Sam1990

I'm having a really hard time trying to install Windows XP. Every thing goes well until the actual setup/deletion of the old Windows installation. When I insert the CD and select "New Installation" every thing goes well. Then it asks me to select a partition and when it says "deleting previous windows installation" the PC just restarts. I have tried several times but it happens every time.

I tried using a SATA CD drive for the installation, nothing. I tried with only 2GB and even 1GB of RAM, nothing. I tried with 2 GPU's and 1 GPU, nothing. I reset the BIOS, CMOS, and removed the CMOS battery, nothing.

Is there anything else I can try to get this setup working or do I need to find a different operating system?

Thanks in advance.

nolimits882000

Format the hard disk... Let it do a full format. I've had this happen before but not sure if thats the answer. Try it and tell how it goes.

Lunchbox21984

hmm, have you tried running MEMTestX86 on your sticks of ram, try each stick and make sure you do not have a bad one and report back.

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nolimits882000

Yes make sure ur memory is working perfectly as Lunchbox stated.

Sam1990

I'll give that a try, thanks.

I would really love to run a MEMTest, but I have 3 sticks of RAM (two sticks were purchased today) so I'm almost 100% positive it is not the RAM. I'll run the test though.

nolimits882000

Even new sticks sometimes come in the box acting up once u install them. So yeah definitely test them.

Sam1990

I did some searching on Google and there is some topics about how Windows XP has problems with something related to SATA, is this true?

nolimits882000

Yes. Sometimes the SATA drivers need to be slipstreamed into the disc before installation. If thats the case, u need to use nLite. http://www.nliteos.com/

gr1mo

Hmm... This could be many things actually. Are you trying to install on your current setup in your sig? I would first do a DBAN nuke, then try installing again. If that shows no results, then we can conclude that it is more than likely a hardware issue.

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Sam1990

Yes I'm using the setup in my sig. I'm formatting a SATA HDD at the moment that I will try the installation on. I will try to DBAN Nuke the IDE HDD that the old Windows installation is on.

Now I'm getting a "A: Drive Error" when I try to boot the CD that has MEMTest on it. This is really starting to get to me.