Thanks so much, Carey!

Dan

Carey Frisch [MVP] wrote:
> Troubleshooting Windows XP Setup
> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_setup.htm
>
>
>> I should've known this wouldn't be straight-forward. <g> I had to
>> buy a new PC because the old one's MoBo fried. It was due for
>> replacement anyway.
>>
>> The new PC came with WinXP/Home. I purchased the XP/Pro upgrade
>> retail, but it won't install.
>>
>> First attempt: when prompted whether I wanted to download latest
>> files for the upgrade I chose yes. (This was lunchtime. I went off
>> to work assuming it would go about its stuff while I was gone.)
>>
>> Got home, and machine is frozen on the same screen still saying
>> "connecting to Microsoft".
>>
>> Hmph. I killed it and the machine booted back into XP/Home as if
>> nothing had happened. Great!
>>
>> Second attempt: Said NO to downloading <g> and setup proceeded to
>> copy files. At the end, it rebooted. Got the BIOS splash screen
>> followed by the XP "Cylon" splash screen ... followed by a black
>> screen and the whole thing just keeps repeating in a terminal loop.
>>
>> I *think* I remember a "reboot on error" setting in XP but can't
>> find any reference to it. I need to turn that off. I can tell
>> there's some sort of character mode error screen before each reboot
>> but it's brief enough I can't read it. Can anyone point me in the
>> right direction?
>>
>> I've repeated this several times (always reverting with the vendor's
>> 'restore' image). One of the setup program's options after a failure
>> is to install whole. That succeeded, but to a partition I didn't
>> even know I had, and of course I've lost the drivers for video,
>> sound, and the CD/DVD burner software. (The only software I actually
>> *care* about in this mess. <g> )
>>
>> I'm open to suggestions. Anyone?
>>
>> Dan