XP pro install - 39 mins remaining.

[kerbain]

Hi all, Ive scoured the internet and I can find lots of problems that come close to whta Im having but non of the solutions worked so far, maybe somone can help

My problem began with my own stupidity. I have a Zalman water cooling resorator which looks very pretty and all but only really works well if you switch it on before you start playing ....... need I say more.

Anyway after this happend and the machine switched itself off It wouldnt boot back into windows. Having just installed windows I figured it wouldnt hurt to reinstall. It copys the files (everything in the bios is ok) and then restarts, then when the xp install window comes up it says 39 mins remaining in the bottom corner then everything frezzes. When I restart I see the xp loading screen then it goes to a blue screen that says. Please wait... Resuming setup, but it never gets any further. Ive disabled everything in the bios and taken all the cards out. Ive tryed other mobo's, proc's, mem and drives and EVERYTHING and still.... 39mins remaning.

P.S. All the parts there were in the original blow out are still working. Ive tested them all on other machines..

Thanks for any help. Kerbain

[brad]

Are you doing a "dirty" install or did you partition and format?
brad

[kerbain]

Ive formatted (quick) and the long one. Ive tryed deleting the partision all together and making a new one too any ideas?

[teststrips]

suggestions

set bios to failsafe defaults
bios update

does this only happen with the zalman thingee or everyting... and your POSITIVE that the CPU works elsewhere.

One other thing... very likely could be a RAM compatibility issue. The DOS part of the winXP install runs at 16bit... when it reboots and loads the more graphical part it runs on a 32 bit kernel.... I've seen many ram compatibility/timing issues cause problems only in the 32 bit relm.

You could also try Linux to see If you might have a dirty/broken XP install disk. There is a version that runs completely from a CD called Knoppix, that would be a wonderful way to test the machine.

[kerbain]

Thanks for that, Loads of stuff I havent tryed or thought of there, Im at work at the mo but Ill give it a try as soon as I get home.

Thanks again, I really really appreciate it. I dont know how long I can go on without a computer . If you have any other ideas please let me know but Ill give all them a go in the morning.

Thanks again, Kerbain

[kerbain]

Oh forgot to say....
Yes the chip does still work, Mobo has temperature cut out on it and I think that saved the day but Ive had it in 3 other machines and not a problem. Its a 2500 Barton.
The Zalman thing is a water cooler, I put the fan back on at one point but the temperature only got higher so I dont think thats causing the problem (so long as you switch the pump on

[kerbain]

Just wanted to say thanks teststrips things are all up and running again. Turns out failsafe sorted everything, Although things are running a bit slower now so I think Ive got to get the settings just right

anyway this was my first post here and the only place I got an answer. Thanks again, Phil.

[teststrips]

glad to hear things got sorted out for you!!!! I'm a little biased, but I think this is a great site too!