Installation problem, help please

Hi all,
I have had a lot of trouble trying to load XPsp2 on a maxtor hardrive, its to be a backup PC when i get it up and going again.
For some reason it doesn't go through the initial start when you put your key numbers in, it bypasses that then goes onto loading all the files, once that has been done it tells you its going to reboot and finish the instalation but it doesn't, it goes back to the very start again loading the files again, this just keeps going on and on.
This drive had win me on it and it was going well untill i tried to this [ yep, i know, i should have just left it as it was ], i done a quick format on this drive before started, any thoughts on what i should try? should i try another format?
any advise is greatfully recieved,thanks,
Tuby

First off I would ask is this problem related to your last thread?

messed up install of OS

Then:

Are you booting from a full version or upgrade XP CD?

Also try: Inserting your XP CD & choose Install XP & upgrade & then follow the prompts.

Does this lead to the insertion of your key?

This is a completely differant issue, that previous post was to do with my new PC which was not loaded up when i purchased it, and its going great, i am using it now, after the good advise, thanks.
However, i can see where it would be easy to link the two together, but it is definatly not the case, i wouldn't start a new thread about the same PC.

This post is to do with another issue on a differant PC[my old one]which i hope to get going, to use as a backup, just in case.

Yes, i am booting from a full version of XP, i will try the install & upgrade and see what happens.
thanks again
bluey

re-instal-Update,
I have tried every option that Microsofts offers,over & over again, still no dam good.
I have been searching all over the net for any clues that may help, i come across something that MAY be a possability, it seems there were a fare few mentions about low level formating with maxtor drives only, so i downloaded it and put it to action, its extreemly slow, took about 30 minutes to format about 2% of the drive, so maybe around the end of the week it will be done ,i will see how that goes and get back here, just in case someone else is having any difficulties with a Maxtor drive as well.[ thats if this works ]
bluey

Still no good, i don't like to give in to easy, but this has got me on the edge of throwing it as hard as i can, and then jumping on it for about an hour and still that won't be enough.
It took about 4 hours to format it, i thought i was on a winner,thinking it must be doing a real good clean, put XP disc in & changed the settings,1st cdrom,2nd ra ra ra,then starts off saying it is setup is checking for hardware & config', next blue screen, setup is starting windows, cd rom starts running faster to next blue screen,saying windowsXP Home edition.
options 1- to setup windows xp press enter
...........2- to repair a windows instalation using recovery, press r
--------3 to quit setup without instal xp press f3.
tried pressing R, then it was examining disk config'.
next black screenthe path is not valid , type exit to restart.
.................................................. ..................................
next attempt was 1- setup windows,all goes ok and gets to the licensing agreement press f8 then goes on to say setup is starting windows and gets to where do i want to install xp, and gives me 2 options, i tried the both with no success.
had a look in the setup again, set primary master to auto--- CHS, restarts no mastor primary found, turned it off checked for any loose connections, still nothing.had a look in setup disk utility no primary mastor,or any others as well.
oh yeah, the jumper setting was correct.
What do you reckon, chuck it?
thanks for listening anyway,
bluey.

If you do not get the Product Key prompt then nothing will happen.

Why you are not getting it I do not know although I have had the problem before.

If I remember well it was an issue of the CD not booting. It runs but was not booted.

I resolved this previously by flashing the BIOS. There was apparently corruption in the BIOS boot block.
In order to do this we would need to positivly ID your motherboard.

Another possible option is to boot with the 6 floppy setup prior to the CD as seen here:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994

Ok Jephree ,thanks very much for your help, its very big of you and the other professionals as well, that give up there valuable time to help others that are in trouble with their PC's, i will try the 6 floppies and see what happens then.
Many thanks.
bluey

Still no good, mate, i downloaded those 6 win boot disks, changed the settings for A/drive to boot first, placed the 1st floppy in, then i restarted again and it gets to the point where it says,
" Verifying DMI Poll Data "

Boot :1/0 error readisk
insert another disk
So i tried a XP startup disc, restarted.
"Verifying DMI pool data"
Disk boot failure, insert system disk
another try was " cannot load DOS press key & try again, i do an the same message comes up.
.................................................. .................................................. ....
When it first starts up and the black screen is present , Primary Mastor is not mentioned, the floppy is, and the CD.rom as well.
When i went to setup , i set the Primary mastor as AUTO...........CHS
any help is greatfully recieved,
thanks,
bluey

Computer stops at verifying dmi pool data...:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000474.htm

I would suggest running PowerMax on the hard drive:

http://www.maxtor.com/portal/site/Ma...&downloadID=22

I would also suggest flashing the BIOS:

Do you know the make & model of the computer?
& or the motherboard?

Hi Jephree,
I downloaded powerMax and applied the test to the drive, the drive which is the one we are reffering to, failed all test done.
So just for a matter of interest i ran my good drive through it as well, it also failed tests, so would i be correct if i thought it would have to be the BIOS settings, seeing it was working fine running Win Me before hand, and only had problems since going up to win XP ?
Trying to indentify my Motherboard i come up with:
I know its a Pent 111
but there is a approx 1 inch black square attachment near the fan which has this printed on it: VIA
VT82C693A
0027891
IEC037891
..........................................
also another slightly smaller black square attachment that is just in front of the battery, which has the follering printed on it :
VT82C5968
0022CE
IEECN7191
...........................................
Right down in the right hand corner it has this printed on the motherboard,
JP1 JP5 FREQ BAND
open open 133 mhz
open 1-2 100mhz
close 1-2 auto
.................................................. ..........................................
The memory has got this printed on it :
sd ram - 133 mhz non-ecc
I hope that this what you need to indentify the motherboard.
Thanks heaps for your help,
regards
bluey