Formatting probs

Wesker

Anyone got an idea what might be causing this problem? Hubbys computer has been acting a bit strange recently, games crashing back to desktop etc, that had been playing ok before. So i decided to format for him. He has an 40gb hd as main drive and also an 80 gb so i thought i'd swap them over and use the bigger drive as the main one.
Started up computer with WinXP cd in, formatted ok, but when it gets to the bit where its copying files before installation it keeps stopping and saying 'cannot find xxx file' It doesnt seem to be any particular file either, keeps stopping on many different ones.
Turned computer off and swapped hard drives again but still getting the same problem, i cant even install Windows now
I've tried 2 different WinXP discs also so thats not the problem. Any clues???

Mr_Skint_2

If you formatted the drive before formatting with the XP disc you would have
deleted the reinstallation folder off the hard drive that where the XP disc points to
to verify the installation.

Or youve accidently deleted the same files off your drive partition.

This is all a maybe as I cant tell for sure

Chippy_Minton

I would suspect some sort of memory problem. Run Memtest86. If an initial run of the program reports bad memory, see the section on Troubleshooting Memory Errors for ways of determining which DIMM/SIMM has the failed.

frak

I've seen this type of thing a number of times over the many thousands of pcs i have installed. Almost always a memory issue, particularly if it always gets stuck at the same point. Ther eis a slim chance it is the cd drive but its highly unlikely

frak

Wesker

Ah i remember running memtest on it last year when we were having problems, and it gets stuck halfway and wont complete :-/ Will try some different ram in it.

Wesker

Ok tried some different ram that i know is ok, but still getting the same problem. Also tried memtest on this ram but still getting stuck. I know this ram is good as i ran memtest on it in another comp What can be stopping memtest running if its not bad ram?

Mr_Skint_2

frak wrote:

I've seen this type of thing a number of times over the many thousands of pcs i have installed.

Sorry but that is just one funny blow yer own trumpet quote... :rotfl:
:beer: :beer: :beer:

1purplefairy

Try a different memmory testing app.

Search for one on google, there should be plenty available. If another app says its buggered then it probably is.

Try another CD rom if you have one. Try cleaning the cd's too.

Mr_Skint_2

I have to say if you read the OP they say, They cant find xxxfile that is usually a good
indication that the install files have gone missing as they also say that they have swapped drives, well if its an OEM disk you sometimes wont find the install files that way aswell, also they also say they formatted before using format from the XP Disk install disk, so there needs to be a clear set of criteria to work from.

First Off Are They Using an OEM Disk
Are they Using A Restore Disk
How was the PC formatted

frak

Mr. Skint it wasnt meant to be a blow your own trumpet, more an example of the fact that i have seen it many times, poorly worded i accept, however i can do without your snidey digs when i am trying to help someone. As you are the fountain of all knowledge i'll refrain from posting any more help on these forums and just concetrate on jobs i get paid for when sorting out these types of problems. I'll leave the rest to you

Mr_Skint_2

frak wrote:

Mr. Skint it wasnt meant to be a blow your own trumpet, more an example of the fact that i have seen it many times, poorly worded i accept, however i can do without your snidey digs when i am trying to help someone. As you are the fountain of all knowledge i'll refrain from posting any more help on these forums and just concetrate on jobs i get paid for when sorting out these types of problems. I'll leave the rest to you

What snidey digs, you want to get a sense of humour.... :rotfl: