Three days of XP Professional dissatisfaction

[Scott]

Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
cacheing.

When it came back after shut down it would do what
appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was good....

Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
consistantly, every second or third hang up:

Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
fatal error the setup log files should contain more
information.

What the setup log files said:

The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is invalid
the error code is ffffff01

Scott M.


>-----Original Message-----
>Actually it is more time than three days given that this
>was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First time
I
>had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
>that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
>machine (that took three hours - most of which was
>downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
>hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted this
>again.
>
>The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing the
>installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue set
>up. If I was lucky it would freeze up after re-boot for
>continued installation. I also had it re-boot for
>installation, shut down and re-boot again and again
>cyclitically(sp) - that was intresting. On several
>occasions I had what I thought was a complete
>installation, machine was up running, even
set "regression
>points" only to shut it down, restart and have it come up
>claiming a corrupted or missing "system" file (dont know
>what happened to the "regression points", "recovery tool"
>as an alternate boot to a dos prompt - tried swapping the
>system.bak to system NOT, tried "safe mode", tried
>recovery - NOTHING). Then since I have an early version
>of XP Professional 2002 I attempted to download Service
>Pack 1a (if I remember) from the web site - this resulted
>in a download of the Microsoft "Update" loop. On one
>occasion I attempted to copy the CD to hard disk and use
>that for installation - these were apparently protected
>files and couldnt be used.
>
>Finally today I attempted to contact support from work
but
>they want a product id, which is back on the disk, since
>now since my last attempts the XP installation is under
>BSD.
>
>Becomming very dissatisfide with Microsofts business
>strategy and products.
>Scott M.
>.
>

[Haggis]

now somebody should know what that is...

did you try deleting the partition then try the install?


"Scott" > wrote in message
...
> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
> cacheing.
>
> When it came back after shut down it would do what
> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was good....
>
> Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
>
> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
> information.
>
> What the setup log files said:
>
> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is invalid
> the error code is ffffff01
>
> Scott M.
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Actually it is more time than three days given that this
> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First time
> I
> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted this
> >again.
> >
> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing the
> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue set
> >up. If I was lucky it would freeze up after re-boot for
> >continued installation. I also had it re-boot for
> >installation, shut down and re-boot again and again
> >cyclitically(sp) - that was intresting. On several
> >occasions I had what I thought was a complete
> >installation, machine was up running, even
> set "regression
> >points" only to shut it down, restart and have it come up
> >claiming a corrupted or missing "system" file (dont know
> >what happened to the "regression points", "recovery tool"
> >as an alternate boot to a dos prompt - tried swapping the
> >system.bak to system NOT, tried "safe mode", tried
> >recovery - NOTHING). Then since I have an early version
> >of XP Professional 2002 I attempted to download Service
> >Pack 1a (if I remember) from the web site - this resulted
> >in a download of the Microsoft "Update" loop. On one
> >occasion I attempted to copy the CD to hard disk and use
> >that for installation - these were apparently protected
> >files and couldnt be used.
> >
> >Finally today I attempted to contact support from work
> but
> >they want a product id, which is back on the disk, since
> >now since my last attempts the XP installation is under
> >BSD.
> >
> >Becomming very dissatisfide with Microsofts business
> >strategy and products.
> >Scott M.
> >.
> >

[Scott]

Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed partition,
replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted to
reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory, swapped
slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.

I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation) would
XP be that sensitive......

Scott

>-----Original Message-----
>Haggis wrote:
>
>> now somebody should know what that is...
>>
>> did you try deleting the partition then try the install?
>>
>>
>> "Scott" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
>>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
>>> cacheing.
>>>
>>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
>>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
good....
>>>
>>> Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
>>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
>>>
>>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
>>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
>>> information.
>>>
>>> What the setup log files said:
>>>
>>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
invalid
>>> the error code is ffffff01
>>>
>>> Scott M.
>>>
>>>
>>> >-----Original Message-----
>>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
this
>>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
time
>>> I
>>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
>>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
>>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
>>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
>>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
this
>>> >again.
>>> >
>>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing
the
>>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue
set
>>> >up.
>
>(snippage)
>
>Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
because of
>faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
with the hard
>drive being the second suspect. Being able to install ME
does not imply
>that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems like
Windows XP
>and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
Win9x/ME.
>Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
faulty and/or
>incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
like Memtest86
>from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
since you are so
>frustrated, it might be better to just bring the machine
to a good
>local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
store) and have
>them check everything out and install whatever operating
system you
>want.
>
>Good luck,
>
>Malke
>--
>Elephant Boy Computers
>www.elephantboycomputers.com
>"Don't Panic!"
>.
>

