computer freezes, won't allow WinXP install

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

My gramma's computer has problems.

My brother said it would randomly freeze up and not do anything.
It started displaying an 'OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND' error message at boot up.
This indicates a problem with the MBR (master boot record), or a hard drive failure.
I figured the freezing could have been because the ram was fried.

I got a new hard drive in, which is blank at the moment.
I got a new stick of ram, which i know for sure is compatible with the machine.

When I put in the Windows XP disc to hopefully install WinXP, it only gets so far and then locks up.

It only goes as far as the screen where you press ENTER to set up Windows, or press R to recover. At this point the computer is locked up and nothing works. I can't even turn CAPS LOCK on and off. Nothing works at all.

As far as I can tell, nothing in the BIOS settings seems to be wrong. The ram and the new hdd show in there, seemingly with no problem.

The jumpers on the hdd are set properly.

So, i've figured that the problem was not necessarily the hard drive or the ram. What else could it possibly be? Any ideas?

It's kind of an old computer. Four or five years old, i believe. It is an eMachines T1115. It's rockin' an Intel Centrino @ 1.0Ghz, came with 128mb ram (now has 256)

[videobread]

Sounds like a bad video card. It locks up were the problem is. While loading the video drivers.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

It's only using the onboard video card.
I thought it loaded the drivers before that point?
I'm at the screen where i can press enter to start installing, format the drive if necessary, or recover the xp installation.
Right before this screen, it shows misc drivers being loaded.

Somebody suggested flashing the BIOS but i'm not sure if i'm able to do that without first booting into windows. I'm wondering if it needs a new motherboard, but i'm rly not familiar with mobo installations, and i don't know if it's necessary to get a new cpu (or poss put the old cpu on the new mobo?)

If i can get my hands on another vid card i'll definately pop that in and see if it helps, but i'm not sure if it's the problem

[redwudz]

Early E-machines were notorious for bad power supplies, so consider that if all else fails. If it uses a standard sized power supply, you should be able to pick one up cheap enough. I wouldn't spend money on a bunch of replacement parts, then put them in a PC with a questionable PS that is 4+ years old.

You could unplug any extra cards and drives to rule any of them out. Not easy as you need the CD-ROM and the boot drive and the video card. But unplug anything extra, anyway and try again.

The most I would do with the BIOS is to unplug the computer and pull the BIOS battery for a few minutes, then re-install it. That will reset the BIOS to default settings. Mark down any special BIOS settings first, so you can put them back in later. I wouldn't try to flash it at present.

[TimA-C]

I'd certainly look at swapping out the power supply - most off the shelf PCs have poor power supplies. I've also seen several E-machines with a failing IDE controllers, so you might want to try putting both the hard drive and the cd-rom on the same cable (don't forget to make sure that the master/slave jumpers are set correctly - HD master, CD slave) and try again. If it still fails then switch off, and plug the drives into the other IDE controller and try again.

Hope this helps.

[Nelson37]

There are two screens where Recover is mentioned. The first is where it says to press "R", this always comes up.

However the second screen, where it displays a list of partitions and gives options to create, delete, format, or Recover, SHOULD NOT be giving a Recover option, and SHOULD NOT list any existing partitions whatsoever, on a brand-new, blank drive.

Is ONLY the new drive in the system, with the old one removed? Can you create and format a partition on the new drive? That is step one. Also, what is the size on the new drive? And version of XP you are installing?

A note on the RAM. NO, you DO NOT "know for sure" that it is compatible. You know for SURE when the PC functions properly. By changing two items when you have an unknown problem, you have complicated life. Put the original RAM back in, REMOVE the new RAM. Change ONE THING AT A TIME TO ISOLATE AND IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

Also, try remove all HD completely and just boot to the BIOS and let it sit. If it locks up here, and fans are OK, then try the new RAM stick and re-test. If still locks up, changing the power supply is next best bet. If the case will not accept a standard-size unit, I would stop right there and just chuck it. All parts purchases should be geared to being re-used in a more modern machine.

