Setup doesn't run GUI mode

  • Thread starter Thread starter byrdgirl13
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byrdgirl13

I'm trying to install Windows XP Pro on a new computer.
It goes through the text mode fine, but after restarting,
Setup never goes into GUI mode - it just goes back to the
beginning of text mode. Actually, I've tried to install
Windows 98, 2000 upgrade, 2000 Pro, and XP pro
(reformatting the hd each time to clear the files that
were copied in text mode) and have the exact same
problem. What's going on & how do I fix this?

Please send replies by email. Thanks.
 
I would try using a utility like zap_hdd that totally wipes your hard disk.
It sounds like the boot-sector isn't being written properly.

Just a thought -- do you have a BIOS that protects your bootsector from
being overwritten by viruses? If so, disable that feature.
 
This is a new computer, I built it - there's nothing but
those files copied through text mode on the hard drive and
besides, I've tried reformatting the hard drive. What
more would zap_hdd do? And that feature in the BIOS you
described has been disabled the whole time.
 
I found that the continuous booting thing was a lot better once you'd
slipstreamed SP3 into the installation. I found it happened so infrequently
that I would just work around it by removing the CD after text-mode setup
and inserting it again after the reboot.

I'm not sure if it's a BIOS problem or a Windows problem.

Regards

Oli

The problem is exactly that it is booting from the CD
after the restart. It ought to be booting from the hard
drive but isn't, and it doesn't even give me the choice
I've read about where it's supposed to say 'press any key
to boot from CD' or whatever. It just does. And if it's
supposed to boot from the CD, which I'm certain now it
isn't, it's doing a pretty bad job of continuing setup
where it left off.
 
What's SP3 and what's slipstreaming?
-----Original Message-----
I found that the continuous booting thing was a lot better once you'd
slipstreamed SP3 into the installation. I found it happened so infrequently
that I would just work around it by removing the CD after text-mode setup
and inserting it again after the reboot.

I'm not sure if it's a BIOS problem or a Windows problem.

Regards

Oli

The problem is exactly that it is booting from the CD
after the restart. It ought to be booting from the hard
drive but isn't, and it doesn't even give me the choice
I've read about where it's supposed to say 'press any key
to boot from CD' or whatever. It just does. And if it's
supposed to boot from the CD, which I'm certain now it
isn't, it's doing a pretty bad job of continuing setup
where it left off.




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Click to expand...
 
primary master, I made sure of that a couple weeks ago.
Could the cable be the problem?
 
I wouldn't have through so. If you can get through text-mode setup, then
that probably isn't the case.

I'll do some research on this, as I've seen someone else in these newsgroups
with a similar problem.

One thing you could try is downloading a bootdisk (any one) from
www.bootdisk.com and running "fdisk /mbr". This will replace the master
boot record of your hard disk with the MS-DOS MBR. Obviously, don't do it
on a working machine, but then it sounds as if your machine is anything but.

Regards

Oli


primary master, I made sure of that a couple weeks ago.
Could the cable be the problem?
 
I got it fixed with a friend's help. The problem was the
jumper - I had it set to primary master as it should be
but it didn't need a jumper since it's the only device on
that cable. Consequently, the computer runs about 50x
faster since I took the jumper off (seriously, it was
taking minutes to complete POST before). Thanks for the
help.
 
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