XP Installation problems

[Wu-than-klan]

Hi everyone,

I tried to install XP Home on my computer and succeeded. However, I wanted to go for XP Pro but I just couldn't install it. The basic install after finishing copy files goes for reboot and hangs on a black screen with the blinking...
Also if I try to install XP (even Home) on a partitioned disk, the installation freezes just before the setup begins to copy files.
Well I know this is very confusing but anyone has an idea of what the matter could be?

Thanks in advance

[newpersn]

Is the disc OK?
Any USB devices plugged in?

[Kem]

Is the hard drive set as IDE or Sata in the Bios,
if its sata then that could be the issue

[Wu-than-klan]

The CD? well I install it from a USB stick. Here's how I do it:
I copy the install content to hard disk with live linux
make the partition bootable through dos
run the winnt for installation

And the hard drive is set to IDE...

[newpersn]

Last time I tried to install come from USB I got bsod. That was on a dell 170l

Is it worth trying a CD with it on.

[Arthur]

I install it from a USB stick.

Try the CD or WinToFlash / WinSetupFromUSB.

[Wu-than-klan]

OK

I fixed it
I tried several times to run the installation with smartdrv but never managed to succeed because of the himem.sys missing in the config.sys (line device=himem.sys). So I corrected it, ran smartdrv, and I could finally pass through the "setup please wait while copying files" screen.

Voila
Thanks for the replies

[Wu-than-klan]

thanks,
I totally agree with you about the fact that this kind of information is useful to all of us. So here's how I do it:
make a USB CD-Live with Unetbootin and you'll want to have on it something like PuppyLinux or Slitaz (light Linux distributions) boot on USB
Make all the format and partitioning using G-parted.
then copy the i386 folder from the XP CD install to root hard disk (C:\), also copy the smartdrv.exe
once done you'll need the HP usb disk storage and windows98boot.zip (just look for a tutorial to make the USB bootable for running under MSDOS)
boot from the USB and once on the "C:\" prompt make a "sys d:" command
turn off PC, plug the USB with the Linux live and copy himem.sys and config.sys (open this last file with notepad, clear all and add the following line "device=himem.sys").
Restart PC, toggle USB, if all ok you should get to a "c:\" prompt and type "cd i386", then "winnt" and you're done.

NB: I use two PCs, the one functioning make all the procedure easy, but you might find a tip in this.