since)
I get a old PC given to me ... I like to toss them in 1st thing just to see what happens.

Most time it boots right up and finds new hardware and starts windows desktop.
I have them marked
XP PRO no service PAC
XP PRO SP1
XP PRO SP2
XP PRO SP3
nothing else is on the drives.

I also reinstall windows on them from time to time just for the heck of it.
I am a person that can not sit for long...
If I have nothing to do ... I tinker