XP SP2 won't install (without SP2 works fine)

[wolf2005]

First I must apologize if the subject has been discussed already; the keywords I used to search gave me quite a large number of topics, none of which I've read relevant.

My problem is as follows:

1. First situation

A few time ago i had to reinstall the operating system for some reasons; I tried to install XP SP2 (as I always did), but it wouldn't install. After "press any bey to boot from cd...", it started to load those files/drivers, but at some point, the computer rebooted, before loading Windows Setup. I tried many times, but no go.

Then I thought of installing normal XP, boot into it, and then install SP2 over it. The windows installation went fine, but after I've installed SP2 and rebooted the computer, the system wouldn't start anymore (kept rebooting before the XP logo and loading bar appeared). I started in safe mode, used system restore to go back before the SP2 install, and it worked. So, for a while, I used the system like this, without SP2.

2. Second situation

The day before yesterday, I tried again to install XP with SP2 (from a nlite install cd I've made, with all updates after sp2 untill this month). This time, it started to install, but it froze with a blue error screen just after the screen where you select time region. It was something about "driver_irq_not_less_or_equal".

I rebooted, went into bios, and selected Fail-safe settings. I restarted the installation and this time worked. I had a full working XP SP2 install. I begun installing drivers, antivirus, firewall etc (thus restarting the computer many times) and there were no problems at all.

But this morning, when I started my computer, it would't boot into Windows anymore (I haven't changed anything in the mean while, nor in BIOS, nor installing/uninstalling hardware components). It doesn't get to the windows logo screen and it restarts; I choose Last known good configuration - it restarts again; I choose Start windows normally - the same. In safe mode it's starting well.

My system specs:

Fastfame 8VKK motherboard

Celeron 1700 Mhz

1GB Ram (2 kingmax sticks)

Ati Radeon X1650 Pro 512 MB (AGP)

2xPATA Maxtor HDD 40Gb each

an LG DVD-RW + an Asus Cd-RW

2xPCI Network adapters (Trendnet and Realtek)

NEC USB2.0 PCI adapter

Microsoft USB wireless keyboard and mouse

The PSU is a Raidmax 500W

If anyone can help me, please do so. Sorry for the long post (I wished to be as detailed as it can be) and for my faulty English... Thanks!

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Run memtest on your system I would suspect faulty ram..

[RJARRRPCGP]

Could be an overheating processor or bad PSU.

[wolf2005]

Thank you, guys, for the advices. I run memtest and it all seems fine.

The PSU is quite new and I don't think this is the problem (even if it isn't a brand one).

About the processor, here's what Aida32 3.94 reports right now (I would have used MBM, but I never got it to detect the sensors on my mobo):

Sensor Properties

Sensor Type ITE IT8705F

Sensor Access ISA 290h

Temperatures

Motherboard 26 °C (79 °F)

CPU 43 °C (109 °F)

Aux 30 °C (86 °F)

Cooling Fans

CPU 2961 RPM

Voltage Values

CPU Core 1.68 V

+2.5 V 2.48 V

+3.3 V 3.36 V

+5 V 5.13 V

+12 V 12.10 V

+5 V Standby 5.08 V

VBAT Battery 3.26 V

But, even if it's an overheating processor, why does normal XP works, and with SP2 it doesn't even load? (when I start the computer after a few hours I don't think the processor would heat up that fast).

Now I'm using XP without SP2 and there are no problems at all, even when running stresfull apps.

[Glenn9999]

In addition to what has been said, bad drivers can cause this problem. See if drivers for all your devices (especially the mainboard) have been revised since SP2 came out (roughly 2002).

[wolf2005]

I also thought of a driver problem; concerning the motherboard drivers, I never installed any drivers for it (at least for its chipset) and I have used XP SP2 from the first days.

Anyway, I can't even get to installing drivers, because I can't install the system. And if I use nlite to integrate them , would be no use, as the drivers inserted with nlite do not load at the first portion of windows setup (remember that the setup is restarting even before agreeing to the license and choosing partitions).

What drivers could be the problem? I have removed all expansion cards from my pc, one of the hdds, the cd-rw, I used PS2 keyboard and mouse and tried installing, but it still doesn't work.

[RJARRRPCGP]

I saw the same type of problem occur with a certain HDD. They're may be an incompatibility with certain HDD models and IDE controller combinations.

[mara-]

Maybe is something wrong with your CD. You should borrow CD from someone and try again.

Cheers