Resolved Unable To Install Win XP Pro.SP2 On Compaq Presario

I tried to install Win XP Pro Sp2 on a Compaq Presario 5000 series. Model 5BW220, with A Maxtor 120Gb.HDD, P-3 1.33GHz. 133MHzFSB. which originally had Win ME installed. Everything started to load fine, then it froze I restarted and got a dual boot screen with Windows XP Professional Setup and just below it Windows. When I clicked on the Windows it booted into ME so I did a low level format using Power Max V.4.09 diagnostic tool. Every time I tried to install XP Pro Sp2 it boots from the cd, configures the machines hardware. The next screen says Windows Setup in the top left corner but the rest of the screen is a blue color with no writing at all and at the bottom in the grey taskbar I see the xp files loading. The next screen that shows is the screen where you choose to Install XP, repair, quit setup etc. I'll hit the enter key to start the install but there is no response. I tried both keyboards I have and both work fine. Now I can't even get ME to install properlyeven after I fdisk. It ME installs but when you click on the start button no menu pops up. Any suggestions on how I can get either OS to install I would Prefer WinXP Pro Sp2 to be installed because it's a birthday present I gave to my stepson.

 

Finnally got ME to install after 5 tries. I do not know if it was resetting the BIOS to default settings or not, but still have the mouse and keyboard intermittently stop responding. The only good thing about ME is that if you have to manually shut down and restart it lets you pick up the install where it was in the install process. this was not happening with XP Pro. Will try again to install XP Pro later. If there are any suggestions let me know.

 

Doesn't that depend on how the machine was booted for the install ? I booted ( from power off ) directly to the XP Pro CD and it went right over top of 98SE just like it had always been there. And carried everything ( or most everything ) right along with it.

I believe I installed XP SP2 the same way.

Also If you attempt to put 98SE over 98FE and boot from the HD it will also create a second Windows Folder ( ie: C:\Windows001 ). Which can cause pains you know where But if booted to a floppy it will ( usually ) go right over the previous version just fine. AS LONG AS no real serious conditions exist.

That also goes for a repair install of an version of 98.

But in either case the USER MUST pay attention to the install path to be sure it does go into the existing Windows folder. It is not as all cut and dried as I sometimes make it out to be.

That my dear fellow member(s) goes for ANY version of 98 or XP.

BillyBob

 

I've never tried installing any OS by starting within windows but my guess is that those that end up with a dual boot system (no matter how they start the installation) probably end up that way because of the reason BillyBob gave.

I'll hang my hat on that one.

 

Other than the initial install of Win95b ( OSR2 ) I have not formated this HD yet. Actually this 80gig HD is a COPY of 98SE on a 40gig ( the one that started with 95B ) on another machine. Then upgraded to XP Pro.

But when I first booted this machine with the new HD I DID NOT boot it to the HD the First time. I booted to the Floppy and ran the install/re-install from the SE CD.

I believe that is quite correct. That is the way I understand it too.

Going from 95B to 98FE THE FIRST time was where I made my mistakes and I did wind up with both a C:\Windows and a C:\Window001 folder on the C: drive.

You can bet your last dollar on the fact that I have been VERY CAREFUL since.

But, you know what I see is going on here ? And I like it. I see a discussion about different ways of doing things and winding up with what we AS THE USERS are satisfied with.

I can not comment at all on that part.

BillyBob

 

I used fdisk on every try so I'm not sure if resetting the BIOS to default settings is what finnally did the trick but I still had the problem of the mouse and keyboard not responding sometimes during the installation process prompting a restart during that process. I want to perform a clean installation of XP which I have done many times in the past only now I have that mouse and keyboard problem. I do not want to have to restart the process over and over again. Any suggestions on why I have this problem. If I start the XP installation process and the mouse and keyboard stop responding can I reboot the machine and pick up the process at the point where I had to reboot and not have any problems with the installation. I have performed a clean installation of XP with an exsisting OS(as a matter of fact ME) already installed on many machines without any problems. I just inserted the XPCD in the CD-ROM and rebooted and everything installed fine. My concern is the Mouse and Keyboard they work fine most of the time but just stop responding during installations. I tested both mouse and keyboard on another machine and they seem OK. Do I need Intel Application Accelerator and if it's installed will it mess up the motherboard? This was my machine that I purchased on January 15, 2001 and I gave it to my stepson in April 20, 2002. Also I failed to mention that it only has 512Mb. of RAM.

