permanent freezing while installing OS

[whiteknights]

hello.. I'm facing a weird problem since a long time and its making me frustrated.

every time i try to boot my Windows XP it freezes before startup on the boot screen. so i decided to install a new copy.. but the problem happened again during installation it always freeze on a certain time while installing drivers.

things i've tried:

1- used a different windows XP CD.
2- used a USB and tried to install another copy of XP, but this time i get a Blue screen instead of freezing.
3- tried to install Linux Ubuntu and backtrack using USB, but also it freezes during installation.
4- re-installed Ram one by one.
5- cleaned my Case with blower.
6- installed a new Thermal Paste on my CPU.
7- tried another HDD.

this is not my main PC, its an old Generation Dell.

any Help would be appreciated.

 

[Shaun o]

It would suggest that some of the settings to do with the motherboard and the bios configuration are not set right.

I don`t know how old the motherboard or system is, but if it is a good few years old say up to five years or more.
The cause could be a physical component on the motherboard it`s self also whiteknights.

It may be worth taking the side off the system case and looking inside at the motherboard.
The most likely reason as to why windows XP fails to install and the system freezes during it`s setup can be old or bad capacitors on the motherboard it`s self.

Look for any capacitors that have any brown liquid that has escaped, or ones where the top of the capacitor are badly domed whiteknights. If you see such signs then the problem is related to power traveling around the motherboard.
To stabilize it you would have to fit new capacitors with the same farad rating and voltage values printed on the side of each capacitor.

The most likely places to find domed or damaged capacitors are near or around the cpu socket of the motherboard.

Anyway back to the bios settings.

Make sure enable detection of legacy usb devices is selected in the bios and enabled.
If there is an option in the bios to enable memory whole remapping enable it.
Check one of the memory modules and the sticker located on it for the correct latency memory timings, the speed the memory runs at and the voltage setting.

Make sure none of the memory modules diffter in respect to speed, latency memory timing settings and voltage.
When in the bios look for the option to select the speed the memory runs at, if you have a lower clock value other than what is stated on the memory module it`s self.
Select the lower speed setting as a matter of course.
For the Sata ports of the motherboard make sure the interface mode is set to AHCI mode.


Save the changes in the bios before you exit it.
Connect the keyboard and the mouse to the rear of the system case where the main I/O panel is.

If you see a Ps2 keyboard and mouse connector coloured Green and purple.
You shoud see two Usb ports above or bellow them.

Connect both the keyboard and mouse to each of the Usb ports. if usb.

Now try to install windows XP from your Dvd disk or drive of the system.
See if the install and setup of windows XP completes without a system freeze then whiteknights.

 

[whiteknights]

It would suggest that some of the settings to do with the motherboard and the bios configuration are not set right.

I don`t know how old the motherboard or system is, but if it is a good few years old say up to five years or more.
The cause could be a physical component on the motherboard it`s self also whiteknights.

It may be worth taking the side off the system case and looking inside at the motherboard.
The most likely reason as to why windows XP fails to install and the system freezes during it`s setup can be old or bad capacitors on the motherboard it`s self.

Look for any capacitors that have any brown liquid that has escaped, or ones where the top of the capacitor are badly domed whiteknights. If you see such signs then the problem is related to power traveling around the motherboard.
To stabilize it you would have to fit new capacitors with the same farad rating and voltage values printed on the side of each capacitor.

The most likely places to find domed or damaged capacitors are near or around the cpu socket of the motherboard.

Anyway back to the bios settings.

Make sure enable detection of legacy usb devices is selected in the bios and enabled.
If there is an option in the bios to enable memory whole remapping enable it.
Check one of the memory modules and the sticker located on it for the correct latency memory timings, the speed the memory runs at and the voltage setting.

Make sure none of the memory modules diffter in respect to speed, latency memory timing settings and voltage.
When in the bios look for the option to select the speed the memory runs at, if you have a lower clock value other than what is stated on the memory module it`s self.
Select the lower speed setting as a matter of course.
For the Sata ports of the motherboard make sure the interface mode is set to AHCI mode.


Save the changes in the bios before you exit it.
Connect the keyboard and the mouse to the rear of the system case where the main I/O panel is.

If you see a Ps2 keyboard and mouse connector coloured Green and purple.
You shoud see two Usb ports above or bellow them.

Connect both the keyboard and mouse to each of the Usb ports. if usb.

Now try to install windows XP from your Dvd disk or drive of the system.
See if the install and setup of windows XP completes without a system freeze then whiteknights.

thank you for your help.. i think i saw an old capacitor with a brown color, but I'm not sure so i'll have to check again..

i also think my pc is more than 7 years old, so options in the bios like "interface mode", "enabling memory" and checking for memory latency & speed are not available, it only show the size of the memory. the bios have a very basic and limited options.

as for the Ram, i've tried taking out all the sticks and installed only one stick of ram, and the problem remains.. so i thought the ram isn't the problem.

i'll check for the capacitors and try following the steps you've mentioned.