Just bought new hard drive because old one crashed with xp and cant
use it because I need the files on it (cannot format it)
I am having problems installing windows xp, me, and 98 on my new
maxtor 80gb harddrive. Several problems occur, i format in many ways,
using the maxtor cd, use dos (format c:) created different partitions
(NFTS, FAT32 for windows ME, ect.) At using the correct and proper
ways for installation. Heres what happens when I install windows xp,
on NFTS (which is correct) setup files copy... system reboots as
normal.. then it is supose to continue installation but does the
following:
things happened during many tries after doing everything over (such as
formating and creating different partitions and partition types such
as NTFS and FAT32) are as follows:

formating in windows setup: 10%..ect..50%..99%..100% compete. Then
says: unable to format the drive, the rive may be damaged or corrupt.
(Second drive now.. already drive a new 80gb wester digital.)

when going on with setup and copying files: file copying
complete's.... windows restarts...dos appears..press any key to about
xp cd, then . . . . . then does not continue installation. just . . .
. . and thats it. if you press a key windows will re-copy files and
repeat what you just did.

Other things that happen: file copying for windows setup completes...
fail load of HAL file? ... also another try was..... copy complete..
restarts.. press key blah blah.. (dont press to continue install)..
then goes on to a blank black screen... what the ?????

during the previous crash.. did my motherboard get raped?
i dont know what to do...ive tried everything.
by the way when it crashed it said in dos.. file invalid or corrupt:
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM not that this would help because I am
trying to install windows.
i want some advice from everyone. just throw it in, thanks.

er, did you low level format your new hard disk using the "fdisk"
command? if you didn't, i would suggest that you try it out first. if
you did, then you might want to get back to your vendor and ask them
to verify the condition of the hard disk.

not the hard disk i dont think. I have tried 2 brand newly bought from
best buy. I took back the 80gb western digital because I was confused
about these problems. Then i bought a maxtor 80gb and same problems,
right now im trying to install windows ME and get the following:
on about 10%...
"Setup CANNOT COPY the installation files to your computer.
Message: Error SU0325"
Also during setup I barely got it to go to setup, and in setup, it
said setup has detected somethign about my font, truetype font. and on
the side the font isnt displaying. (left side of windows setup text).
What the hell is going on.... suggestion.. new barebones?

I have seen bad RAM cause all kinds of strange problems with a new
system load onto a hard drive. Matter of fact, I have a system sitting
on the bench right now wiating for replacement RAM because of this.
Maybe this was part of the cause of your original crash?

fooyoong...

"This issue can be caused by a corrupted .cab file that has
 been copied to the hard disk. This corruption can be caused
 by a virus or by failing hardware, but is most likely to be
 caused by a scratched, dirty, or damaged CD-ROM."
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;270593

The CD would have been my first thought, too.

sublime1-ga

Yes I actually saw that page of Microsoft.. Didnt help me too much, I
have been trying to 3 days and I just got xp to install an hour ago.
Wow.. I would have to say it is running very slow. slower than usual..

don't forget that every Windows update requires hardware update!

256MB GeForce - Installed and software installed also.... this thing
is super slow! I have fixed everything to make it go fast, its going
slowwwww!!

oh okie.... heh, just tried to help, that's all... =))

had the same problem wiv 98 in the end it was the cd scratched