Can't re-install Windows XP

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markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#52737 7-Dec-2009 14:48

Hi,

Please forgive me for my ignorance if this question has already been asked, however I'm currently been trying to fix my cousins Dell Dimension E520. It has a western digital 80 gb SATA HDD and here lies my problem I believe.

When i was first given it to look at and it was booting from HDD it was saying file C:\windows\sytem32\config\system was missing or corrupt. So needless to say he had lost his disc that came with the PC. I tried to do a fresh install using my XP disc but whenever i got past the setup loading files to Setup is starting windows I got the dreaded Blue Screen Of Death with the error 0x0000007B. This meant I couldn't format the HDD. I managed to get a bootable CDROM to format the HDD but problem persisted. I then after closer inspection realised it was SATA HDD . The machine has no floppy drive so i have tried to streamline the drivers into Windows using Nlite but alas it hasn't worked same screen appears.

Could this be a viral problem or a dead HDD?

Any Help Would be appreciated or even if you could just lend me a lump hammer!!!

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8202 posts

Uber Geek

#280016 7-Dec-2009 15:20

Grab a LIveCD of a linux ISO and see what happens when you boot with that. You shoudl also be able to format the drive from it.

You say you manged to Format the HDD but It is still coming up with an Error?, it should be giving you a non-system dick message, if it is giving you anything else the format didn't properly complete,

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markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#280018 7-Dec-2009 15:23

If i let the HDD try to boot up the system freezes if this is any use to you

wellygary

8202 posts

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#280019 7-Dec-2009 15:31

Freezes how? a blinking cursor/blank screen , or some form of windows error message?

xpd

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#280021 7-Dec-2009 15:33

Unplug the HDD, boot off a live Linux DVD such as Ubuntu..if it still dies then its not the HDD but something else.....

Id try booting with hdd plugged in using something like Ultimate Boot CD - if that runs, then get it to run tests on RAM, HDD and a CPU burn in.

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markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#280027 7-Dec-2009 15:50

It just stops after it has loaded the bios settings

controller bus#00, device#1f, function#02: 02 prots, 02 devices
Port - 00: hard disk, WDC WD800jd
(this drive is controlled by the RAID BIOS)
port -01: CDROM, TSSTcorp DVD-/+RW

AHCI BIOS INSTALLED
INTEL(R) MATRIX STORGAE MANAGER OPTION ROM V6.0.0.1022 ICH8R
COPYRIGHT BLAH BLAH

then flashing cursor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have the ultimate boot disk you think it will flag up a problem I will run the test now

freitasm

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#280032 7-Dec-2009 16:12

If you have Windows XP SP2 or newer than it will have SATA drivers. It sounds more like a hardware problem though.

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markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#280035 7-Dec-2009 16:22

have used the boot disk and tested RAM etc all are fine
now to try linux

markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#280040 7-Dec-2009 16:44

Hi guys,

Sorry to be a pain the behind, ubuntu is now installed and working.

Why wont windows work then?

robjg63

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#280052 7-Dec-2009 17:14

If ubuntu is up and running fine (and give it a little while), then time for a 'fresh' install of XP.
Just make sure when it comes up with the disk format section near the start that you delete all the partitions etc then assign all the space to XP.

Sounds like you have probably proved the hardware is ok - unless XP is installing to a different faulty part of the disk - try some ubuntu disk test programs - I'm sure there must be some of them.

UPDATE: I did find this though (I can probably see why you you were going down the nlite path) - Interesting bit about BIOS settings - maybe that is your issue?):

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/241072-31-sata-install-question

Under bios it is very probable that you'll find three options for the SATA controller: Compatible (witch will work flawlessly [no F6] but you won't have hotplugh and NCQ), AHCI (you'll need a floppy or a windows XP installation CD with drivers included) and RAID (The same as AHCI but with the RAID software/firmware loaded)

In the latter two options you'll need a floppy (luck with the USB reader ) or a Windows XP modded CD. I've tried a tool called nLite wich may help you. You copy the contents of your WXP CD to a folder, ask it to add the drivers you downloaded from the MoBo manufacturer website and it will include them. It is even able to create an iso or record directly a new CD.
When booting with the modded CD, you will not have to press F6 anymore and you'll have a dedicated WXP CD for that motherboard. Then you'll be able to eventually forget about floppies...

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#280070 7-Dec-2009 18:02

robjg63:

Under bios it is very probable that you'll find three options for the SATA controller: Compatible (witch will work flawlessly [no F6] but you won't have hotplugh and NCQ), AHCI (you'll need a floppy or a windows XP installation CD with drivers included) and RAID (The same as AHCI but with the RAID software/firmware loaded)

This is your best option IMO.
Set the BIOS to Compatible or IDE Mode and not AHCI or RAID.

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Bee

730 posts

Ultimate Geek

#280083 7-Dec-2009 18:43

What version of windows XP are you trying to install? It will need to be SP2 at least or yes you will get problems like this...

If you still had the original message there was an easy-ish way to fix this...

Hard to tell, but a dying hard drive is also a definite possibility as has already been suggested...

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markdarbo

7 posts

Wannabe Geek

#280091 7-Dec-2009 19:03

Thanks for the help guys, Think we might have lift of Xp is now installing. I know never to count my chickens before they've hatched but its looking good 3 mins left until installed

THANKS AGAIN

OldRepublicJedi

53 posts

Master Geek

#280191 7-Dec-2009 23:05

Hi there, just curious to know if XP is installing using the SATA mode as compatibile or not? I have had the blue screen a LOT when trying to load XP on laptops with sata hard drives and it's always been because I needed to have SATA controller drivers on a floppy disc for windows xp setup to load (you get a prompt to press F6 when XP setup first boots off CD)....

robjg63

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#280239 8-Dec-2009 07:48

Yeh - C'mon markdarbo - did it work?
We are still holding our breath waiting for the news.....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

OldRepublicJedi

53 posts

Master Geek

#280242 8-Dec-2009 08:12

I am not holding my breath as if I waited this long I would be dead.. haha :)

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