Laptop reformat freezes on "Setup is starting Windows"

[Nubhubbins]

So I have an old Compaq Presario with Windows 98 loaded on it.   I am trying to reformat the HD and put windows XP on it, but I am having trouble. I dont know all of the little specifications on it, but it does meet the requirements for XP.

Heres what I'm doing.

I put in the XP disk, and restart the computer.  It boots from the disk and the setup screen initiates.  It starts running through a bunch of processes, then goes to "Setup is starting Windows". This is where it get hung up.

I tried pressing f5 when it asks about a "Third Party HAL...something about a RAID"  yada yada, and then selecting the "standard PC with...i486" option. The same problem exists.

Any clues or ideas to get around this?  If you need more information just let me know.

Thanks.

[caHarkness]

Download a bootdisk from www.Bootdisk.com,
(Preferably a Windows ME bootdisk), and use the
program to format a floppy.. (The program autom-
atically formats the floppy and makes a bootdisk).

Boot up the Compaq Presario with the floppy you've
just made.. (With the Windows ME bootdisk creator).
The computer should boot into MS-DOS mode from
there.

Type in the command prompt:
A:\fdisk.exe

From there, select the "Delete partitions"
menu option.. (It should be 3.) Remove any
current partitions.. MS-DOS, HFPS, NTFS, Non-DOS
etc.

Restart the computer booting from the CD-ROM
and follow the onscreen instructions..

I highly doubt a Notebook, Laptop uses SCSI
and RAID features.. so do not press F5/F6.
And one thing to make sure, is that the CD-ROM
drive is not damaged, nor is the CD-ROM damaged.

Hope that helped.

[Nubhubbins]

Well, I actually was talking to someone about this last night who gave similar advice.  I didnt have a floppy drive but I was able to boot up in DOS mode and do the fdisk thing anyway.

I am pretty sure I took everything out (partition-wise), as now when I boot it up with no CD is says that there is "No operating system" on the computer.  However, I still cannot get the loading software to get past "Starting up windows".

I have tried this with a windows xp CD and a windows 2000 CD.

[squall_01]

I would find out what brand of harddrive it uses an download an formater for it then run xp. 

[Nubhubbins]

I would find out what brand of harddrive it uses an download an formater for it then run xp.

Ok, well I am open to try anything.

First, I cannot boot my computer up all the way anymore, since I removed the partitions.
So, how would I go about downloading a formatter and using it on this laptop?

Second, how can I figure out what harddrive I use if I cannot boot up? Crack it open and look?


Thanks. 

[caHarkness]

Try this before finding out your hardrive.
One question, does it boot into the BIOS?

If so, booting it from the CD-ROM will have to
work. You can do this by either selecting "Boot
Menu", an option found commonly.. Or you could
change the boot order so the CD-ROM is first.

Hopefully that should work.

[Nubhubbins]

Yes it boots into BIOS, but not into the operating system.  IF i put in a XP or 2000 CD, it will boot into that.

So you are saying I need to find out what hard drive I have (how do I do that), and then download a formatter for that brand onto a CD and boot that disk?

[patio]

Correct.
The DLoadf file will create a bootable CD.
Obviously you will need to DLoad it on another machine.
All HDD manuf. offer these utilities FREE.

[Nubhubbins]

Alright I have the Hitachi hardrive boot CD in my comp, and it booted up. Everything seems to be working fine, but I guess im not sure what to do from here. There is a features tab at the top with some options regarding changes to acoutstic level, power mode, chache settings, etc..

[Nubhubbins]

Wait, I Dl'd a different program, and now i have the option of erasing the disk. I tried doing this but it says I am trying to test a non HGST HDD, and the program is only designed to work with HGST DD's.

Guess Im still workin on it.

[Fed]

Heres what I'm doing.

I put in the XP disk, and restart the computer.  It boots from the disk and the setup screen initiates.  It starts running through a bunch of processes, then goes to "Setup is starting Windows". This is where it get hung up.

Can you describe what happens at this point for us?
Looking at windowsreinstall.com I can't see a screen that says "Setup is starting Windows".
Check it out. http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/installxpcdnewhdd/indexfullpage.htm

[Nubhubbins]

Alright.

I put in windows XP CD (tried windows 2000 as well) and the computer boots from the CD.

A blue screen appears with "Windows Setup" at the top.   On the bottom I can see the program installing a bunch of stuff.  It goes through this process for about 3-5min, and then at the bottom it says "Setup is starting Windows". 

This is where it just sits there.  I no longer hear the CD-ROM drive running, and nothing happens.  Ihave left it for several hours like that with no change.  I have run the program dozens of times.

I have tried changing BIOS confiurations. No good.
I have deleted the partitions with fdisk. No good.
I have tried wiping the HD with Darik's Boot & Nuke. No good.
I have tried erasing HD with a Hitachi HD boot disk. No good.
 
I am at a loss.

[Fed]

Sorry I just added an edit to my previous post while you were posting, can you tell us at what point it stops?
Perhaps your computer doesn't support shutdown via the operating system, did you try rebooting it at that 'freeze' point?

[Nubhubbins]

It freezes right between the "Setup now prepares your computer for install" (second picture) and "From this menu press ENTER to begin the install" (third pic).

After the second pic, a bunch of processes start flipping through on that bottom bar, and then it reads "Setup is starting Windows" on the same white bar at the bottom.

At this point, nothing works on my keyboard, so I have to hold down the power button to shut down and start again.

[Fed]

So you get to the 3rd screen right?
You push enter and nothing happens right?
(Do you give it some time to respond)