New HD format

[Jase]

Just built a new system and got to the point of partitioning the new HD then formatting. The format got to 45% then seemed to freeze for about 20mins. I re-booted the PC but now on the DMI pool screen, I get Boot from CD/DVD, Press any key to boot from CD......Error operating system won't load.

[Tootech]

Hi Jase,

 

Can you post a little more info about your system, and version of Windows you are installing.

 

Can we assume that this is the first install of an OS on your new PC?

 

Have you tried rebooting from the CD/DVD and going through setup again?

 

Tootech

[Jase]

Thanks for the reply.

 

Its a Gigabyte P43 DS3L Mobo, Western Digital 250GB HD, 2GB Ram.

 

Its Windows XP and its a new install on new PC. The CD is in the drive and it boots up first before the HD.

[Tootech]

Thanks for the info Jase.

 

I guess with a new build there are many possibilities, lets go through the obvious ones first.

 

Can you check to see if the CPU fan is spinning

 

Do you know how to get into the BIOS - just to have a look around? Can you go to the Hardware Monitor page, normally in the Advanced Setup page - I'm looking for the CPU temperature, can let us know the temp.

 

It may be worthwhile resetting the BIOS and having another go at installing Windows. To do this, remove the BIOS battery for 2 - 3 minutes and put it back in - making sure your mains lead is removed first.

 

You will need to run the XP setup CD again, can you try to boot from it and run through the install process.

[Jase]

After about 5mins in the BIOS, the keyboard decides it doesn't want to work. Happens all the time.

 

Anyway, the CPU fan is spinning and the temp is 30C.

 

Going to remove & replace the BIOS battery and try installation again.

[Tootech]

That's, good, 30 degrees is about right, no problems there.

[Jase]

Same 'Error loading operating system occurs'.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

What exactly what does it say on the disk that you are trying to install from?

[Tootech]

Does this help?

 

Error Loading Operating System | WhoCares?

 

Quote:

 

"Go to the BIOS settings of your machine and change the translation method used to access the hard drive from the default setting “Auto” to “Large” (not LBA, not CHS!). Reboot and with some luck installation will pick up at the point where it aborted before"

 

The setting will probably be in the first BIOS screen, where you have a list of attached drives.

 

Seems to be the common cause for the fault you have.

 

Let us know.

[Jase]

What exactly what does it say on the disk that you are trying to install from?

 

It is a Dell re-installation disk but will install Windows XP SP2 on any PC.

 

Current status:

 

I fitted my old hard drive alongside the new HD. The old HD already has XP installed (should of just used this for the OS alone and the new drive for games etc). Anyway, booted up ok but when I have to enter my password to go to desktop, the mouse & keyboard (both USB) were inactive even though they were active during windows loading. This happened a couple of times then after about the 3rd boot up, the PC froze just before the password box appears with the message 'windows is starting up'. I give in!!!

 

I have tried booting from CD again and it worked up until the point when I had to agree to terms & conditions then guess what, the keyboard was inactive so I could not press F8 to agree.

[Goku]

Also, if Toot's article doesn't do the trick, then try the instructions provided in the below article and see if they help or not.

 

"Error Loading Operating System" Error Message When You Restart Your Computer During Setup

 

Let us know how it goes though. Good Luck.

 

-- Goku

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You say you built a new system but are trying to install the Dell re-installation disk.

 

This sounds like an OEM disk to me and once you have changed the hardware will be no longer applicable.

[Jase]

You say you built a new system but are trying to install the Dell re-installation disk.

 

This sounds like an OEM disk to me and once you have changed the hardware will be no longer applicable.

 

Its a brand new OEM disk with COA and key, not installed on any other PC.

 

I progressed bit further. I've partitioned 50GB of the 250GB HD and is presently formatting...fingers crossed.

Edited October 25, 2008 by Jase

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You stated earlier;

 

"It is a Dell re-installation disk but will install Windows XP SP2 on any PC."

[Jase]

I got it off eBay and the seller had 100% feedback. He stated that it is the full Windows XP version with SP2 and works on any PC.

