keyboard freezing during XP clean install

[franckt]

I have bought many years ago a MSI S250 notebook (MSI link).

I never had any problem with this NB, which runs on a XP Home Edition, except from the battery.

But because I never take it outside, I use it with the battery removed and only plugged to electricity

(well... before going on, sorry for my english.. !!)

Some days ago, because I was tired of the noise done by NB fan, I decided to open it to do a quick clean inside.

After having done the job, when I did close the keyboard panel, I did break the "pin connector" on the motherboard linked to the mousepad.

Well, I thought that was not a big problem. So I finished screwdriving and when I launched my windows session, my keyboard and mouse (the only one I used, connected on USB) were freezing few secondes after login in. I did try many times. But same effect. I did try in safe mode and it was working fine (so like I have read after, it's not a problem of overheated CPU due to my cleaning action). But in safe mode, I didn't find any problem (once again, like I said fropm the beginning, I never had any kinf of problem with this NB).

So, my first idea was to try to desactivate the PS/2 mouse (which wasn't any more connected but still visible in the device driver window).

I did succeed following some advices from a MSI forum thread (http://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=111063.0)

But always the same effects, both keyboard and mouse were freezing few seconds after entering my login data for a new window session.

Hours later, after having saved my documents, images and so on, I decided to format my NB and do a clean windows install (because after X years, I don't really know if and where were any recovery CDs).

First, because on MSI website, I have seen there was an "update" of my bios.. I decided to begin doing this.

I know that it's not necessary when nothing goes wrong but because in my actual bios, I only have 5 options to be modified (amount of share memory, date/time, boot order, USB legacy and bios password), I thought that was the right moment to do this update. By the way, with this bios, you can't boot on any USB device.

But after many tries, I didn't succeed... when I type my update command in DOS, I have always the same window-message :

DOSFLASH ROM_FILE / <COMMAND1> with a list of available command

I have tried all the possibilities.... nothing !!

I try to find if my mainboard had a BIOS protection jumper.... I didn't find anything !

Well.... after hours.... I stopped trying to flash my bios decided to do my clean windows install...

ANd again, I never succeeded....

Each time, the installation stops due to my keyboard freezing (I didn't plug my mouse on USB).

90% of the time, it was occuring after having choosen my language and country parameter, when I was on the window where I have to indicate my product key.

So yesterday, because I have quite all my NB drivers, I have done a new installation via the unattended method (using nLite and reading the bible http://unattended.msfn.org/unattended.xp/)...

But it's always the same... I would say ironically it's better, because now, the install process stops during the "networks install window" appeared...

But each time, I relaunch the install, my NB is freezing....

So.... my questions are :

1) May be anyone, after reading this, have THE solution that I would love to read

2) Is it possible to desactivate quickly in the windows install process the PS2 keyboard and mouse device (in that case I'll plug another keyboard and mouse on USB) ?

3) Is it possible to do this installation in another way ? (for example, make a quicker install by bypassing lots of parameters, like the networks.... or by copying the setup files in another partition on my NB HD) ?

4) Is anyone be able to help me solved my bios flash problem too ? (I don't really know what's on the new bios I intend to implement but may be there will some interesting options)

I think of making a clean install on an external HD that I will plug via USB on my NB.... But if there is no "functionnal system" on my NB, I'm questionning if it will be working.

Of course, I could buy a new HD for my NB but I really don't know what's wrong and where (like I saifd before my cleaning task, this NB was perfect... and in safe mode, I didn't have any freezing problem)..

SIncerely

Franck

Edited June 4, 2011 by franckt

[Sp0iLedBrAt]

Just a little help if you ever want to boot from USB: Sorry I can't help with your big problem.

Cheers

[franckt]

Thanks a lot... I will have a look but if this tool needs to be setup through a workable windows system, that will be hard for me.... but may be after so many days and nights trying to solve my strange problem, I begin to be pessimistic

[allen2]

First the bios, you most likely downloaded this file and then created a dos boot floppy and added the files extracted from the downloaded zip.

