HELP! Can't Install windows but linux will work!!


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I just formatted one of my comps and now when i try and install windows 2000 or xp they each freeze at a certain point, i try linux and it works! i hate linux and i can't get it to work so i need win2k or xp to work. someone hELP please!!!!

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Be happy to help you, but the forum needs more info before it can really be of service to you. Where exactly does it freeze? Also, and this is what I suspect, is your hardware on the 2x/XP HCL (you can track the HCL down on microsoft.com). If you got a really exotic ethernet card or sound card, that could easily be causing the problem. Try stripping your PC of all the unneccesary components and have another shot. Another thing to try is copying the CD contents to your HD and running it off there, or use both in conjuction. It's like trying to figure out what's causing your safety switch to trip, turning appliances off one-by-one until you figure out what's causing the problem. Good luck with it!

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You know the cool thing about techno-lingo is keeping is simple for the general public. Watch some tech tc and let's keep it simple for people under par please. :) i know they will appriciate it.

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Qarth, gimme a break, yes, I got into the tech talk but who's to say this guy is under par? If he doesn't understand something about he'll tell me. Besides, this forum is aimed at people with moderate knowledge for computers, so again, spare me the condescending speech, it's not like I'm intentionally trying to confuse him!

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Yeah, when you do that it will just return to the A: prompt, so that musn't be doing the trick. Where does the installation fail? Does it give a message? You could also try going into FDISK and do the spring clean thing, delete all partitions and then restart 2k/XP setup so as the installation creates a new raw setup partition.

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I had this same problem when trying to install Windows 98 SE on my desktop system. I called Dell tech support and they made me go through the process of formatting individual addresses. I don''t remember how to do it or what it's called but maybe someone who hadn't thought of this can explain it better.

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What BananaMan said is good advice. You should check the HCL --the Hardware Compatibility List on the MS website. If your install still fails, you need to do a slow "from dos" format. None of this "format /q" crap; "format C:" will check for bad blocks and mark them so they are not used. Also with linux, are you doing a quick format, or a thorough one? I have had a similar problem where bad blocks were the culprit.

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When worst comes to worst, you need to isolate your problem. Take out some of your unneeded hardware, if it still fails, take out more. If you get down to just your hard drive and cdrom, then you know it's your hard drive because your cdrom works. If your hard drive is the problem, try swapping it with a different one. If it still fails, then it could very well be a bios-related problem. I know this suggestion involves lots of unneeded trial-and-error, but it's a last resort, sure-fire way to solve your problem.

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Even if you've had XP or 2k on there before it's still worth checking the HCL, sometimes these problems can just surface. What someone above said was a good idea too, if you're computer was built by a big name (ie. Gateway, Dell, Compaq, etc.) give them a call and look at their website for Flash BIOS upgrades and such.

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I dont know what this worked but it did:

After the Win2k installation failed the C: was formatted to NTFS

I put in the Win98 boot disk and ran fdisk

I deleted the non-dos partition

I exited and rebooted

then ran fdisk again and make the partition, rebooted

Did format c:

ran fdisk /mbr

ran smartdrv

went to e: (cd-rom)

went into i386 dir

typed winnt

WORKED!!

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