Win Xp Re-install

[Summit]

I am fixing a computer after someone decided to vacum out the case, instead of blow it out. It would freeze on XP start up, even in safe mode. So I proceeded to double check all the hardware with a nother hard drive and it seemed to work fine. Then I ran Norton Disk Checker on te drive and it came up clean. Ran Scandisk and every utility I have. Everything came up clean. After doing the first part of the re-install it reboots and where it is suppose to continue installing the computer comes up with a blank screen except for the cursor. It does not freeze because I can move the cursor around, but it just sits there.

Has anyone seen this before? Help!

[wee96]

Using a vaccum could potentially cause a static discharge and damage the hardware.

[Summit]

I know! That is what I told them! So we will see what I can find! I have all the hardware out of the machine except for the essentials. I have narrowed it down to the HD because when I but in a different drive it worked fine! So hopefully I can save it.

[Summit]

My next step is to update the bios, just because I read a Microsoft article that said that was a problem before in the same type of situation!

Thanks!

[Summit]

Well, like I thought! I updated the BIOS and it did not make any difference. I got the drive backed up, but I would really like to not have to format it.

Do you guys have any idea on what to do to check the drive or get past where I am!

Thanks!

[Storm90]

If sure all the hardware is fine make sure the bios is set to boot the cdrom frist. If you are still getting the same results . Go to www.bootdisk.com and down the disk for winXp. Here is a artical that will help out to http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307848#3 This should help you out. . If you do not want to reformat try a repair from the cd. As far as booting. Try the artical it should help you to get the cd to boot. My other computer was stubborn. To booting the win xp cd. When it need to be reformated. This artical help out. Good luck

[YeOldeStonecat]

Can you boot from XP cd....recovery console, run a checkdisk?

[Summit]

I can get into recovery console, but no one knows the administrator password. They bought the computer from a guy that is now out of business.

So that idea is hooped!!

Any more?

[wee96]

Just remember the hardware could still be damaged even though it appears to be working....static can do very strange things to computers.....

[Norm]

I would be willing to bet there was no static damage, but being inside the case you may have dislodged a PCI, or AGP card enough to cause problems.

Try reseating everything from PCI/AGP cards to ram and IDE cables.

Personally, I would do a fresh install of XP. I couldn't live with a computer where I didn't know the passwords.

There are utilities (some free) that will reset the password whether you know it or not.

ERD Commander 2003 is about the best, but it's a couple hundred bucks.
There is also a Linux app that will reset the password, but I've never got it to work for me.

[edit]One last thought..
Sometimes an install will appear to hang, but is really just taking a 'long' time to finish. [edit]

[Summit]

I actually pulled all the cards out the computer, except for the video. I have swapped the Video Card with a known good one. I let the computer run overnight and it was still sitting there in the morning. That is a little too long I would say.

The only thing that I think it might be is RAM possibly. But I do not have any other chips of DDR. I might have to find one. Thanks for your help!

Are there any programs that you guys know of other then the obvious to run to check the Hard Drive. I have ran Scandisk, Norton Disk Checker, and chkdsk.

Thanks

[Norm]

Have you tried to reboot and allow setup to continue again?

Take the cd out, and put it back if/when asked to.

[Storm90]

I have to agree with Norm. I would do a fresh install of win xp. I would not want some else passwords. It would be best in the long run. Recoveirng might not do the trick.

[Summit]

I have tried booting without the xp cd in the rom, but it still does the same thing. Do you guess think this could be a RAM issue?

[Storm90]

Have you tried useing a startup disk with it? This was the only way I could get my seconed computer to boot it. I went in threw the dos side. In that web site I posted it explains how to .Does the bios come up. Make sure when you flashed. It took effect.

[Summit]

I finally got an error Message! I booted with Patition Magic from a floppy and if scanned the drive and gave me error 1516. The fix is suppose to be to run chkdsk /f, which I did yesterday, but I will try it again.

I am in the process of downloading a win xp bootdisk....I am on Dial-up so it takes awhile.....Stupid ISP's will not get high speed where I live...politics

Anyway I will give that a go!

Thanks! If this does not work, then I am going to format!

[Storm90]

Your welcome! Formatting would be the best bet in the long run. This why you will start off fresh. GoodLuck!!!!!!!