Installing XP, shutdown at format screen

[Durks]

I have an old HP Compaq NC6000 Business Notebook. Was working fine until just recently then a strange error appeared when i tried to start it up saying a certain file was missing (cant remember what it was sorry) so i decided to pop in my XP disc for a fresh install. All was going well, setup files were copying over as normal until i came to the option to format the HDD and it suddenly shutdown. Tried the disc on another laptop, disc is OK, works fine. After trying it several times, still no joy so i bought another HDD, still the same thing happened. I then went on to buying a new charger and battery (most problems on laptops stem from the power supply, that much i know from experiance) but still no luck. Bought a new CMOS battery and replaced. No luck. Checked the temperature of the fan on the laptop and the CPU area as i tried to install XP but the temp was fine, still cold. Checked the Thermal paste on the heat sink, no problem there. For the life of me cant figure out why the laptop decides to shutdown at the format screen.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanx

[KenB]

Hi Durks and welcome to ExTS

 

Does this help at all ?

http://computershopper.com/storage/howto/install-a-new-hard-drive-in-five-easy-steps

[Durks]

Thanks for the welcome :)

Iv had a good read through the link. There isn't really much there to help me with my problem but thank you :)

Installing the HDD isn't the issue. Iv done a check on both HDDs on the HP Compaq NC6000 (the problem laptop) and the laptop im currently running. The HDD is being recognized and showing no errors/corruption/bad sectors. Iv even cloned this current HDD from this laptop to the HP Compaq NC6000 old and new HDD and tried to see if i could get some kind of response from the laptop that way but all i get is a black screen after the HP screen.

What i will do now though is check the HDD connector inside the laptop then ill get back to you.

Don't see how that could be faulty though.

Could a loose fitted or bent HDD connector cause an OS not to install or load data but still show up as OK on a HDD check?

Edited October 5, 2012 by Durks

[Durks]

Had a god look at the HDD connector, looks perfectly fine.

 

Suggestions for me to try anyone?

[KenB]

Hi

 

Can you connect the problem drive to another computer and format it from there ?

 

Once formatted run a chkdsk /f on the drive.

 

Is the XP CD an original or a copy ?

[Durks]

Yeah, iv done that with both drives. Nothing wrong with either of them (old drive or new drive).

 

The XP CD is original. Definitely not the disc. Runs fine on my other laptop.

Iv also tried a friends windows 7 disc but that shuts down the laptop too.

Also, just in case it ended up being a problem with the DVD drive, i tried installing XP and Windows 7 using an external DVD drive with and without the internal DVD drive connected. Still shutdown in the same place so its not that.

 

(currently running a MemTest, probably wont have anything to do with it but there's no harm in looking).

 

Any other suggestions?

Im all out....

Edited October 5, 2012 by Durks

[KenB]

currently running a MemTest

If you formatted the drive - how are you running Memtest ?

 

Try - just to test - installing Linux onto the drive.

See if that installs.

 

click here

[Durks]

Im running memtest off a boot disc, not the hard drive.

 

Its odd that you should say that, im currently in the middle of downloading an earlier version of linux now. I tried Ubuntu 12.04 but i got this:

 

This kernel requires the following features not present on the CPU: pae Unable to boot - please use a kernel appropriate for your CPU.

 

Coz its quite old.

 

Im not familiar with Linux so bare with me with the installation.

[Durks]

Ubuntu 10.04.4 LTS installed fine. Installed the wrong one though haha. The one without the graphical interface and i have no idea what im doing with it. Downloading the right one this time. Ill keep you updated.....

[Durks]

I had managed to install Ubuntu 11 and from there updated to 12.4. Im still learning with Linux so any help here i would really appreciate. Im unsure if i need to download any drivers or not as its not the same as windows. I cant just check the control panel to see if i have anything not installed. I have used the "Additional Drivers" App but it says nothing needs installing/updated although it does state in "system Settings" - "Details" that "Graphics"

 

Driver: Unknown

Experience: Standard

 

The laptop is running a little on the sluggish side (which it did not do with XP). Saying that it does only have 512 Ram. Loading times for programs take roughly 3 - 5 seconds and when generally just browsing through any windows with tabs, i can be looking at one part and see what im supposed to be seeing but if i select another tab, what im supposed to be seeing is kind of interlacing with what i was previously viewing (if that makes any sense). It has a 1.6 processor which from looking at the OS looks to be plenty as its not a massively graphical interface as opposed to something like windows 7. Can anyone tell me if it is drivers that i need or a RAM upgrade or both?

[Durks]

Found a similar video as to what happens to me when i try to install a windows OS but instead of hanging, it just shuts down the laptop

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKdK18soqpY

[RandyL]

Hi people.

 

Durk you said the CD was original but is it a full version of XP or a recovery disk?

 

Compaqs use recovery disks that are specific to a series of the model. So if these disks are from your other Compaq they will not work on a different Compaq unless it is the same series.

 

If your friends Windows 7 disks (notice I said disks and not disk) are also recovery disks they definitely won't work either.

 

As for cloning your newer laptops drive to your older laptop that too won't work. The two have completely different hardware.

 

This might be a case of you needing to use the recovery disks that came with your old laptop. After all Ubuntu installed just fine.

[Durks]

Its a full version of XP and i don't have the recovery disk. When i bought this laptop (second hand) i was given only a copy of XP pro.

 

(notice I said disks and not disk)

Sorry im a little tired, not sure what your getting at here...

 

As for cloning your newer laptops drive to your older laptop that too won't work. The two have completely different hardware.

I knew it wouldn't of worked properly but i was just trying to see if i could at least hit the windows loading screen but it didn't. Was just experimenting.

 

This might be a case of you needing to use the recovery disks that came with your old laptop. After all Ubuntu installed just fine.

Its a possibility. Now where would i find a Recovery CD?

 

Further news:

I managed to install roughly 90% of windows 98. It formatted the HDD, copied the files over etc but ....... then just after it restarted and it was finishing its final bits (installing drivers) it shutdown. Tried it 3 times.

[RandyL]

So much for my theory then. I was hoping that's all it was. I'm probably way off base here too but do you have any external devices connected? I wish I had more ideas to offer.

[KenB]

You said earlier that it worked ok on another machine.

 

Try this:

Take the hard drive out of the second machine and install the HDD from the problem machine.

 

Install XP onto the "problem" HDD in the second machine then transfer it to the problem machine.

 

It probably will not boot up ( different hardware ) so....... at this point do a Repair Install of the OS.

This will get around the problem of not recognising the hardware.

[Durks]

So much for my theory then. I was hoping that's all it was. I'm probably way off base here too but do you have any external devices connected? I wish I had more ideas to offer.

 

No external devices are ever left connected. I use 2 HDD caddy's (1 IDE & 1 SATA), an external dvd drive and a usb stick. They are used only when needed.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks for trying.

 

You said earlier that it worked OK on another machine.

 

Try this:

Take the hard drive out of the second machine and install the HDD from the problem machine.

 

Install XP onto the "problem" HDD in the second machine then transfer it to the problem machine.

 

It probably will not boot up ( different hardware ) so....... at this point do a Repair Install of the OS.

This will get around the problem of not recognising the hardware.

 

Now that's an idea :)

Why didn't i think of that! The most obvious ideas i always seem to miss :rolleyes:

Problem is the HP NC6000 runs on IDE where as this laptop runs on SATA. Iv just loaned out my IDE caddy for the night so i wont be able to try that until tomorrow.

[KenB]

Let's know how you get on :)