[Haggis]

ya know , I wouldn't be surprised :<


"Scott" > wrote in message
...
> Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
> partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed partition,
> replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
> destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted to
> reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory, swapped
> slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.
>
> I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
> Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation) would
> XP be that sensitive......
>
> Scott
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Haggis wrote:
> >
> >> now somebody should know what that is...
> >>
> >> did you try deleting the partition then try the install?
> >>
> >>
> >> "Scott" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
> >>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
> >>> cacheing.
> >>>
> >>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
> >>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
> good....
> >>>
> >>> Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
> >>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
> >>>
> >>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
> >>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
> >>> information.
> >>>
> >>> What the setup log files said:
> >>>
> >>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
> invalid
> >>> the error code is ffffff01
> >>>
> >>> Scott M.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> >-----Original Message-----
> >>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
> this
> >>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
> time
> >>> I
> >>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
> >>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
> >>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
> >>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
> >>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
> this
> >>> >again.
> >>> >
> >>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing
> the
> >>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue
> set
> >>> >up.
> >
> >(snippage)
> >
> >Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
> because of
> >faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
> with the hard
> >drive being the second suspect. Being able to install ME
> does not imply
> >that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems like
> Windows XP
> >and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
> Win9x/ME.
> >Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
> faulty and/or
> >incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
> like Memtest86
> >from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
> since you are so
> >frustrated, it might be better to just bring the machine
> to a good
> >local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
> store) and have
> >them check everything out and install whatever operating
> system you
> >want.
> >
> >Good luck,
> >
> >Malke
> >--
> >Elephant Boy Computers
> >www.elephantboycomputers.com
> >"Don't Panic!"
> >.
> >

That'll sure make security nuts happy - not only does XP
beep all over, they cant even yank the drive because it is
too tender ..... Just am shuddering thinking about what
is on the computer that was stolen from my home while on
vacation.


>-----Original Message-----
>ya know , I wouldn't be surprised :<
>
>
>"Scott" > wrote in message
...
>> Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
>> partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed
partition,
>> replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
>> destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted
to
>> reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory,
swapped
>> slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.
>>
>> I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
>> Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation)
would
>> XP be that sensitive......
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Haggis wrote:
>> >
>> >> now somebody should know what that is...
>> >>
>> >> did you try deleting the partition then try the
install?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Scott" > wrote in message
>> >> ...
>> >>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE
cards.
>> >>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
>> >>> cacheing.
>> >>>
>> >>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
>> >>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
>> good....
>> >>>
>> >>> Still hung up - did provide the following error
rather
>> >>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
>> >>>
>> >>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this
is a
>> >>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
>> >>> information.
>> >>>
>> >>> What the setup log files said:
>> >>>
>> >>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
>> invalid
>> >>> the error code is ffffff01
>> >>>
>> >>> Scott M.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
>> this
>> >>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
>> time
>> >>> I
>> >>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain
functionality
>> >>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on
the
>> >>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
>> >>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not
the
>> >>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
>> this
>> >>> >again.
>> >>> >
>> >>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is
completing
>> the
>> >>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the
blue
>> set
>> >>> >up.
>> >
>> >(snippage)
>> >
>> >Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
>> because of
>> >faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
>> with the hard
>> >drive being the second suspect. Being able to install
ME
>> does not imply
>> >that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems
like
>> Windows XP
>> >and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
>> Win9x/ME.
>> >Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
>> faulty and/or
>> >incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
>> like Memtest86
>> >from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
>> since you are so
>> >frustrated, it might be better to just bring the
machine
>> to a good
>> >local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
>> store) and have
>> >them check everything out and install whatever
operating
>> system you
>> >want.
>> >
>> >Good luck,
>> >
>> >Malke
>> >--
>> >Elephant Boy Computers
>> >www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> >"Don't Panic!"
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Scott]

Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed partition,
replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted to
reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory, swapped
slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.

I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation) would
XP be that sensitive......

Scott

>-----Original Message-----
>Haggis wrote:
>
>> now somebody should know what that is...
>>
>> did you try deleting the partition then try the install?
>>
>>
>> "Scott" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
>>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
>>> cacheing.
>>>
>>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
>>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
good....
>>>
>>> Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
>>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
>>>
>>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
>>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
>>> information.
>>>
>>> What the setup log files said:
>>>
>>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
invalid
>>> the error code is ffffff01
>>>
>>> Scott M.
>>>
>>>
>>> >-----Original Message-----
>>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
this
>>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
time
>>> I
>>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
>>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
>>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
>>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
>>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
this
>>> >again.
>>> >
>>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing
the
>>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue
set
>>> >up.
>
>(snippage)
>
>Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
because of
>faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
with the hard
>drive being the second suspect. Being able to install ME
does not imply
>that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems like
Windows XP
>and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
Win9x/ME.
>Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
faulty and/or
>incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
like Memtest86
>from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
since you are so
>frustrated, it might be better to just bring the machine
to a good
>local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
store) and have
>them check everything out and install whatever operating
system you
>want.
>
>Good luck,
>
>Malke
>--
>Elephant Boy Computers
>www.elephantboycomputers.com
>"Don't Panic!"
>.
>

