Please Help!

[khaosnconfuzion 0]

I am new here, and hope someone can help me.

 

My wife's computer has been having a scad of problems the past couple of weeks, such as: shutting itself down with no warning, etc. We are pretty sure she has been hacked, so we decided to do a reformat and install Windows XP Pro.

 

Her system: Compaq Presario with a Celeron processor, and a 30 gig hard drive.

 

The system wipe went well, but when we went to install the XP Pro software, as it is formatting, the computer shuts down in the middle of doing the format. I am at a complete loss, because I am not the most "programming-savvy" person, but I know enough I should be able to install an OS. Can anyone give me step by step to get it set up?

 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[DosFreak 2]

The installation of 2000/XP can be a pretty intensive process for a computer, stressing processor/memory/hard drive.

 

So you'll need to check all three.

 

1. Take off the case, turn on your computer and make sure all of the fans are spinning, vacuum and/or spray out any dirt or dust.

After that try installing XP with the case off. If it installs fine then you probably have a heat issue.

 

2. Go here: http://www.memtest.org/

Download the program and test your memory.

 

3. Finally you'll need to remove your hard drive and find out who makes it: Western Digital, Maxtor, IBM, Hitachi, Fujitsu, When you find out who makes it go to their respective websites and download the diagnostic programs for the hard drive.

 

You can probably find out all the information you need to know about the Compaq by going to the Compaq website and entering the code for the Compaq, the site should give you all the details of your computer, I doubt that it will be very specific on what kind of hard drive you have though.

[khaosnconfuzion 0]

Dosfreak, thanks...

 

I took off the case, and it started installing. It was copying files, and stopped with an error message: "Could not copy the file:ir32_32.dll", and gave me the options to retry, skip, or quit. I have tried all of them. It keeps getting to that point and telling me the same thing. I cannot get past it. If I try to skip, it gets about 95% done, the progress bar turns red, and it restarts. I have to start from scratch at that point.

 

Any ideas?

 

Edited to say: BTW - It shut off as I was sitting here waiting for a response...LOL I'm going nucking futz! I'm about to take this thing to tha alley with my sledgehammer...

[DosFreak 2]

Usually when the installation process has a problem copying a file it could be a memory problem, a CD/DVD drive problem, or a problem with the CD/DVD media itself.

 

Compaq's usually have terrible CD drives so that's likely what it is but you should check the CD/DVD disc for scratches.

[theefool 0]

I 2nd that. I've seen where the computer has massive problems copying files during install. But, you use a different cd/dvd drive and everything runs smoothly.