Reinstalling XP help...

My computer is currently messed up badly. Don't know how but lately its been error after error, CD's wont install, sound driver wont install, etc. So, I want to format and reinstall WinXP Home. Stick in the CD and it comes up, I hit install and it runs through few screens, I select the new installation option that will erase everything, enter cd key, etc. Computer restarts after it installs the setup files, loads the setup again right after boot (you know the blue screen and it shows the loading bunch of drivers at the bottom). It gets to the last part saying "Setup is starting" or something and it just hangs there. Everytime it does that and wont continue. Now everytime I start up my computer it makes me select either the WinXP Home to start up or the setup. Basically I want to wipe my computer and put WinXP back on it, I have the upgrade version though and dont know if I can boot in like dos mode, format C:, and instal win xp since it would have no OS then. Any help would be appretiated :)

Need more information about your system specs.

First, you can do a full install from the upgrade WinXP Home CD. I've done it. I've forgotten exactly how its worded but there's a screen during install that asks if you wish to do a fast format or full format of your HD. How are you answering this?

Althon XP 1600+
Asus A7M266 mobo
256mb crucial ddr
soundblaster audigy MP3+
visiontek geforce3 ti200
maxtor 40g hd
toshiba dvd player

Sorry, I didn't see that you had the upgrade version. Like it was already stated, I think there is a way to do a clean install of XP from the update version, but I am not sure how.

I had a friend who had a similar problem where XP would hang at the end of installation. Turned out to me a motherboard/chipset/XP issue. I don't remember how she fixed it, but if I can find out, I will post it.

i could always redo it to 98 and just do the upgrade... but kinda want fresh xp install :/

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Originally posted by DAoC
i could always redo it to 98 and just do the upgrade... but kinda want fresh xp install :/

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i'm not positive but i think that's your only solution since you have the upgrade version. i've never messed w/ the upgrade version.

try killing your current install by deleting the partitions on your HDD using 98 FDISK.

I'm not sure if XP works like the old 98 did, but you might want to see if you can get some boot up disks from a friend or something for XP. There is a way to create boot up disks from the CD of the full version but I'm unsure about the upgrade.

I remember that when Win98 first came out, I was able to do a full install with the upgrade by simply creating a startup disk on another 98 machine, booting up, and starting setup from the prompt.

Here's something I might try: Get a Win98 bootup disk or startup disk. Start it up with CD-ROM support. Once you get it booted, pop in the XP cd-rom and try to run setup. Chances are, it'll act just like a full version. The upgrade really is a full version but it just has the code to search for previous versions first. You'll be asked for a "qualifying product" and you'll have to insert a 98/2000 cd or something like that. I'm using XP Corp. Full ver. so I'm not sure if this will work or not. But hey, it is worth a shot?

1. Get 98 boot disk and format the C: Drive to erase everything.

2. Boot with XP CD and install OS.

3. Some where in the installation it will ask you to put a previous version of windows in the cd rom since you have upgrade.

winXP will let you format your HDD and install a clean version of windows. Many people had problems with upgrade from win9x to winXP. try a clean install.

I would do a clean install, but the actual WinXP installation, after it loads up all the drivers and says something like "Loading Setup" or something it freezes on that screen, i have to hit the power switch and if I try it again same thing everytime..the

Do you have "Virus Warning" enabled in your Bios? (It's usually an option in the Advanced settings menu.)

Turn it off. I know that atleast till Win98 installation would terminate and freeze half way if that was enabled. Havent really tried it on the newer systems so I dont know if it still has problems with it. But its worth a try.

You really need to tell us what motherboard, CPU, memory etc. you have. Give us the complete system specs. right down to the PS capacity. If you have a purchased system, what is the model number and manufacturers name. We can then give you some suggestions on how to solve your problem. The symptoms you are telling us about smell a lot like a bad stick of ram.

Maybe there's some kind of conflict with your hardware. Try setting your bios to failsafe defaults, and take out all extra pci cards(modem,sound,LAN,Firewire,USB,etc.) before you start the clean install. You could also check the microsoft compatability chart for your hardware.