Problems installing WinXP, 2K

[ZanatosFox]

Hello,

I am trying to update my sister's computer by installing Windows XP, and have encountered a strange problem. I can boot from the CD and it unpacks the files and drivers and everything, but when it says starting windows when its going to the install screen, i get a blue screen and have to restart. I have also tried windows 2000 and it does the same, windows ME and 98 will install fine. She has a Dell dimension with a Celeron 400mhz processor, i am certain the computer will handle XP as i have installed it on lesser machines in the past. If anyone has any idea what might be going on i'd appreciate some feedback.

 

[n0cmonkey]

My crystal ball is broken.

I'm guessing ram though.

 

[spherrod]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
My crystal ball is broken.

I'm guessing ram though.

:thumbsup:

 

[ZanatosFox]

I've got some more information on the nature of the problem. The error code when i get the blue screen is: Stop 7B, INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE. Perhaps WinXP and 2k arent agreeing with the IDE controller?

 

[Abzstrak]

your booting from the cd and formatting the machine right?

 

[ZanatosFox]

Yes, that's right im booting from the CD, but i cant even make it to the part where you format the hard drive, it crashes before that.

 

[MrChad]

Did you test the RAM with Memtest?

 

[TapTap]

Like this

 

[salaku]

Try a different media if available. Or try to swap memory sticks if available.

 

[ZanatosFox]

Well, i know that this topic is a bit old by now but I thought i'd give it an update anyway.

Yes i have tried with different ram, i took ram from my computer and tried with that, and still the same. I have also tried to swap hard drives, and still the same, it seems like the problem is more with the IDE controller maybe.

TapTap: it sounds similar to the problem you posted a link to but not quite identical.

I did get XP to install at one point by updating from a windows ME install but i had to install it on a secondary partition, and once it was up and running it was running very poorly.

Anyway, the way it worked out, she needed it back before too long so i just put 98SE on it for now. I'm certain i could have solved the problem, or at least figured out exactly what was causing it, with some more time and effort but she told me not to bother with it. I kinda wish she hadn't said that cause now it's going to bother me a bit. Oh well.

Thanks for the replies