Reformatting Issue

Hello all,

This is my first post on this forum, although I have read it many times to solve some of my computer issues, so thanks in advance for the past help and hopefully the future help.

Anyways, I'm currently in the process of reformatting a friends computer. I have an XP install disc, and inserted it before startup to have it boot from the CD. Oddly, it didn't and after a minute or so I instead was greeted with the typical windows welcome screen where it asked me to choose my user.....no splash screen where i can get into the bios or to tell me windows was loading or anything. While I thought it was weird, I continued with the XP install through windows, choosing for a new install with a reformat of the drive. It prompted me to restart so I did. What happened next is the problem. I'm guessing it is frozen at one of the pre-windows loading screens asking me for some input to continue the installation....the only issue is that I can't see whats happening. I've tried hooking up a different monitor but I still can't see anything.

I do think it is going through these splash screens because it is making all the typical computer startup noises (floppy disc load, hard drive spin etc.), they're just not showing up on my monitor. The bigger issue is now I can't even get back into Windows because it's wants to finish the installation.

I hope someone has gone through this before, since the only way I know how to fix things is when I can see what I'm fixing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

As they say Seeing is Believing!
Assuming that the Monitor is working & atleast gets to the System Post Screen?
Firstly have you been able to access Set-up/Bios & set the boot as 1/CD 2/Floppy (or HHD if no floppy) 3/HDD
Secondly are you wanting to do a fresh install? and what type of HDD's are in the computer, SATA or IDE? as you will need a instal disc for the Sata drivers.
Easiest way to get in to bios is to continuosly tap the delete key after you press the on
button.
Does the computer have just on-board video or does it have an add-on Video card? if it has 2 blue connectors then, I would suggest removing the AGP/PCI/PCI-e video & trying the on-board

Can you give us a bit more info as to the motherboard in the computer, ie: brand and model or atleast a model #
Regards
Jac

 

The first thing to do is get that bios to boot from the cd, then you can start over. You can't install Windows from within Windows. I'm gussing the reason you are having the hardware problems is that Windows can't locate the drivers.
Johanna