Member Avatar for Renn4000

Am trying ti install Windows XP but keep getting the blue screen. Can you tell me what I need to correct during my trouble shoot

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A compact, practical troubleshooting guide that complements the suggestions from , , , , and .

First step: distinguish the normal XP text-mode setup screen from a fatal BSOD. A real BSOD shows a hexadecimal STOP code and often a driver filename (for example: STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE or a file like iaStor.sys). Photograph the entire screen or write the exact code and any filename shown — that single line is the most useful clue.

Useful STOP codes (what they usually mean)

  • 0x0000007B — inaccessible boot device: typically a missing storage controller driver or controller/BIOS mode mismatch.
  • 0x00000050 — PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA: often bad RAM or a faulty driver.
  • 0x00000024 — NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM: possible HDD/partition corruption.
  • 0x0000003B / 0x0000007E — driver exceptions or bad system files.
    Use the code to choose tests rather than guessing.

Priority diagnostic sequence (fast, ordered)

  1. Photograph the stop screen (full text).
  2. Run a multi-pass RAM test (MemTest86 or equivalent) from USB.
  3. Run the hard-drive vendor’s diagnostics and check SMART attributes from a boot utility.
  4. Disconnect nonessential peripherals and extra drives; use a different optical drive or a freshly burned ISO at slow speed.
  5. Boot a small live environment to confirm basic hardware (if it runs, the XP media or drivers are likely at fault).

Fixes and cautions

  • If the STOP code points to storage drivers, either enable the controller’s legacy/compatibility mode in BIOS or supply the correct driver to setup (F6/floppy or inject into the ISO). Changing controller mode can break an existing Windows install — back up first.
  • Replace failing RAM or a dying disk before retrying.
  • For Dell machines use the service-tag to fetch factory drivers if needed.

Having the exact STOP code plus any filename (photo) and a short note of where setup stops lets replies be immediately targeted.

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for caperjack

Am trying ti install Windows XP but keep getting the blue screen. Can you tell me what I need to correct during my trouble shoot

so lets start with why you poster in the win7 section of the forum ,please tell us more about you computer ,like brand name if it is one and model # ,is it new or old ,type of harddrive in the computer,sata or ide , ect ect

Member Avatar for Renn4000

Ok morning and thanks in advance sorry about the windows7 side I love the OS. Now the computer am working on is a dell not the best specs <snipped DELL service tag and support ref, this is sensitive information>

Edited by jbennet because: snipped DELL service tag and support ref, this is sensitive information
Member Avatar for caperjack

at what point do you get the blue screen ,are you trying to install winxp with the dell oem disk that would have come with the computer
your computer .
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04

Member Avatar for amit.negi

Hi,

If recently you have installed new hardware device in PC, So remove this hardware and then retry installation.

Member Avatar for Mikey37

Hi,

The two previous posts are trying to eliminate possible problems. The question, “Where in the process do you get the blue screen”, is looking for the following.

Is the computer getting past the BIOS self-test?

Are you installing from a CD or floppy drive? If you are using a CD and a floppy is installed, remove any floppy drive cables, secondary harddrive cables.

Is the problem the XP CD? Is the CD active light coming on? Keep in mind, loading XP will initially start in a blue screen which asks do you want to load from scratch of do a repair; do you want to reformat the drive, and so on.

Have you eliminated the CD? Try loading another CD such as another recovery disk or a Linux OS disk. You can create a Linux CD at no charge. If Linux loads, the XP disk is probably bad.

If it won’t run the Linux, then you are likely experiencing a hardware failure.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Moved to XP board.

Member Avatar for ThomasAnderson

Well, all u need is to change the setting in BIOS.
Keep pressing F2 at very start up of ur computer. It will redirect u to the BIOS.
Goto Advance menu & select some thing like SATA mode to IDE mode.
Save & exit.
Now u are able to install windows XP.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Or use your disk controller driver by means of a Slipstream with nlite / use a floppy

Member Avatar for caperjack

when i put his service tag in earlier im sure it said it was a ide board ,i could be wrong

Member Avatar for gurukid22

if your sure you have downloaded the correct cd for your operating system or image as i assume it would be it may be the hard drive itself. you could also always try reimage to reinstall windows the link is in my signature.

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