Unable to install XP or any OS

So I had some problems with my system that resulted in me wanting to format
and reinstall Windows XP. I booted from the install CD and after the program
loaded the drivers at the beginning, the program shut down during "Starting
Windows" and I got a blue screen error. Your typical XP error, "Your computer
has been shut down before any more harm is caused to it." and something about
pci.sys and then a memory location at the bottom of the screen.

I tried installing 2 different versions of Windows from 3 different CDs and
all froze at the same with the same error. I also attempted to run a
diagnostic program from the hard drive manufacturer (Seagate) which freezes
whenever I run it (I get to a prompt but I'm unable to type anything). I was
able to install Windows onto the hard drive fine when I hooked it into a
friends' system but when I put the hard drive back in my system I got "Error
loading the operating system." (I assume you need to install Windows on the
system that will be using it? It ran fine when hooked into my friend's
computer)

So, here I am unable to load an OS onto my system and I have no clue as to
why. My computer is a Dell Dimension 9100 P4 system. Anyone have any clue as
to what could be causing this strange error? Thanks.

Hi,

Run a memory diagnostic.
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"BigAT" <BigAT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:36D8178B-7D81-4FBA-BF4D-FB11165A8D76@microsoft.com...
> So I had some problems with my system that resulted in me wanting to
> format
> and reinstall Windows XP. I booted from the install CD and after the
> program
> loaded the drivers at the beginning, the program shut down during
> "Starting
> Windows" and I got a blue screen error. Your typical XP error, "Your
> computer
> has been shut down before any more harm is caused to it." and something
> about
> pci.sys and then a memory location at the bottom of the screen.
>
> I tried installing 2 different versions of Windows from 3 different CDs
> and
> all froze at the same with the same error. I also attempted to run a
> diagnostic program from the hard drive manufacturer (Seagate) which
> freezes
> whenever I run it (I get to a prompt but I'm unable to type anything). I
> was
> able to install Windows onto the hard drive fine when I hooked it into a
> friends' system but when I put the hard drive back in my system I got
> "Error
> loading the operating system." (I assume you need to install Windows on
> the
> system that will be using it? It ran fine when hooked into my friend's
> computer)
>
> So, here I am unable to load an OS onto my system and I have no clue as to
> why. My computer is a Dell Dimension 9100 P4 system. Anyone have any clue
> as
> to what could be causing this strange error? Thanks.

Alright, thanks. I double checked and the error I get everytime is
"0x0000007E" if that helps at all.

"BigAT" <BigAT@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E3054D14-E1C2-4E7C-A2BF-176AAC69D054@microsoft.com...
> Alright, thanks. I double checked and the error I get everytime is
> "0x0000007E" if that helps at all.

Read through this forum. This person seems to have solved it.
http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor...=164525&page=2