 

I would use my old hard drive with WinXP but like I said earlier, when it gets to the password screen, the keyboard is inactive. I have tried twice since and the password screen appears without the password box, just 'Windows is starting up' with cursor/hourglass.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

You can't simply install an old hard drive containing XP to a new build, the system parameters will not match.

 

If the disk that you got was a full XP install cd and you are booting from the cdrom drive then what you are saying would not happen.

 

Go here and scroll down to "Steps to clean install XP" and read how to install XP properly.

 

XP Clean Install

 

If you can't do this then you have a dodgy XP disk.

[Tootech]

Did you change the BIOS setting for your hard drive?

 

Manufacturers like Dell often add a folder to the standard install CD for their own software, from memory it's called 'OEM', apart from that it is standard Microsoft. I did read somewhere that to use it on another type PC you have to tinker with the disc to remove the OEM folder. Just bringing it up as it might be part of the problem.

 

Also, I would reckon that any disc with COA/key that is branded Dell and bought from ebay will have come from a machine that has been scrapped, or may even still be in use, and may not activate.

 

Using a USB keyboard & mouse could be giving you some trouble during initial setup. At BIOS level they will work when the settings are enabled. The Windows install doesn't always have the USB drivers for the motherboard, especially the newer ones, so they may not work until all your board software is installed.

 

It would perhaps help to install using a PS2 mouse/keyboard if you have them, install all of your motherboard drivers and then swap over to USB.

 

Using your old XP hard drive may again cause you the same driver trouble.

[Jase]

Do you recommend that I do not use my old hard drive at all and concentrate on trying to install the WinXP disc to the new HD? On the 2 occasions I have tried to format the new HD with he new Win XP disc, it has reached 45% and is currently now at 11% and has been for about 40mins.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

A fresh install on any decent system of XP will take 40 minutes tops.

 

You can't install an old hard drive containing XP to a new build like I have said before as the hardware parameters will not match.

 

Please tell us EXACTLY what you did when trying to install this disk from Ebay please.

[Jase]

On a couple of occasions, the installation froze during the initial set up (partition manager was one occasion, can't remember the other two). Twice I have got to the point of agreeing to the terms & conditions but the keyboard was inactive so I could not press F8 to agree. On both occasions where the installation has reached the HD format status screen ( I partitioned the drive to use 50GB of the 250GB available for the OS), it has froze at 45% and the second time (and third time now) at 11%. Edited October 25, 2008 by Jase

[Guest Wolfeymole]

When installing XP and booting from the cdrom it should have said; "Press any key to boot from cd", did it do this?

[Jase]

When installing XP and booting from the cdrom it should have said; "Press any key to boot from cd", did it do this?

 

When I had CD drive to boot first it would do so automatically. It also did say what you have quoted above on a couple of occasions. It is booting from the CD drive but as I said in my last post, it has now stopped twice at 11% during the format partition stage. I have contacted the seller of the OS and he offered me a refund and I will purchase Win XP from a store tomorrow if you suspect (like I do now) that it is the OS disc.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

If this is a proper install then it will initially ask you to "Press any key to boot from cd"

 

When it asks again later into the install you must press nothing and just let it carry on.

 

If it is stalling at a given point then either the hard disk drive that it is installing to, or the CD disk, or the optical drive that you are installing from are faulty.

[Jase]

The optical drive was from my old PC and was working fine. The HD is a brand new Western Digital Caviar 250GB. Is your instinct the OS disc? The disc is mainly purple and was sealed in a green Windows Home Edition sleave with 'For distribution with a new Dell PC only' on the front. The seller states it will work on any PC & has 99.6% feedback.

[Tootech]

Hi Jase,

 

Can you confirm you have checked the BIOS and have made sure the drive type is set to 'Large' as per previous posts.

 

I think the best thing to do now is to check the drive is installed properly on your board. The easiest way to do it is to run the Western Digital bootable CD diagnostics.

 

Go here

 

WD Support > Downloads > SATA Hard Drives

 

choose your drive and follow the link to download the Data Lifeguard Diagnostics ISO file.

 

Burn it to CD and boot from it. You should be able to find the drive and run some tests on it - all being well it will be ok, confirming your BIOS can talk to it properly.

 

Of course, there is a question mark over your Windows CD, but I think the hardware needs checking first.

 

Let us know how you get on.