With an HD and a RAM stick, you have already spent more than the PC is worth. With that age, and the fact that it is an E-Machine, my suggestion would have been to stop wasting your time. If you want to get an old, inexpensive PC working, at least start with one that was worth a damn to begin with. If you are truly cash-strapped, keep in touch as I literally put better boxes in the garbage on a regular basis. Just chucked a Dell Poweredge with dual 1.0 GHZ chips and 20 GB of SCSI storage on a hi-speed caching controller. Unit was in perfect working condition, just too old.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I'm not willing to spend too much on it because it's not my computer. I spent ~$2000 on my own HP dv9000 laptop.

Thanks for all your suggestions and help, guys, it's greatly appreciated.

My brother's friend took a look at it and discovered that i didnt push the ram in all the way. After putting it in all the way, the install and everything went perfectly smoothly.
It's strange the way things work out sometimes. You check anything you can think of, exhaust every idea that comes to mind, and forget to check one thing so so simple.

but now there's kind of another problem. The XP activation key, which was on the sticker on the back of the machine, did not work. So i had to use the same xp key that's used on the xp partition on my laptop (i have a dualboot). I have no idea why it would say it's not a valid code, when i took it directly from a genuine Windows XP sticker that's been on the back of the machine since day one. I'm thinking possibly because it came with WinXP pre-installed, and i reinstalled using a WinXP disc, not the eMachines restore disc... but i'm pretty sure i reinstalled before, and used the same code....

[oldandinthe way]

Key did not work because it is specific to emachines version of xp.

You may have problems with windows update.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

windows update seems to have worked fine. although it took an hour to download and install just the critical updates + WMP 11, with cable internet ~7.5MB/sec

although i'm wondering if my xp partition on my laptop will now have issues with the genuine windows authentication, or whatever. hmm

[TBoneit]

Never had a problem with the E-Machines product key.

Use a Generic OEM XP Home, enter the product key set up Xp

Do the activation, it goes through, done.

Of course if you have the E-Machines restore CDs then use them they will load the drivers and and software and most likely not even need to be activated.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

Never had a problem with the E-Machines product key.

Use a Generic OEM XP Home, enter the product key set up Xp

Do the activation, it goes through, done.

Of course if you have the E-Machines restore CDs then use them they will load the drivers and and software and most likely not even need to be activated.

The original e-machines restore discs were lost. The disc i used was an off-the-shelf Windows XP Home full install disc (by full install i mean its not the upgrade version)
From my understanding, you're not supposed to take that disc and install on a bunch of different machines, but if they all have different product activation keys, then it shouldn't be a problem.
I checked and re-checked the product key and it said it was invalid. So my only options were to abort installation or to use the same product key already used on another computer. I'm wondering if i should call MS about it or not, because i know the computer has the legal right to run Windows XP, it came with it.

[GKar]

.....

[TBoneit]

The porduct key on E-Machines, Dells, Gateway etc. are what are called OEM. Original Equipment manufacturer IOWs.

Product keys are not interchangeable between families or to put it another way the Key for:
OEM Xp Home
OEM XP Pro
Upgrade XP Home
Upgrade Xp Pro
Full Retail XP Home
Full Retail XP Pro
XP Pro Corporate

The keys between these types are not interchangeable. Or another way to say it is that the OEM home product key will only work on a OEM home install and not retail home upgrade or full installs.

Edit: The main problem will be if you need to install it on the original machine again. Normally you can do two installs before having to get on the phone. I suspect that was to reduce support calls from people that blew up their first install or caught a virus/malware.
And I could be wrong about their reason too. The reason the emachine key goes through easily is that it has never been used since the machine comes through already activated on a master E-Machine key that can not be used over. The product key is also your license.

You could call Microsoft and not going into details beyond the I lost my re-install discs from e-machines see if they will send you a OEM install disc at a reasonable price. Since you do have a genuine license from E-machines, Or call E-machines and see if they still have restore discs.

The advantage of the OEM disc is it will still work if you have to change the motherboard in the future. E-machines are notorious for needing a new Motherboard and Power supply.

Cheers

[handyguy]

You also have to turn off any bios boot protection items so it can write a new boot sector.

[Nelson37]

Also, if you hadn't changed the RAM stick, there would have been no problem. Slow install, but no problem.

[RabidDog]

Or try linux, just tell your gran its the "Latest" version of windows. If all you want is internet word processing and viewing photos its perfect.