 

I still only have ME installed. In XP Pro stiil can't get past the Windows Setup screen then the process freezes. If I try installing the disk while ME is running the mouse and keyboard lock up during Preparing Installation phase of the process. Any suggestions?

 

USB mouse and keyboard?

 

First answer and work with Newt, he must have a plan and is aware of usb keyboard/mouse problems and kinks.

Afterwards, here's my two cents worth...

Update your keyboard and mouse with the drivers on the compaq site that are multi-os compatible ie; for winme/winxp/win2000 rather than ones that are for winme alone. This may help or not but it's worth a shot.

Where's the log file xp leaves when an install burps? Perhaps reading this log will offer a clue as to what the problem is?

You could copy the appropriate files needed for the install onto your harddrive if it is large enough. This skips any problems you may be having with read/writes from a fussy cd/dvd player.

 

Compaq PS\2 Mouse and Compaq USB Keyboard both came with the computer and never needed drivers to function. It is a Compaq Presario 5BW220 one of them bundle packages (Computer, Monitor, Keyboard, and Mouse). Purchased January 15, 2001 from Sears. I tried my keyboard and mouse and it still stops responding durring the process.

 

I was trying to perform a clean installation not an upgrade. So the drivers might not be of any use. Unless I install them and try to upgrade. I did a Low Level format with Power Max. When that installation failed. On the advice of a Compaq Tech. I used the Compaq HD Erase Tool, attempted a clean install still the same problem. After each of the above process I tried the upgrade process and ran into the same problem. I reinstalled Win ME and ran the Compatability Check off of the XP OS CD and got a message You cannot upgrade from Windows MIllennium Edition to Windows XP Professional. I've performed many an upgrade from ME and ran a compatability check, but this is the first time I've seen this message. I'm stubborn, persistent, and determined to install XP Pro on this machine now. So if I seek alot of advice in this matter I hope you'll be there to assist me like everyone did in the past. Thanks to all who helped so far it is greatly appreciately.

 

I have a question or two? I am not familiar with cd's that contain winxp sp2. Is it possible that this is an upgrade cd that needs xp [possibly minimum sp1 needed] as a requirement for the install? Does this cd have readme texts or doc's that can be explored and read? Am I way off base and these newer cd's, with sp2 built into them, will install [upgrade or full] the same as the original did?

I find it odd that you get the warning "You cannot upgrade from Windows MIllennium Edition to Windows XP Professional ".

 

This a Full OEM Version of Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2. I order them all the time. I tried to install the Software and Drivers that Arie gave me and got a message that one of the requirements is XP must be preinstalled on a HP Computer. I downloaded the latest Compaq keyboard drivers but the keyboard stopped responding even using ME. So I used the Compaq HD erase tools and reinstalled ME without a problem. When I try a clean install of XP I get no response from the keyboard without any warning. I usually get as far as the Welcome to Windows Setup and when I hit enter to install XP no response from the keyboard. When I try the upgrade route the response stops at the EULA screen.

 

Compaq stated that it might not be poassible to install XP Pro on this machine. If I take the HD out the compaq and put it another machine install the OS then move the HD back to the compaq will that work or will it cause comflicts as far as reading the drivers motherboard etc.

 

Could the problem be the CD-ROM(LTN 403) or the CD-R/RW(Sony CRX160E) might not be reading the disk properly. They're over 4 years old.