Cannot Install Windows XP - Please Help!

[badmojo]

I cannot install XP here are the computer specs and the problem.

533 P3 on an Asus P3V4X motherboard.
256 MB Ram
15 GB HD
32 MB Asus geforce 6800
Soundblaster Live
52x Creative CDROM
16x10x40x Asus CDRW

When I install XP it does the formatting and then it starts to copy the files. As it copies the files it will stop on the same files and say they are not proper files or some crap. I hit enter to retry and it won't continue I held enter down for 45 mins and nothing it just won't load that file. If I skip it then I get errors all the time in XP. I have tried both CDROMS, different memory different cables, I have tried 4 versions of XP PRO all legit and 5 illegal copies! This is nuts can anyone help me please.

Thanks

 

[Retruglot]

Sounds like its time to strip... take out all unneccessary hardware and start from there.. if that doesn't work, change the necessary hardware one peice at a time until you find that it works... sounds like your gonna just have to eliminate a peice of hardware from your mix... I had a similar problem and it ended up being the video card...


Ret

 

[Toejam31]

You may have a hardware incompatibility issue, due to the age of your system.

<A HREF="http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310064&id=kb;en-us;Q310064" target="_new">Windows XP Setup Problems</A>

This is the link to your <A HREF="http://ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/slot1/pro133a/p3v4x/p3v4x-102.pdf" target="_new">mainboard manual</A>, latest <A HREF="http://www.asus.com/download/mbdriver/slot1-820-via.htm#via133" target="_new">BIOS</A>, <A HREF="http://www.asus.com/download/mbdriver/mb-flash.htm" target="_new">BIOS Flash Utilities</A> and <A HREF="http://www.asus.com/download/mbdriver/mb-utility.htm" target="_new">drivers</A>.

The latest VIA 4-in-1 drivers can be found here. <A HREF="http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=2" target="_new">VIA Arena</A>

I'm providing these links, because it may be necessary to flash your BIOS before the installation will be successful. However, I must tell you, I did not see anything on the ASUS site that suggests a BIOS upgrade for that board will repair your problems. But it's definitely something to consider.

I would suggest that you remove all necessary items during the installation. If you have more than one memory chip; use just one. Remove the sound card. Reset any BIOS settings to the performance default.

Question: Do you encounter similar issues when installing other operating systems, or only with XP?

There is another method of approaching this. Perhaps you could partition and format the drive with a Windows 9.x bootable floppy disk, create a set of XP boot disks, and attempt to install the OS.

<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=33290" target="_new">Windows XP Home Edition Setup Disks</A>

<A HREF="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?releaseid=33291" target="_new">Windows XP Professional Edition Setup Disks</A>

You might also find this <A HREF="http://www.onepc.net/computingguides/0006/page5.shtml" target="_new">link</A> helpful, if you are unable to boot from the CD-ROM.

I'm also throwing this link, just in case you aren't completely familiar with <A HREF="http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win2000/format2000.htm" target="_new">formatting</A> and <A HREF="http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win2000/partwin2000.htm" target="_new">partitioning</A> in DOS for a 32-bit operating system.

Finally, you might have a go at copying the Setup files from the CD to the hard drive, and then running the installation directly from the disk. This <A HREF="http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win2000/advsetup.htm" target="_new">page</A> has a set of command line switches that might come in handy if you'd like to give that a try.

Toejam31

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____________________________________________________________

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[silverpig]

Here's the simplest possible fix I know. Go into your BIOS and disable all your USB ports. Then install XP (it SHOULD work). Once in XP, reboot, renable your USB, and XP will detect the ports and install them fine. That's what I did when I had that problem... Everything's great now, and USB works flawlessly.

Lyrics. Wasted time between solos.

 

[Zoron]

I had problems installing XP Corporate from a SCSI CD-ROM drive. It would not boot from the CD and when I did get the setup running.. it wouldn't read all the files. I brought home an IDE CD-ROM and it worked no problem.. I'm wondering if there is a way to fix the SCSI problem though. Every other bootable CD (Win98/ME, Norton) works without problems. Would appreciate it if anyone could suggest a fix. Thanks!

 

[CompSci]

Wow - there's a very similar post on the Win 2000 forum...
check it out! Win2k(install) unable to copy x file

It was suggested the CD drive may be gettin hot! Could be!, Notice you have two drives probably packed together in the top of your box... No place for heat to disapate! Try supportin a drive outside the box where it can stay cool - or when ya get the read error and the retry dialog - let it set for a half hour or so too cool down before tryin a retry... its a maybe...

For sure it's NOT your mobo and probably NOT your system... as I have a very similar box - a Asys p3v4x, PII 400 running 133fsb at 533, with the almost same stuff, 256m, 40G WD, Artec DVD/CD, HP CDRW, SB sound but with ATI vidio... NO problem and its a smooth box... But my box has 2 case fans, dual HSF fans, and the PS fan with good case circulation to keep it cool enough to run the pII400 at 533...

From what your sayin, your box is just not readin/copyin an installation file correctly... With components you state there sould be no reason XP shouldn't install XP... Heat buildup may be it... and it's probably a mid/mini case too. Open the box, point a big fan at it... pull the CD drive and support it outside the case in the breese of the fan... Keep it KOOL! Report back!!!

Bet it installs!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by CompSci on 01/11/02 09:23 PM.</EM></FONT></P>