XP problems(possibly hardware related)

The_Other_One

The_Other_One

VIP Member
I have an older PIII(my tester) that I wanted to check a copy of XP on. We had a spare copy of XP at work from a Machine we imaged, and my mentor said I could just use it for my new system...

Anyway, the install goes along fine, but then it locks up. I actually managed to get a couple disks. The first one seemed to lock up around 53%, second around 72%. It's like it totally lost connection with the CD-ROMs and acts like it can't read them.

The reason I think it could be hardware is because when this started, I couldn't even eject the disk. What I don't understand, though, is I just loaded another copy of XP I've had for a while without a problem...

Any idea? And sorry if this topic is a little sketchy? But at least it's not downloaded copies... :o
 
Well downloaded copies are crap to begin with. It would be an idea to inspect the disk itself for any marks, scratches, etc. from handling. From a number of people handling it that can happen easy enough. What are the specs on the new case. Are trying to install to a SATA or eide type drive?
 
The disks are brand new, I just opened them today before attempting. Specs on the system I'm using is nothing spectatular
PIII 733
256M RAM
Number9 SR9 AGP
20G HD
DVD-ROM
24x12x32 CD-RW

The last drive I tried, and the one that locked up was the DVD-ROM. My new computer should be here by Friday, but I'd like to know if I need to purchase another copy of windows or if I could use one of these...
 
If you want an OEM release of XP Home I recently grabbed one at http://www.ewiz.com for $95- with others finding listings for under $90-. That would be your own copy with SP2 included. Try to get a full install not a recovery disk however if you decide on that. When trying to get XP on an eMachines that came without a recovery I gave away the SP1 cd that i grabbed at a pc show for $99- at the time(2004). Imagine two days spend trying to wipe a drive clean of some downloaded crap to get a system running with only 28mb of hard drive space left? :P That was a goof!

The real problem when the drive was put in when the other board was still running was trying to 98 to go on. A second spare drive was then tried to get Windows running as a swap. Nothing wrong with the original 80gb later found when the 250gb also saw problems due to the bios failing. Hopefully the copy they loaned you has a glitch and you are not running into a hardware problem where the NVram is losing info. I lost a ton of stuff just getting Windows to run again until the board swapout last week.
 
have you tried changing the memory stick? you might also want try to install a different version of Windows just to test it.
 
d6rth7ader said:
have you tried changing the memory stick? you might also want try to install a different version of Windows just to test it.
Click to expand...

When I reinstalled XP Windows would lock at the 200mhz setting in the bios. At first memory was the suspect especially when it saw some 573 errors on test #5 with red lights flashing. When I backed down the timings to the 333mhz setting seen as 166mhz there suddenly everything ran like nothing ever happened. It wasn't the cpu or memory when memtest suddenly saw no errors on the next run. Another thing to consider if the drive is set as master would be to try the cable select jumper setting to if that gets results.
 
Anyway, the install goes along fine, but then it locks up. I actually managed to get a couple disks. The first one seemed to lock up around 53%, second around 72%.
Click to expand...
the fact they lock at differnet places leaves 3 options
1) Cd is buggered (doubtfull given that you tried 2 new ones)
2) Cd driver is buggered... likely given that you had issues with it
3) Ram is buggered... possible and easily testable with memtest
 
I've had ram that was seeing errors that would still install XP right on while seeing program locks at times(gaming - beta testing). A new drive should be readily detected as an unformatted drive by the XP installer. I just dropped a new 250gb in here when I first thought the drive was spent later finding the bios was the problem on the old board.

You may want to check the cables to see if they are raised up a little in the slots. Give them a light press with your finger to insure they are in all the way. When firing up the new board a week ago the floppy drive suddenly couldn't be accessed. I said now what? I simply put a little pressure on both connectors that already seemed down inplace and suddenly the drive was running normal. Try of few things out.
 
I'll try memtest if I think about it sometime... It is brand new, but I'm sure it's just as likely either way :P I beleive I have an old 64M chip too. Maybe I could try.

I thought about the cD-ROMs, but I beleive I tried my plain burner once... Either way, my new system should be here(half tommarow half Thursday -.- ) So I can test it then.
 
Well, apparently my RAM was bad... Or it was a CD-ROM(I'm bad about doing two things at once :P) Anyway, I'm at the saving settings portion of XP setup now, "5 minutes remaining" Hopfully this'll work and I'll have a copy of my new compy, as I'm not going to activate this one yet.
 
Grag a Sony 52x24x52 cd writer at your local Walmart for $60-70 and you have fewer problems getting Windows up and running. If the dimms were bad you would seen indication at post time prior to trying to run these two disks to put XP on. You may not even have a hardware problem. I've seen a few times when Windows whether XP or an older version was a nuisance until you ran the installer a few more times where it suddenly went on. That was prior to buying the Sony cd-r/rw drives where one was the early 52x read 24x write model to replace a 48x model. They also have been put through the mill with those games and other programs that need to run in the drive.
 
were did you install it?? the DVD-rom or cdrw??(if it reads cd-r) becouse i have windows xp pro and everytime i install it on the dvd drive it locks up just as you said or even sometimes it finishes but has missing files at the end
 
The original copy of XP bought OEM will run on a dvd burner here to install at a much slower pace while cd-rs will not be read. Before adding a second hard drive for dual OSing and storage later a second newer model Sony was added since some games needed to run strictly from the cd. The burner while supposedly able to write to cd-rs and rws fails to read off of them. Yet pop in the newer installation disk with SP2 on it and it runs right away. A copy will only run properly when run in a cd drive.
 
then there probably something wrong with my dvd reader becouse just as i said it wont install properly, but no big deal i can always buy another one. and also most of my cdrom games cant install properly on my dvd reader so i guess it must be that its damaged.
 
When a dvd drive fails to read a cd don't be surprised. They do have some combo cd-r/rw drives with a builtin dvd player to allow both formats to be read easily. A dvd burner on the other hand is geared for that type of format. If it readily plays any dvds you put in it and burns dvd-rs and dvd-rws the drive is working normal.
 
well that solves my problem i have a stright up dvd burner\reader and have a cd-r/cd-rw on the bottom slot.ok thanks for the info
 
Hey I'm been stuck there a few times trying to find a dvd burner that will actually read off of cd-rs due to having video cd projects. But PowerDVD bails me out all the time when dropping one into the cd writer. Even the drive in dvd/vhs combos does a better job reading off of cds and vcds. You put a music cd in a newer combo's dvd drive there and listen to your music.
 
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