<div>
Test your memory with memtest <br />
You can download it here <a href="http://www.memtest.org/download/2.01/memtest86+-2.01.iso.zip" rel="ugc">http://www.memtest.org/download/2.01/memtest86+-2.01.iso.zip</a><br />
<br />
or find it on the UBCD <a href="http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html" rel="ugc">http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html</a><br />

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You can check Dell's website and see if there's an updated version of the bios. 
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This will sound silly, but make sure the disk is clean. I have seen issues like this before where a dirty disc can't be read, hence the BSOD. Clean it and try again. &nbsp;
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As the system won't boot, and Windows is not installed I can't run utilties via the OS. &nbsp;I do have a copy of UBCD so I'll try that. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Swappedsr: good suggestion but I formatted the disk about 6 times as I had the same experience as you did. &nbsp;...and I was certain that would fix the problem. &nbsp;Guess it goes to show we still can learn.
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Both memtest and the UBCD are live cds which the PC should boot from. You don't need the OS installed to run them.
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System had XP Home edition so was trying to reinstall that. &nbsp;After that bombing out about 3 times, I tried XP Prof. &nbsp;Same problem. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
There are two sticks of 128 MB of mem. &nbsp;Took one stick out and started install. &nbsp;Same problem. &nbsp;Swapped the stick I took out with the one that had remained in the system &nbsp;Same problem. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
There are 4 slots for memory. Right now sticks are in slot 1 and 3. &nbsp;Can it be moved to 2 and 4?
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What is the model machine you have? &nbsp;Is it DDR memory?
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It could also be the video card.<br />
Are you using onboard video or a slotted card?<br />

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What type of disk drive... I have seen this with SATA drivers for Windows 2003 Server and XP.....
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In spite of running several memory tests from UBCD the memory tested fine but replacing it was the fix. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Several of the the solutions offered did pertain to the problem (memory), So, I'm going to split points between those contributors who offered solutions in that directions as long as no one has any objects to that. 
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<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
On fresh Windows install I'm getting BSOD during the stage just after input of the product key. &nbsp;It happens are different parts of that stage though. &nbsp;I got the following stop codes:<br />
<br />
0X0000008E<br />
<br />
and this during another install attempt:<br />
0X0000007E <br />
<br />
and yet another one:<br />
0X000000C2<br />
<br />
I swapped hd. &nbsp;No luck. &nbsp;I believe the problem is the memory although the BIOS checks it out OK. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Any ideas/input?<br />
<br />
System details:<br />
Dell Dimension 4600 <br />
256 RAM
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On fresh Windows install I'm getting BSOD during the stage just after input of the product key.  It happens are different parts of that stage though.  I got the following stop codes:

0X0000008E

and this during another install attempt:
0X0000007E 

and yet another one:
0X000000C2

I swapped hd.  No luck.  I believe the problem is the memory although the BIOS checks it out OK.  

Any ideas/input?

System details:
Dell Dimension 4600 
256 RAM

Install bombing out with BSOD

The Microsoft Legacy Operating System topic includes legacy versions of Microsoft operating systems prior to Windows 2000: All versions of MS-DOS and other versions developed for specific manufacturers and Windows 3/3.1, Windows 95 and Windows 98, plus any other Windows-related versions, and Windows Mobile.

Microsoft Legacy OS

A personal computer is a general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities and price make it useful for individuals, and is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer time-sharing models that allowed systems to be used by many people, usually at the same time. Personal computers may be connected to a local area network (LAN), either by a cable or a wireless connection, and through that to the Internet. A personal computer may be a laptop computer or a desktop computer running an operating system such as Windows, Linux or Macintosh OS.

This topic area includes legacy versions of Windows prior to Windows 2000: Windows 3/3.1, Windows 95 and Windows 98, plus any other Windows-related versions including Windows Mobile.