Why is my Windows installation stuck in a loop?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a user experiencing a problem with reinstalling Windows XP, specifically getting stuck in a loop during the installation process. Participants explore potential causes and solutions related to the installation and boot process.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • The original poster describes a loop during the Windows installation process, mentioning attempts to format and use different installation CDs without success.
  • One participant suggests that the issue may be due to the system not writing the correct files to the disk and proposes checking with a different operating system, such as Linux.
  • Another participant raises the possibility that the boot order in the BIOS may not have been changed back after the initial CD boot, which could lead to the installation loop.
  • A different participant recommends restarting the installation without the Windows XP CD to see if that resolves the issue.
  • The original poster later confirms that adjusting the boot order resolved the issue, indicating that the boot order was incorrectly set to prioritize the CD drive.
  • One participant humorously relates to the original poster's experience, sharing that they have made similar mistakes regarding the boot order and CD removal during installation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the boot order may have been the cause of the installation loop, with multiple suggestions regarding how to address the issue. However, there is no consensus on the exact nature of the problem prior to the solution being found.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the BIOS settings and the installation process are present, but these are not fully explored or resolved in the discussion.

FrostScYthe
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Aghhh.. I just had to reinstall my windows because I was having some problems with it, it´s a windows xp, as I try to reinstall windows, it seems to go fine, and it deletes the old files, and prepares for windows installation, then it does a restart and then I´m back on the windows setup screen, I´ve tried formatting it, and installing windows but I´m back on the windows setup screen, it´s like a loop, and I´m puzzled over its cause, it isn{t the cd I´ve already tried a different one.
Any help thanks in advance.
 
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FrostScYthe said:
Aghhh.. I just had to reinstall my windows because I was having some problems with it, it´s a windows xp, as I try to reinstall windows, it seems to go fine, and it deletes the old files, and prepares for windows installation, then it does a restart and then I´m back on the windows setup screen, I´ve tried formatting it, and installing windows but I´m back on the windows setup screen, it´s like a loop, and I´m puzzled over its cause, it isn{t the cd I´ve already tried a different one.
Any help thanks in advance.

sounds like for some reason it is not writing the correct files to the disk.

do you have access to Linux? just to see what the problem is, you should try a different OS install and see if that has the same problem.
 
It sounds like you've forgotten to change the boot order in the BIOS after the first reboot. I imagine you know what I'm talking about since you would have had to change it to boot from the CD in the first place, but if not, let me know and I'll give more of an explanation.

If you've already checked that and it isn't what's causing the problem, then I've got no clue, sorry.
 
have you tried restarting without the windows xp cd in at all? it does sound like it could be a boot order thing.
 
Fixed it

Yeah apparently it was the boot order thingie, I had the boot order as CD-ATAPI first, and then I had the disabled everything else. I tried setting the boot order as the default one, and windows started... finally omg.

I'm still not sure what it was, but it probably had to do with that, and to think I formatted the whole thing =(
 
ROFL! I have done that quite a few times too!

Always take the cd out when there is that countdown to reboot going.
 

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