I've got issues.
 

I ordered Windows XP Professional the other day since I need it to run iTunes so I can use my iPod. So it comes today, and I try to install it on my computer which is currently running Windows 98SE. After about 4 minutes of installation it restarts the computer, then when it comes back there is a blue screen that told me Windows found an error and turned itself off. I tried to use Microsoft support online, but when it asked for my registration number, there wasn't enough spaces to fill it in, so I've come to you guys. Is this a normal problem? And what can I do to get around it? :(

I have a custom built computer with a seagate 120 gig hard drive, Athlon XP 2800, 1 gig of PC3200 RAM and am running Windows 98 SE

I suggest you pop that XP install disc back in, change the boot order to CD-ROM first, and try it again. That problem is something I have encountered before. Make sure that you're formatting, and not repairing an install.

I don't know how to do what you suggested. How do I change the boot order, and how do I make sure I'm formatting?

Whoa.. First off, when your system finishes post boot (beeps) it goes to your monitor. As soon as it hits your monitor, you should look for a line that says "Hit F2 to enter setup" or something similar. May be Del, F2, F10.. It varies.. Repeadidly hit that button, and you will enter your bios.
From the bios you can change the boot order. You want to change it from current (which is probably Floppy, HDD, CD) to CD, HDD.
Then hit F10 to exit and save changes. Make sure XP disk is in CD Tray, and reboot shout start up windows installation. It will guide you along the way, but I would 100% recommend reformatting the ENTIRE HDD in the NTFS file system. Don't do quick format, that is living on borrowed time.
Your 98 uses Fat 32 file system I think, so you really do want to format the ENTIRE HDD. Once it is formatted you are on your way.

Good luck.

It's funny, I've never understood what Quick Format really does. I mix between that and regular formatting.

Blitz.. I did a quick format on a system once, and it lasted for about 3 weeks. I would then get random shutdowns, files lost.. Just random crap. Reinstalled XP Pro, (nothing else changed) and did a full format.

System is still up and flying 5 months later.. Not 100% that was the problem, but I have heard of it being referred to as "living on borrowed time". However, I would recommend doing a full format if he is going from FAT 32 to NTFS..

If I format, do I lose all my files? Because I got about 10 gigs of music on this machine I don't wanna lose.

I did what you said and changed the boot order from DVD-ROM, HDD, CD-ROM to CD-ROM, HDD. When this happened the error screen didn't come up during set up, rather, one telling me that "setup could not find one or more mass storage devices etc..."

yes, you will lose all of your files. Formating the hard drive pretty much wipes it clean.

Actually, I got the impression that Windows 98se won't even load.

Can you get into your files right now? If so, back them up now.

If not, you have pretty much lost your stuff.

Since it is Windows 98, I could show you how to get your stuff compied through DOS, but I only know how to get the files from the hard drive to a floppy in DOS and that won't help with your music.

So...is your computer running or not.

I can load Windows 98se no problem, it gives me the option to choose either Win98 or WinXP professional set up when I start up, so I can get to my files and back them up.

This is full version OEM from Newegg

is your win xp pro an upgrade or full version? if its an upgrade you have to install windows 98 first and then the upgrade.

its probably best to reformat your drive to have a fresh start and yes you will loose all your files. if you have an extra hard drive laying around why dont you try installing your OS on there and put the 120gb seagate as a slave. maybe within windows you will be able to browse the seagate and get any files you want to save.

when you reformat the seagate i suggest you make some partitions.

o so you can back up your files. then just reformat. install 98 then xp if its an upgrade. or just install xp. and make some partitions!

maybe this will help you out also
http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/O...tallxppro1.htm

/you edited while I was typing

If you are toast right now, I would remove everything that isn't needed to install windows XP.

Remove the dvd-rom and make sure the cd-rom is set as Master or Cable Select.

Remove and cards, etc (unless you need the video card/i.e. your mobo doesn't have a built-in video connector).

Make sure your cables are attached correctly. Make sure that IDE 1 (the wide gray ribbon cable) is going to the hard drive. Make sure that your cd-rom is using a different cable and plugged into IDE 2 (or secondary).

Verify that your cables are installed correctly and that anything unecessary is removed.

I was able to use an XP upgrade disk on a clean hard drive. You just have to have your Win98 disk as it will ask for it as verification and then it will continue loading XP.

everything is in correctly, my computer runs fine. However, how do I format my hard drive? If it's better to do that, then I wanna do it. All I need to do is back up my music on CD-R's (most of it is burned from my own CD collection anyways, so it won't be that much)

http://freepctech.com/pc/001/002.shtml

This website has a step by step way to format your hard drive. Is this what I want to do after I back up my files?

no, that is the old way.

Insert your XP disk and turn the computer on.

XP will take you through every step, but we need to see if you get the same errors again (Mass storage).

If it asks about RAID, say no.

When it asks for file system, select NTFS

When it asks about format, choose full

I got the error message again about lack of mass storage. I can't even get XP to run. Can I format from Windows 98se?

did you disconnect everything you don't need and double-check your cables?

my cables seem to be correctly wired, and I took out the one thing I don't think is necessary, the DVD-ROM.

are you running 40 or 80 pin wires on the HD.

sounds stupid, but believe it or not, XP will not install on a 40 pin cable, because of the possibility of data corruption. I ran into this issue on an HP, and switching the IDE cable did the trick!

even if it is an 80 pin cable, try a different, known working one.

How will I tell the difference between a 40 pin and a 80 pin cable?

Here's the best illustration I could find

http://www.intel.com/support/platfor...4/atacable.gif

Oh I feel dumb now. I just looked in my case, and on my hard drive I have an SATA cable, not an IDE one.

maybe this will help

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/di...shoot.html#win

I think my hard drive is fine, because I can access all my files no problem when I run Windows 98. So should I reformat?

If you want to load XP, then yes.

Otherwise, not a good idea for you.

I need XP, because I want to be able to use my iPod. I tried searching google for how to reformat, but I'm not sure if they're reliable, since I have no idea what I'm doing. Could someone here give me a source?

Seriously, the XP disk does everything for you, just follow the step-by-step directions.

Just set your computer to boot from your CD-ROM once the disk is in there.

The format and set-up of XP will all be included.

Remember - No RAID, so ignore that question

I recommend NTFS file system instead of FAT32

Full Format/Erase instead of the quick option.

It will guide you through.

I do that, and then I get the error message saying it can't access a mass storage device:(

Ah since you have a SATA drive, I think you might need to load drivers for it from a floppy - when XP setup asks you about any RAID/SCSI controllers you have. Hit F6 right when you first boot into WinXP setup, follow the directions on screen.

What's the make and model of your motherboard? You might also be able to find drivers at Seagate's website? You should be able to download a driver disk from either website.

I hope you have a floppy drive.

edit - Missed the link that Xepidemic posted. Check that out, it should be what you're looking for.

Alright, so I should put Discwizard on a floppy disk, and when XP asks if I want RAID/SCSI controllers I press f6, and then put the disk in?

Ignore my last post and follow the instructions at the Seagate site linked by Xepidemic

But that's for a new drive, and I've had this one for seven months running Windows 98. Damn, I'm so confused. I'm thinking I'm better off just bringing it into the computer store where I got this and have them load Windows XP for me for a fee.