If you didn't, you should try this way. If you need a clean boot floppy image, you can download one there.

Edited June 4, 2011 by allen2

[franckt]

Well, thanks, I did succeed last night... using cd boot with plbt in order to boot on my usb stick

and making in anoher hand an usb bootable with the bios files.

Well.... my gain is really small... because now I have one more option on my bios : express if I launch my wireless device on boot or not !!!

Really poor gain considering that I have removed from my NB my wireless card in order to have a minimum config to install.

But I try again to install Windows Home Edition... and that cas always the same result.

I really appreciate your help

F.

[allen2]

Read there how to create a winnt.sif with your own network settings and see example here.

[franckt]

I'll have a look... after getting a rest (I don't remember last time I slept !!)...

I have read already hours about unattended concept...

I didn't know before... really interesting...

But I continue to believe that there is a link between my pin connector broken and my unability to install Windows...

SOmething occurs while installing with PS2 device missing... or may be it's something else

To be continued...

[jaclaz]

Wouldn't it be easier to fix the connector?

I am pretty sure that no matter "how" you broke it, it is possible to fix it, one way or the other.

jaclaz

[franckt]

Sure that with efficient tools that could be possible to fix it....

But I'm a bit amazed that a device which is not connected could make my life so difficult

I believe minutes ago that I'll dream a bit lying on my bed but I'm using Ultimate Boot CD on my NB in order to see if there were no useful information

[Ponch]

Or at least check that it is "cleanly" broken. It is possible that the "gone" mousepad is reacting as if a button was pushed (just an idea). But anyway, the flat cable to a mousepad usually has only very few wires and it should be repairable indeed (did you break more than the plastic that fastens the cable ?).

[franckt]

Well.... I think that after having formatted the HD (with DBAN !!), it's not a problem of button in endless virtual clicking state !!!

I think that my HD has a problem and by chance (or not in this case), it has happened at this moment.

I say that because I have tried so many things to install XP again.

Last one was to install via a partition on the HD, in order to have all the files already there.. not using anymore CD drive.

But may be it's something else.. I'm studying (via gparted interface) all the setup logs...

Some USB problems install... but now like always, problem to go on installing because of missing "system" file in system32\config...

Not possible to do a repair because there are no others system in repair directory or system volume information

Edited June 6, 2011 by franckt

[Ponch]

Well.... I think that after having formatted the HD (with DBAN !!), it's not a problem of button in endless virtual clicking state !!!

I fail to follow your reasoning here (that ensuring a clean software install would eliminate a potential hardware symptom). I was not suggesting a "virtual clicking state", I was suggesting a possible electrical shortcut. Anyway, before anyone ( ) kicks off to pedantic mode, DBAN doesn't format hdds, it wipes them. HDDs don't even get formatted. Partitions do.

And yes, a failing HDD can lock your system for few seconds or minutes or even forever. There are diagnostic tools for that.

[franckt]

You're right... my answer was inconsistant...

Anyway...my last try (after having wipped the HDD with DBAN) has been to partition my HDD.

1st one in NTFS, 2nd one in FAT 32 by booting on a UDCD CD and using gparted tool.

Then I did copy through a USB stick my Windows Home Edition on the FAT32 partition.

Reboot with a BartPE CD to launch the windows install process from FAT32 partition to NTFS one.

My goal was to only do it with the HDD.

But the end was the same...

I did lots of tests and diagnosis with UBCD, I didn't notice any major problems.

Yes, my HDD is getting old. I really can buy another one. But I'd like to be sure that's really this which makes my life harder for a week

If you have any suggestion about which diagnosis tools and/or tests I should perform, I'll be glad to know it.

Have a nice day or night wherever you are

[Ponch]

Most HDD makers have diag programs on their site. Your BArtPE might include one as well.

[franckt]

Well I did have a look yet to Toshiba website.. I didn't find anything for my HDD....

After new tries today, I give up.... and I'm trying now to install Ubuntu (which was working without installing it first)...

Thanks for your advice