Update on my woes...I'm stuck!

[algae]

Here's the latest....
After ok'ing through this installation in spite of the error messages I mentioned, the best I could do is get it to boot to the windows splash and then the screen would go completely blank.
I decided to try reinstalling again and had to try several times to get it to boot to the cd rom but somehow it eventually did it. I ran the install again and got this error:
"An error has been encountered that prevents setup from continuing. Setup failed to install the product catalogs. This is a fatal error. The setup log files should contain more information. It is the same error message at the one described here, albeit a slightly different situation:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q307153
For the hell of it I tried the resolution listed there but it said told me that it couldn't be done because the file was in use.
Wow I have never encountered these types of problems in trying to reinstall an OS. Would this have anything to do with me wiping out the partition before installing?
As usual guys I appreciate any help...
Thx
Gary

Btw there are 2 sticks of 256 DDR Ram in there. I tried booting with one or the other and in different slots but it didn't help. I did this before trying to reinstall again.

[rockpile]

Is this a clean install of XP home or pro and do you have the BIOS set to boot from the cd rom first?

[algae]

I deleted the C partition, created a new one and attempted to install fresh. Yes it's set to boot from the cd rom. The problems are occuring well into the installation routine.
Thx
G.

[JPMiller]

You should post a link to the original thread so we have a backround...this kinda splits things up too much.

[rockpile]

I agree JP is the C partition the only one on the hard drive and did you use fat32 or NTFS?

[excuzzzeme]

Some BIOS have AV block. Did you ensure it was off prior to install? As with other replies, check the partion table you may have to repart to get clean install.

[algae]

The drive is formatted as an NTFS. The AV is disabled in the bios. The latest is that I wiped the drive by writing 0's to it using the WD software. I also put in an old cd rom drive which I know works. I formatted the drive and started the reinstall. It didn't work. It copied the files to the point where it reboots for the first time. It gives an error: "exception c0000096 at address 75EEE707" and also something about "fffffe0b" and then starts a loop of rebooting. However I also noticed an error message that flashed on for a few seconds that said something about being low on virtual memory. Does that give us a clue?
Btw I also borrowed a Win XP cd from a friend just to see if it was a fault with the cd and again the same thing happened. It doesn't get to the part where it asks for the product key.
When I had the box apart to change the cd rom I checked all connections on everything including removing the video card and putting it back in. Gary

I'd suspect the hard drive, where the OS install routine is trying to use virtual memory to install with. It needs a heck of a big slice of hard drive to install.

Use a DOS based prog disk to troubleshoot the HDD. If that comes up clean, try troubleshooting the RAM.

Some DOS progs to try (run from floppies) include:

Ontracks Data Advisor The free one)

DocMemory

Hope this helps

Cheers
Mick

[JPMiller]

Did you run a WD diagnostic on the drive?

[algae]

Yes I ran the WD Data Lifeguard Tools. I did the full check and the report was that the disk was good.
I guess I can run Memtest on the memory also.

G.