Windows won't load

[Jasmeleg]

I have loaded windows Xp so many times I can't even count. But for somereason this machine won't exept it.

Problem:
I can boot into the windows setup, format and do all that stuff. Then it restarts like it is supost to. But when it comes back to read the files it has just put on the hd and error comes up and says No operating system(or something to that effect). It won't get me into the GUI of windows to load. I have trieds it many times with 2 different versions of windows and 2 cd drives. I can't figure out the problem. The machine use to have Linux on it but I want to make it a PVR and I don't know linux very well and Linux doesn't like my ATI TV wonder card. So I just decided to go with windows.
System specs:
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ Barton
512mb PC:3200 Ram
Gf4 Ti4200 128mb
40GB Maxtor HD
nothing special just something to mess around with. I have never seen this error before. Tomorrow I am going to try using different IDE Cables if that doesn't work try a different HD.

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

What version of XP is it? And also, are you sure that all of the floppy disks and other disks/CDs are out (except Windows Installation CD)? I tried installing Windows before, and it says, to remove all floppy disks, which I didn't, so it doesn't load.

 

[MUff!N]

I know this is kind of an obvious question, but have you tested the Harddrive that you're load windows on to see if it's got bad sectors? If the harddrive is bad in anyway then you'll be missing crucial files for windows to opperate.
I've had Harddrives that were good one day, and bad the next...5 as a matter of a fact!!!

 

[Jasmeleg]

Yeah the HD had windows loaded on it before linux. It only had linux on it for maybe 3 days. Then I reformated it to NTFS. It doesn't even have a Floppy disk drive installed. I have 2 discs one of Xp Pro and one of Xp HE both don't work. I have loaded both discs on other computers. This thing is bogling my mind. I mean I know my stuff but this thing is just messing me up.

 

[stealthfighter]

sounds like bad hdd imo

 

[Jasmeleg]

I tried reformatting the drive with Linux and it comes up and says that the drive it read only. I also tried to load it into another computer and format it but windows wouldn't reconize it.

 

[Alec§taar]

Do you have ANY removable drives in place, attached to IDE/EIDE cables, such as IoMega zipdrives?

They CAN get "in your face" on installations...

APK

 

[Azn Tr14dZ]

Do you have any other hard drives to see if Windows will install? Even if you have a spare 40GB IDE, that'll be fine, so if Windows loads on that, you know it's a hard drive problem.