WinXP Install Problem

Hello all, i have a travelmate 653LCi that will not let me install WinXP. I've tried 98 and ME with success but no XP. Here's what happens, if i boot from the cd or install from windows it starts installing the files for installation but when the screens shows "starting windows setup" it stops in it's tracks.

If anyone has any ideas or has witness the same thing and found a solution please reply. Thanks

 

does it pop up a message about the HARD DRIVE NOT FOUND?

do you know if it has a SATA type HDD? how old is the PC??

 

where is taylorsville?? i'm located at
gray ky 40734

 

Can you tell us some specs, like what components it has?

 

The specs can be found here.

XP doesn't come with SATA drivers, however this doesn't seem to be your problem since your computer uses an IDE connection.

Can you tell us anything more about what happens when the "windows setup" dialog stops? Do you get an error of any kind?

 

Well, since that computer was pre-loaded w/XP, I assume it's not some incompatible piece of hardware.

 

as much as i hate to say this,,, i had this happen to me while trying to reload the factory restore disks...

i flashed the BIOS to the latest version and it worked, the install finished... don't ask me to explain it, because it makes no sense to me... but it did work...

 

No pop ups it just freezes, no sata and it is about 4 years old (2004). The previous owner said the hard drive went bad so i bought it and put another one in.

Oh yea Taylorsville is in Spencer co. south east of Louisville.

 

Specifications - TM653LCi

Processor / Speed-Intel Pentium 4 Celeron Processor-M 2.0GHz

Core Logic Chipset-Intel MCH-M+ICH3M

System Bus Speed-400MHz

RAM / Max RAM-256MB / 1024MB DDR SDRAM

Video Subsystem-ATI Mobility RADEON 7500 with 32MB DDR

LCD Properties-15.0" TFT 1400 x 1050 x 16M (SXGA)

Hard Disk Drive-40GB Ultra ATA/100

Floppy Disk Drive-Optional external USB 1.44MB 3.5"

CD-ROM Drive-DVD-CDRW Combination Drive

Battery, Primary-Li+

Sound Subsystem-Realtek AC´97

PCCard Support-O2Micro OZ711 EC1 SmartCardBus Controller 1 Type II/Type I
Pointing Device-Synaptics Touchpad

Peripheral Subsystem-1 CardBus type II slot; 1 Smart Card slot
1 RJ-11, 1 RJ-45, 1 ECP/EPP-compliant parallel port
1 VGA, 3 audio jacks, 1 FIR, 4 2.0 USB
1 IEEE 1394, 1 S-video, 1 port replicator connector

Modem-V.90 Modem / 14.4 Fax

Ethernet-10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet; Wake-on-LAN ready & 802.11b WLAN

Operating System-Windows XP Professional

 

It just seems like it freezes, you don't hear any think lock up or get the feeling that it's locked up, it just seems like it stop in the middle of installing but doesn't start back up. The screen will still show the windows setup at the top and at the bottom after installing the files it will say "Setup is starting Windows" but goes no further.

At first i thought maybe i was missing a driver or two so i downloaded those and installed them then i check the bios and it's up to date for that model. But i could be wrong because it still won't install LOL!!!

I tried calling Acer for some help and they told me they only offer assistance for Vista and get this, my rig is designed for Vista not XP LOL!!! I told the guy that Vista did not exist in 2004 but i guess he's a drone or somthing...

 

I'm not really sure what you can do about this type of problem; if you're using the XP disc that came with the computer, I can only recommend that you try another disc. I also recommend that you refer Acer to the webpage that I posted earlier; it clearly states that the OS for that computer is XP, and, as you say, Vista was never even available in 2004.

 

Which BIOS version ?? (Current)

EDIT: And which XP are you trying to install ?

(XP no SP; SP1; SP2; SP3 ?)
And is there an option to enable/disable USB support in the BIOS ??

 

well i thought i was using the newest version (3A38) but when i looked again it shows 3A28 so i tried to flash it but i would not work(froze). So i downloaded the dos version and forgot that i don't have a floppy drive. Im having so mush fun

 

Which Service Pack ? (XP)

 

Try this BIOS version....(A21)
It states: Fix non-SP1 WinXP installation fail issue. But this fix was removed in the next BIOS release as it caused Win 98 and Win 2000 failed installations.

If it works, you can re-flash the latest BIOS later after the XP install.

(Worth a try ?)

Also try this utility.

 

Oh yea XP Pro w/o sp, i'll give that bios version a try and let you know. Thanks Andy

 

nice to see another KY resident here.... i remember where Taylorsville is now... if memory serves me correctly that is where the NEW EARTH store was located.... just south of Louisville... and i think that ANDY's last post about the BIOS is probably going to be the answer to your problems...

good find there ANDY.... i'd never have thought to check the changelog for info about that... and it seems really weird that Acer would have a current BIOS release that has issues loading XP (especially since that is the OS that came pre-installed)

 

BTW here is the log of all the BIOS changes.

If the A21 doesn't solve, OP can try the A38.

 

I tried the old version but it would not let me because it was older version. Im also using the same flash utility that you posted. If i could just find a way to go back, i think your dead on with installing the older version. I looked on line befoe but i couldn't find any of the older versions. Do you think i could go back if i used a floppy? Heck even i f i could i still have to find an external floppy to hook up.:confused2:

 

Yea A38 is what i was trying oringinally, if it wasn't for bad luck...

 

i'm sure there is a way to FORCE the flash even though you are flashing with an older version... you are encountering a "saftey feature" built into the flashing program since 99.9% of the time you will always be flashing with a newer version...

you might check the ADVANCED features and see if there is any mention of IGNORING bios version or FORCEING the flash...

my PC doesn't use that type of flash software so i'm not the best person to answer this question... but i'm sure that using the DOS flash that there is a "SWITCH" to tell the software to ignore current version and continue w/ reprogramming.

but Andy is more of the expert with AWARD BIOS flashing

 

Try flashing with these Flag Settings, it should work !!

 

Ok Andy i'll give it a try tonight, Thanks for all the help guys.

 

i have also have a problem like that...r u already fixed yours???can teach me how???tnx!!!

 

Sorry guys, i was out of town and got back in last night. I gave it a try with those settings and no go. Im hunting for a external floppy now but im open for more ideas.

Andy - I thought for sure that would have done the trick, you would think that the Flash software would have at least took the new bios settings.

 

It didn't work with the modified Flag Settings ??

I think it might be possible to flash the BIOS using a USB Floppy Drive....

 

No worky on those settings.

I was wondering the same thing, im not sure if it will get recognized in DOS or not.

 

Would a bad battery have anything to do with it not wanting to flash?

 

No, not really.

Ok, can you download CPU-Z and upload a screenshot of the Mainboard Page in it.

 

I'll give it a shot.

 

Motherboard

Manufacture: Acer
Model: Travelmate 650 Rev 1.0
Chipset: Intel i845D Rev. 04
Southbridge: Intel 82801M (ICH3-M)
LPCIO: NS PC87591

Bios

Brand: Acer
Version: 3A28
Date: 04/17/2003

Graphic Interface

Version: AGP version 2.0
Transfer Rate 4x Max. 4x
Side Band: enabled

 

I finally got 3A38 to work but i still can't get XP to install, Andy where did you find the older bios version at? I was wondering if maybe i could try the original bios software to get XP to install and then put 3A38 back on like you were talking about before.

 

Success!!! I finally got XP to install!!! This time i let Windows ME boot up then and i installed it through ME and selected clean install over upgrade and off she went!!! Thanks everybody for your help and happy holidays!!!