cgmonk

I recently bought a MS-1651 barbone notebook.

I loaded it with these components:
Intel Penryn Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
Hitachi 300 GB SATA harddrive
Sony Multi DVD/CD Burner
4GB Kingston SODIMM 800 MHz

My problem is I can't seem to install XP.

The process nearly completes. It gets to the finalizing install stage. It says "Saving Settings..." Then before it finishes, it reboots. The install then says restarting installation. After that it stays in this infinite loop of install restarts.

I even slip streamed the drivers from the MSI website into a Windows XP Home CD and I get the same issue.

Has anyone gotten XP to install on this barebone system?

cgmonk

BTW, I am using XP Home SP3.

TriggerFinger

Did you slipstream SP3 into XP HOME along with the drivers? Try using SP2 instead.

cgmonk

I've just about tried everything. I've slipstreamed drivers, I've tried win2000, XP, XP 64 bit, and vista. They all fail in one way or the other.

I ghosted a drive from my other laptop, removed all the drives and redid them all, applied fixhdc. It worked except it randomly restarts.

I did get XP 64 bit to install once, but it kept blue screening on me after I installed some drivers.

I think I'm spent. I've been trying for 3 weeks now to get this thing working. I am suspecting a hardware problem now, but I can't tell what part has a problem.

Funny thing though, I installed ubuntu just to see if it would crash, and it ran perfectly.

Any last ditch suggestions would be great.

TriggerFinger

Have you tried using SP2? If you have done so, were the problems the same (stuck in install loop)? Btw is the XP Home CD being used genuine/original? Have you tried using XP Pro?

If Ubuntu ran OK in that set up then I doubt if it is hardware related.

If I am going to do this, I will use genuine XP Pro SP2 installer and slipstream the SATA driver with nLite. I will install all the other drivers once I get Windows to start up.

cgmonk

Yes, I have legitimate versions of Vista and XP. I did try XP SP2 as well, and it does the same as XP SP3.

I just wish I could figure out what device is causing the failure.

TriggerFinger

If you have not done so yet, run some diagnostics to test HDD and RAM. I know Ubuntu ran OK but run the tests just the same. Use Seatools or Hitachi DFT for HDD diagnostics (see HDD Diags link on my sig). As for the RAM use Memtest86+ (d/load link on my sig also).

I suggest you follow the order of driver installation as documented here: Vista to XP Downgrade Compaq/ HP F700/G6000/DV6900/DV6700/DVx7xx/DV9800 Series Laptop. Start with the Chipset drive.

I also suggest you slipstream XP SP2 with just the SATA drivers. Install XP SP2 slipstreamed with SATA drivers. If you are able to complete this task, then install the drivers.

cgmonk

I ran both the memory tests and HD tests twice each. Both passed with no errors.

I tried a version of Windows XP SP2 with the ICH9 IDE drivers slipstreamed on as well. It did the same thing.

I'm really at a loss.

TriggerFinger

Hi,

I still cannot believe why it cannot install properly but I think we can do this the other way around.

First, make sure your battery is fully charged even though you will be using AC the whole time. Next is to go into BIOS and set it to IDE instead of SATA/AHCI. Install Windows XP SP2 (use genuine/original discs and NOT copies - lots of problems if copies besides using copies may have legal implications). Let the installation complete.

Post back what happens.