Installing Xp on a new Hard Drive! Help?

berkshiregaz

The hard drive in the kids pc was completely broken, I have replaced it with a 40GB sata one and am trying to reinstall XP from original XP Pro Disks.

However I am having real problems, to start with the keyboard works, but when it gets to the stage of accepting the terms of the License Agreement it stops, thereby not allowing me to select I Agree!

I have tried using the Keyboard ps2 plug, also using a PS2 to USB adaptor but the problem still remains.

I have also checked through the initial BIOS settings and Legacy Keyboard is enabled!

Has anyone got any advice before my head explodes?:(

B33fy

Is this the part where you have to press the F8 key?

Have read that with some keyboards you have to also press the F lock key to enable the use of F8, if that fails check usb legacy drivers are enabled (not available in all bios's)

berkshiregaz

Yes its the part where you have to press F8 key to agree, I cant seem to find an F lock key on either of my keyboards though! I have checked in the Bios and Legacy Drivers are enabled.

visidigi

OP is the HDD new?

You say its getting to the point where you get the DOS based license agreement screen and the keyboard is stopping to work.

By that account then, you can get into the BIOS on initial boot? (F2 or Del key usually).

We need to find out if its happening at a certain point - reboot the machine and press the CAPS LOCK to activate the light on the keyboard, watch that light and see if the light goes out whilst the system is going through the initial setup - feedback if it is.

Also, is the keyboard a particular brand? Does it have a dedicated row of Function keys or are they part of the row of numbers at the top of the keyboard?

berkshiregaz

Hiya
The HDD isnt new but does work when put in another computer, The function keys are seperate at the top of the keyboard. I have tried an IBM keyboard and a Compaq one.
The keys work at the initial power up, hence being able to get into Bios settings, the shift light stays lit until the screen comes up Windows Loading and then the agreement comes up.

Have tried swapping keyboards, using USB converter and using each one of the usb ports individually!

Thanks for any Help

B33fy

berkshiregaz wrote: »

Yes its the part where you have to press F8 key to agree, I cant seem to find an F lock key on either of my keyboards though! I have checked in the Bios and Legacy Drivers are enabled.

My Logitech keyboard has an F mode key, but looking at my old Microsoft keyboard it doesn't!

Do you have a key marked Fn?

visidigi

berkshiregaz wrote: »

Hiya
The HDD isnt new but does work when put in another computer, The function keys are seperate at the top of the keyboard. I have tried an IBM keyboard and a Compaq one.
The keys work at the initial power up, hence being able to get into Bios settings, the shift light stays lit until the screen comes up Windows Loading and then the agreement comes up.

Have tried swapping keyboards, using USB converter and using each one of the usb ports individually!

Thanks for any Help

The computer it works in...is that the one it came from?

And was it the primary drive in that machine?

There may be data causing a problem with initial write (also driver conflicts)

I would format, maybe consider clearing the MBR from the drive too and start afresh.

B33fy

Have you tried pressing the key with the windows symbol on it next to the ctrl key bottom left followed quickly by F8?

TakeThis

Does this PC have a make and model number? Was the original HDD SATA?

berkshiregaz

Thanks for the Replies The PC was a Packard Bell I extreme and the Original Drive was SATA too, I definately dont have a FN button and have tried the suggestions about the Windows key but still cant get it to work!

TakeThis

berkshiregaz wrote: »

Thanks for the Replies The PC was a Packard Bell I extreme and the Original Drive was SATA too, I definately dont have a FN button and have tried the suggestions about the Windows key but still cant get it to work!

You left out the model number.