Windows XP
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Blank screen after "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration"
I've just upgraded my PC and moved the hard drive across from my old PC. When I switch the computer on, Windows does not start (not even in safe mode), it just reboots when Windows XP starts to load.
So I thought I would try reinstalling Windows on the top of the existing version, but when I boot from the Windows XP Pro setup CD, I get as far as "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration", and then nothing, just a blank screen.
I've tried a different CD, but I still get the same thing. And I can load and install Linux with no problem.
Any ideas?
So I thought I would try reinstalling Windows on the top of the existing version, but when I boot from the Windows XP Pro setup CD, I get as far as "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration", and then nothing, just a blank screen.
I've tried a different CD, but I still get the same thing. And I can load and install Linux with no problem.
Any ideas?
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Yes, you're right. When I unplug the IDE hard drive, setup runs fine. I've als o got an IDE to Sata adapter, and I've even tried connecting the IDE drive as a Sata drive, but still it freezes.
I'll try updating the BIOS.
Another idea I had was to try a more recent Windows CD, one with SP2 already installed. Do you think this might be more compatible with recent hardware? The problem is, I don't really want to buy another copy of Windows when I have already paid for one.
I'll try updating the BIOS.
Another idea I had was to try a more recent Windows CD, one with SP2 already installed. Do you think this might be more compatible with recent hardware? The problem is, I don't really want to buy another copy of Windows when I have already paid for one.
In the two cases I've seen this it didn't matter if it was XP SP1, XP SP2, Win2K, or Win98, they all had trouble loading. In my friend's case, he had Windows installed on it months ago, ran Linux for a couple months and then tried to go back to Windows and that is when it screwed up.
Got any HD diagnostics you can run on it? Drive under warranty at all?
Got any HD diagnostics you can run on it? Drive under warranty at all?
Thanks. I've upgraded the BIOS and it has solved the problem.
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I have installed hundreds of instances of XP on dozens of different configs but it was only today that I had this problem. After four hours of swapping everything bar the motherboard and hard drive, updating motherboad BIOS and updating the firmware of the optical drives I had to hand I tripped over this post.
The most annoying thing is the hard drive and motherboard both seem to be fine except for this issue! :)
Motherboard: GA-8SIML-H
Hard disk: Maxtor Fireball 3
OS: Windows XP Pro with SP3 slipstreamed
Sadly unlike jpneal01 a BIOS update failed to resolve the issue and in the end I have simply swapped the hard drive. (the old drive is a little meagre by todays standards in any case!)
The most annoying thing is the hard drive and motherboard both seem to be fine except for this issue! :)
Motherboard: GA-8SIML-H
Hard disk: Maxtor Fireball 3
OS: Windows XP Pro with SP3 slipstreamed
Sadly unlike jpneal01 a BIOS update failed to resolve the issue and in the end I have simply swapped the hard drive. (the old drive is a little meagre by todays standards in any case!)
Windows XP
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Microsoft Windows XP is the sixth release of the NT series of operating systems, and was the first to be marketed in a variety of editions: XP Home and XP Professional, designed for business and power users. The advanced features in XP Professional are generally disabled in Home Edition, but are there and can be activated. There were two 64-bit editions, an embedded edition and a tablet edition.