Xp install freezes on laptop.

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doompod

New Member
Hi guys
This is my first post but I REALLY need help with something.
I have an old(ish) alienware M5700 laptop that previously had linux on it.
I wiped the drive using gparted to fat 32 (note that the drive in linux is detected FINE) and went to install windows XP professional and it said that the hard drive wasn't detected so after some searching around I found the right drivers (VIA V-RAID) and loaded them up using F6.
When doing this it doesn't complain about drivers and goes onto starting windows.
I wait on this screen for 25 mins before giving up...

Can anyone help? Any ideas? I'm really stuck (and its my sisters laptop) :(
Thanks
doompod
 
johnb35

johnb35

Administrator
Staff member
Look in the bios to see if you can change the sata controller to IDE/compatibility and then try reinstalling again.
 
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doompod

New Member
johnb35 said:
Look in the bios to see if you can change the sata controller to IDE/compatibility and then try reinstalling again.
Click to expand...

The BIOS for this thing is ridiculously bare (even though its a "gaming" PC) so unfortunately that option isn't there.
Any other ideas?
 
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doompod

New Member
johnb35 said:
CD scratched? At what point does it freeze exactly?
Click to expand...

Disk looks fine, theres some fingerprints but no visible scratches :/
It freezes after loading the drivers when it says its starting windows (so its not getting to a point where its even trying to install)
It doesn't seem to do anything after about 30 secs
No CD or HD activity (from what I can tell)
Thanks for the help (again)
doompod
 
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