"vidbits" wrote in message
...

I have an ASUS P4PE MOBO (broadband and sound on MOBO), 1 gig of memory
and an ATI 8500DV graphics card.

I have the same problem as the others.

Using an IDENTICAL configuration, Windows 2000 installs perfectly, but
on a clean XP install as soon as it hits that 34 minute mark my screen
goes blank for 2 seconds, returns and in about 2 seconds the little
green progress marker stops and my machine freezes solid. (I have tried
using the original XP install disk as well as a disk slipstreamed with
SP2).

I've checked memory, pulled out all my USB devices, pulled my external
USR modem, and the problem continues.

Funny thing, in the Award BIOS there are two settings that have never
"appeared"... Under "Advanced", the manual shows 3 sub-settings -- Chip
Configuration, I/O Device Configuration and PCI Configuration. The
latter two subsettings do not appear. I don't think that's the problem
with installing the OS, but it bugs me.

The graphics card is "suspicious" to me -- but it is supposedly
compatible with Windows XP.

The fellow that built my system has left me "high and dry" -- just
telling me to go looking on the net for a solution. He more or less
wants a BLANK CHEQUE to do any work.

I have never been so frustrated in my life because I am disabled and
it's going to likely cost me $200-$300 to get somebody in to TRY and
diagnose the problem.

I am thinking about "starting over" with an ASUS P4P800-E DELUXE MOBO.
--
vidbits


vidbits:
I can understand your frustration. We've come upon this same situation more
times than I care to remember. XP is very "touchy", both during the
installation process and normal operations, when it comes upon what it
perceives to be "non-compatible" hardware, and will balk upon proceeding any
further, whether the OS installation process is currently underway or if
already installed, normal operations are involved.

You're right to suspect your graphics card. When the installation process
aborts at the 34 minute mark it's nearly always due to some video problem
that the installation process has identified - either perceived or real.
What makes the situation more aggravating is that in many cases there is
*no* problem in this area, i.e., the video card is non-defective, but the
installation process detects some sort of anomaly. In many situations, if
you repeat the installation process a number of times (we've sometimes had
to do it four times), the install will "take" and there will be no further
problems.

Of course, it *is* possible that your video card is defective and should be
replaced. And/or it *is* possible some other hardware component may be
involved, including, of course, the motherboard itself. Unfortunately the
only way you can definitively diagnose the problem is to substitute
components, not a practical task for most home users. I don't think your
BIOS settings are the culprit, but review them just to make sure.

Can you get your hands on another video card and install it in place of your
current one? That would probably be the best place to start after you've
attempted multiple installs with your present system.

Keep us informed of your progress.
Anna