[Haggis]

ya know , I wouldn't be surprised :<


"Scott" > wrote in message
...
> Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
> partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed partition,
> replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
> destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted to
> reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory, swapped
> slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.
>
> I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
> Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation) would
> XP be that sensitive......
>
> Scott
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Haggis wrote:
> >
> >> now somebody should know what that is...
> >>
> >> did you try deleting the partition then try the install?
> >>
> >>
> >> "Scott" > wrote in message
> >> ...
> >>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE cards.
> >>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
> >>> cacheing.
> >>>
> >>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
> >>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
> good....
> >>>
> >>> Still hung up - did provide the following error rather
> >>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
> >>>
> >>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this is a
> >>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
> >>> information.
> >>>
> >>> What the setup log files said:
> >>>
> >>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
> invalid
> >>> the error code is ffffff01
> >>>
> >>> Scott M.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> >-----Original Message-----
> >>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
> this
> >>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
> time
> >>> I
> >>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain functionality
> >>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on the
> >>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
> >>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not the
> >>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
> this
> >>> >again.
> >>> >
> >>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is completing
> the
> >>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the blue
> set
> >>> >up.
> >
> >(snippage)
> >
> >Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
> because of
> >faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
> with the hard
> >drive being the second suspect. Being able to install ME
> does not imply
> >that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems like
> Windows XP
> >and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
> Win9x/ME.
> >Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
> faulty and/or
> >incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
> like Memtest86
> >from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
> since you are so
> >frustrated, it might be better to just bring the machine
> to a good
> >local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
> store) and have
> >them check everything out and install whatever operating
> system you
> >want.
> >
> >Good luck,
> >
> >Malke
> >--
> >Elephant Boy Computers
> >www.elephantboycomputers.com
> >"Don't Panic!"
> >.
> >

That'll sure make security nuts happy - not only does XP
beep all over, they cant even yank the drive because it is
too tender ..... Just am shuddering thinking about what
is on the computer that was stolen from my home while on
vacation.


>-----Original Message-----
>ya know , I wouldn't be surprised :<
>
>
>"Scott" > wrote in message
...
>> Started with blank disk, created partition NTFS, deleted
>> partition, replaced partition FAT32, destroyed
partition,
>> replaced partion with unix and installed FREE BSD,
>> destroyed that partition, recreated FAT32 and attempted
to
>> reinstall with one stick, second stick of memory,
swapped
>> slots, crippled BIOS. Same hang-up.
>>
>> I wonder both hard drives are removable Kingwin Mobile
>> Rack (my last machine was stolen while on vacation)
would
>> XP be that sensitive......
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Haggis wrote:
>> >
>> >> now somebody should know what that is...
>> >>
>> >> did you try deleting the partition then try the
install?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "Scott" > wrote in message
>> >> ...
>> >>> Unplugged hardware - memory, extra drives, IDE
cards.
>> >>> Disabled advanced BIOS features - video shadowing,
>> >>> cacheing.
>> >>>
>> >>> When it came back after shut down it would do what
>> >>> appeared to be a chkdisk which said my disk was
>> good....
>> >>>
>> >>> Still hung up - did provide the following error
rather
>> >>> consistantly, every second or third hang up:
>> >>>
>> >>> Setup failed to install the product catalogs this
is a
>> >>> fatal error the setup log files should contain more
>> >>> information.
>> >>>
>> >>> What the setup log files said:
>> >>>
>> >>> The signature for Windows XP Professional setup is
>> invalid
>> >>> the error code is ffffff01
>> >>>
>> >>> Scott M.
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >>> >Actually it is more time than three days given that
>> this
>> >>> >was my second attempt to use this $300 flop. First
>> time
>> >>> I
>> >>> >had spent two days on it, did not obtain
functionality
>> >>> >that I needed so I wiped it and put Windows ME on
the
>> >>> >machine (that took three hours - most of which was
>> >>> >downloading drivers, and implies that it was not
the
>> >>> >hardware). That machine was stolen so I attempted
>> this
>> >>> >again.
>> >>> >
>> >>> >The problem that I have with this XP CD is
completing
>> the
>> >>> >installation, sometimes it will freeze up in the
blue
>> set
>> >>> >up.
>> >
>> >(snippage)
>> >
>> >Generally, if a MS operating system won't install it is
>> because of
>> >faulty hardware. I would definitely suspect your RAM,
>> with the hard
>> >drive being the second suspect. Being able to install
ME
>> does not imply
>> >that the RAM is good - more modern operating systems
like
>> Windows XP
>> >and Linux are much fussier about having good RAM than
>> Win9x/ME.
>> >Additionally, you might have other hardware that is
>> faulty and/or
>> >incompatible with anything but ME. To test the RAM, I
>> like Memtest86
>> >from www.memtest86.com, a free memory tester. However,
>> since you are so
>> >frustrated, it might be better to just bring the
machine
>> to a good
>> >local computer shop (not a BestBuy or CompUSA type of
>> store) and have
>> >them check everything out and install whatever
operating
>> system you
>> >want.
>> >
>> >Good luck,
>> >
>> >Malke
>> >--
>> >Elephant Boy Computers
>> >www.elephantboycomputers.com
>> >"Don't Panic!"
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>