Having a problem installing Windows

[Gig-O-Ram]

Ok...I just got a HDD (WD 160GB ATA100) from Newegg that is for my wife's computer, and I have it installed and ready to go, but I'm having a problem installing Windows. I don't know if it makes a difference, but the drive came with a jumper set on the "Cable Select" setting, but if the drive is going to be a single/master, apparently no jumper is required. I left it on the Cable Select.

First, I did the format and when it was done I got a message that the partition could not be formatted. It showed almost all of the drive plus an extra 8MB partition. I set it again for another format (this time I did the quick format) and then all seemed good, and I thought it would be good to go for a simple Windows install.

I have a Windows XP Pro install CD that I've had for a long time, and have in fact used it on my own computer and one other I put together. So, I'm not exactly installing genuine Windows as far anyone would be concerned. The setup started and I thought it would run to completion, but I got a blue screen message that said something about setup not being able to finish due to an error. The first one I got said "Page_Fault_In_Nonpaged_Area". I've seen the screen a few times and have gotten different error messages, and it shows a physical memory dump.

I have gotten as far as the Windows Setup screen, but it doesn't get very far. I got to the part where it shows "installing devices" once, but then it failed again. I get an error log that shows "setup could not resister the OLE Control C:\Windows\System32\saenh.dll files are not being found and a load library that can't be found. It also says something about a signature (which I'm guessing refers to the CD Key) either can't be found or is invalid...and stuff saying fatal error. Could this be because the Windows CD is corrupt, or has been used too many times before?

Also, since the setup is not complete, it keeps trying to run whether the CD is in the drive or not, and I can't get out of it. Is there a way I can reformat the drive and maybe start over? Since I got that odd format message to begin with, could there be a problem with the drive?

Sorry, I know this is a lot, but can anyone help?

[Capper]

Is the system overclocked at all? Do you know if the system is stable to begin with? Also, check the disk you are using for scratches and smudges.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Originally Posted by Capper

Is the system overclocked at all? Do you know if the system is stable to begin with? Also, check the disk you are using for scratches and smudges.

No - the system has never been overclocked (I don't think it can be). It has been stable until recently when it seemed like some kind of spyware got into the system with the original hdd, and the drive started having issues with failing all together or the system would fail and would need to be restarted. But the restart solution started working less and less, which is why I got the new drive, with the hope that I could just install windows on a new drive and the system would be good to go again.

Edit= I just looked at the disc itself, and it looks like it's seen better days.

[Hitman]

Sounds like you have Windows XP disc issues. If your WinXP disc doesn't have SP2 included your going to run into the 130gb HD limit. That could be what’s messing up your format.

My legal suggestion is to buy a new copy of XP w/SP2. If you buy it now you will get a vista upgrade coupon.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Originally Posted by Hitman

Sounds like you have Windows XP disc issues. If your WinXP disc doesn't have SP2 included your going to run into the 130gb HD limit. That could be what’s messing up your format.

My legal suggestion is to buy a new copy of XP w/SP2. If you buy it now you will get a vista upgrade coupon.
Please refrain from using black on grey; it makes your post hard to read.

The disc I have is WinXP Pro w/SP1...old, I know, but it's what I have. I was going to try to download SP2 once I got Windows going, like I did on my machine, but obviously, that's not going to work.

I have thought I should just buy a new copy of XP SP2, and then try the install again, but I'm considering an RMA for the drive and get another one, and then start fresh.

When you said black on grey, do you mean my actual post, or my sig?

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Gig-O-Ram

The disc I have is WinXP Pro w/SP1...old, I know, but it's what I have. I was going to try to download SP2 once I got Windows going, like I did on my machine, but obviously, that's not going to work.

I have thought I should just buy a new copy of XP SP2, and then try the install again, but I'm considering an RMA for the drive and get another one, and then start fresh.

When you said black on grey, do you mean my actual post, or my sig?

Sorry that wasn't ment for you, thats what happens when I do too many things at once.

I wouldn't RMA the Drive just yet. I had the exact same issues you are having when I tried to use a Win XP disc that didn't have any SP's. Get a good copy of WinXP or slipstream SP2 into it and try it again.

Another option would be to partition the drive and install windows on a smaller partition, and then you can partition the rest of the drive once SP2 is installed.

Quakindude and I had the discussion about SP1 supporting larger drives already. He came to the conclusion that SP1 didn't provide support until later.

[gvblake22]

Did you delete any partitions that were on the drive and create a new one to format and install windows on or did you just hit enter on a partition that already happened to be there for some reason?

I had a windows disk that must have been scratched or something (it looks fine though) but everytime I try to reformat and install with that disk it freezes or gets a BSOD. My other two windows install disks work perfectly though. So I'd say it sounds like a messed up disk rather than your new HDD messing up. Just for kicks, you could also try moving the jumper to Master and see what happens...

[Blondie]

Try switching the jumper as was mentioned. Next, go to western digital and download the data lifeguard tools, you should be able to format the drive using that.

Correct me if Im wrong, but even if he's using a 160 gig drive with SP 1, it still should see there is a HD in there, just not report the correct size? I'm only running XP sp1 in this computer, I have a 160 and 200 gig drive, both are seen fine.

I also think you may have something else going on. How much ram do you have? Also how many sticks? When I built a computer for my stepson, his mobo had a bad Dimm 0, putting the ram in another slot fixed the error.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by Blondie

Correct me if Im wrong, but even if he's using a 160 gig drive with SP 1, it still should see there is a HD in there, just not report the correct size? I'm only running XP sp1 in this computer, I have a 160 and 200 gig drive, both are seen fine.

I believe SP1 contained the fix to add support for large capacity drives, so he should be good to go. But regardless, I think he should at least be able to format the drive.

[Blondie]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

I believe SP1 contained the fix to add support for large capacity drives, so he should be good to go. But regardless, I think he should at least be able to format the drive.

That's what i thought. The drive should show as something.