Question regarding Bootcamp

Ok, here's my issue: I have an 24" iMac alu (2.4 GHz, 320 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM). I installed WinXP SP2 using BootCamp and updated it. All worked out fine, until I upgraded my memory from 1 GB to 4 GB RAM. And, quelle surprise, WinXP didn't boot anymore.

What I tried to do (and got nowhere):
- To boot in XP I had to press the "alt/option" key to be able to select OS X or XP. If I double-clicked on the XP partition, the computer just froze; nothing happened after that. The screen kept displaying the two drives (XP and OS X) but the computer was frozen, I had to shut it down. I've tried waiting for a couple of minutes, just to see if it's eventually booting in XP. It didn't, tho...
- Safe boot in XP: doesn't work. To use this, Win has to start booting. Mine didn't.
- Boot from WinXP install CD: didn't work. I power up the computer, keep pressing alt/option key and I'm able to choose to boot in OS X, in XP or from XP install CD. If I click on Macintosh HD for OS X, everything runs ok. If I click on Windows or XP install CD it freezes instantly.
- Boot from Norton Ghost CD (I did a back-up image of the Win system back in the day when I installed it): didn't work. Again, it froze instantly.
- Holding C during startup to force a boot of the CD - doesn't work... the screen just stayed white.
- Booting into OS X, leaving the Windows CD in the drive, starting BootCamp Assistant and selecting the 'Start the Windows Installer' option; the system should reboot onto the CD without any keyboard input (tryin to get into the Windows Install and take the 'Repair existing Windows' path) - nothing. The screen just stayed white.

Is it because of those 4 GB RAM? I deleted the Win partition, but should I try again? Basically, I need WinXP, NOT Vista. And Apple doesn't provide drivers for the 64bit version of WinXP...

 

Is your copy of XP (64-bit) have service pack 2 already bundled in it? If not, you'll have to first create a slipstreamed disc containing service pack 2. A quick google search will net you many sites with info on the process.

Also, the following thread might help. Only thing is that it refers to Vista 64 bit but it might have some info to help you out: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=149395

Edit: D'oh! You already mention having a disc with WinXP and SP2. Disregard the first part of my post.

 

I don't have WinXP SP2 64-bit. I have the 32-bit version of it. Thing is - as far as I know, any WinXP 32-bit would work with 4 gigs of RAM, only it wouldn't see 4 gigs of RAM...

I'll give it another try.

 

It shouldnt matter what version you are using, Im using 32 bit XP pro SP2 and it just recognizes 3GB instead of 4 ...maybe the RAM isnt installed correctly or is faulty?

 

It's compatible and I have no problem whatsoever in OS X environment; the system recognizes it correctly.

 

I would go ahead and try a hardware test in OS X just to be sure. I've seen several machines with bad ram be stable in OS X, but act ridiculous in XP. Unix is a lot smarter in the way it handles memory allocation so you can get by with malfunctioning ram for a while sometimes.

You might also try reinstalling XP(since you deleted the boot camp partition). Try it with various quantities of ram also(1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 4GB, etc...)