Installing XP problems

Motoxrdude

Motoxrdude

Active Member
Hey, i have been using linux for awhile now and i want to dual boot. Anyways, I put in the XP cd, booted from it. It said something like "Configuring something" o the top, then the screen just goes blank. I have tried two monitors and two different video cards. I have no idea what the hell is up with this. I left my computer on for about 15 minutes and the screen was still blank. Any ideas?
 
You will probably need cfdisk to remove the current Linux installation first. XP has to see an MS partition or fresh drive upon detection in order to install properly. XP should have given a message about partition in unknown format. When going to dual OS XP with Linux you first have to have space for the "C" primary or secondary space available.

The installer will then create and format the new MS primary or install to an existing one. Linux is added after Windows is on and running. Since the boot.ini file is essentially useless for modding that to multiboot Linux the boot method for a ubuntu boot manager to detect both XP and Linux paritions and prompt you to select the partition and load the OS on that. Unfortunately I haven't quite gone into multibooting Linux far enough to recommend other loaders that will work with Windows.

The question I could ask here is whether or not the entire drive was used for Linux? The probable reason for the blank screen is that the default vga drivers the installers uses are not loaded at that time or the monitor is in a standby or sleep mode.
 
I have done this before. Its not a problem with the linux partitions. It just doesnt show video when it should.
EDIT: And i know how to dual boot; it has nothing to do with my problem.
 
If your monitor isn't going into standby or sleep mode the installer could be hanging there at the blank screen you are seeing if you are not now seeing a hardware fault. Most likely the installer is being hung up on something regarding the current Linux installtion where it is unable to complete the copy of files to the drive. This is why the question of how much drive space is available for XP to install to.
 
I can't even get to the partitioner. I mean it should atleast show a menu or something but i get nothing. The monitor isnt going into standby btw.
 
You may want to check the installation disk itself for scratches or smudges. Another problem could the cd drive's lens needs cleaning. The XP installer won't go over a Linux installation or a simple vfat partition. But it will notify you of an unknown partition type if it operating properly. The two things here would be the first to look into. Inspect the disk and use a lens cleaner. It appears something isn't being read seeing a hang there.
 
Too often even finger prints will goof up the works when a smudge is found on the cd. Dust and dirt can also find their way into a drive even when a disk is handled with extreme care. The installer is locking probably from something more along these lines if the cd drive itself doesn't prove to be a problem. That is less likely but possible for a heavily used drive.
 
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