problems installing XP

[algernon]

system specs:
Asus TUV4X motherboard
pentium 3 1 gig processser
512 sdram
60 gig hardrive
Nvidia mx 200

Ok, i try to install windows xp(clean install) and it loads the files and then it goes to the screen where it says "Please wait while setup copies files to your hard drive". So i wait for 30 minutes and still there. I have installed this copy of Windows Xp and my and brothers computers so i know the copy or cd isn't bad.

I have reformated ther drive to a fat 32, and ran scandisk.
i have updated the BIOS

Also to load windows setup i just go to the E:\I386\winnt and use the winnt file to load the setup. I dont think that matters but just to let you knwo.

any ideas.
any help would be greatly appreciated

[djnes]

Use whatever utility you want to clear the drive completely. Start the XP install and create and format the partitions there. When you get to the spot of formatting, choose NTFS, if possible.

[Gruntled Employee]

reformat using the windows NT file system and it should work fine.

[algernon]

so you want me too delete the fat32 system and the procede to load windows setup?

is there anyway to format it as a NT file system out of windows setup.

i have loaded the windows setup on a fat32 before then converted it to a nfts later in the setup but this time i cant get past that screen

[scottatwittenberg]

boot from the cd... and format the drive with the XP setup.. it will let you do fat32, fat32 (quick), NTFS, and NTFS (quick)...

[hellzassasin]

wow, this took mea long time to figure out too, but i had to go through tis ordeal myself. anywho, go into bios, boot sequency, and make sure #1 is your cd drive which u use fo the disk, and make sure #2 and #3 are disabled. try it a few times, and never wait longer thatn 5 minutes. im always afraid of this happening when i format myself. hope it works.~hellz

and another thing, i have noticed that if u use another copy of xp, it works faster. might be your scratched disk. let us know how it works out~

[Ranma_Sao]

The reason is because you used winnt.exe and didn't run smartdrv.exe. Boot off the CD and your problems will be solved.

Or start smartdrv.exe before running setup.

[algernon]

got it up and running.
thanks everybody
booted it from the cd and went without a hitch
:)