Win 2K does not complete install (WHY??)

I recently had to install Win 2k Sp2 on a brand new 20gb IDE drive. My clone pc can see the drive perfectly.
I boot from the cd and format the drive using Fat32 and the installation process begins. Shortly after the "checking network components" and "installing files" the computer tries to restart and then begins the setup process all over again.

I have removed all devices from my box so that it is completely bare bones and I still get the same reaction.

Can someone please give me some insight at to why this my be happening?
As a last resort I tried installing Win 2k on the same drive in a different computer and was successful. However when I put that drive back in the original box to boot up with the completed 2k install it will hang at the black Windows 2000 start screen and never complete the boot.

What can it be? Your thoughts are very much appreciated.

[wizbones]

Does your motherboard come with it's own IDE/Controler Device Drivers?

There is an option during the setup steps for loading third part controller drivers. I believe you press F6 and you can install the third party drivers from your motherboard manufacturers CD.

This may or may not fix your trouble but to me I sounds like that's the issue.

[Uranium-235]

I think that's for scsi drives

[vee_ess]

I feel Wizbones is exactly right in diagnosis. If that is the case, and you don't have the drivers, you should check the manufacturer's website, and then go to Driver Guide using the username of "drivers" and the password "all". Uranium is right too, however, it can also be for other special controllers such as RAID.

The reason you can't install it on one computer and then move it to the other, keeping it just the same, is because of drivers being incompatible. you should change the drivers after you install it, and then instead of restarting, just move it then. That will work, but you should then re-install the drivers againt to make sure the registry has the right serial numbers and bus IDs for the components.

I'll have to give that a try. I hope the F6 function works otherwise I don't know how you can load a third party driver on OS that does not complete the install.
Thank you for all of your advice.

[wizbones]

As long as you have drivers you should be good to go. You actually install the drivers before you install windows, it's during the preperation portion to install  ;D

Make sure to let us know how it went.

I know this thread is somewhat old but it's been a loooong time since I've been back. I ran into this same problem while updating a friend's computer.  In my case, it was a problem with the RAM on the Mobo.

My friend's old OS was Win98SE.  He wanted to upgrade to Win XP Pro and so we tried that out. That didn't work and the problems I encountered were exactly like the ones you had. We tried to install Win2k but that was still the same issue.  It turns out that his mobo was not compatible with Win XP and so we ultimately skipped the XP upgrade.

The day after I decided to try a new stick of RAM in there and viola!  The installation went through without a hitch and no more restarts.  God I hate diagnosing computers with bad RAM.  They're one of the hardest things to find.  Hope this helps out somewhat if you haven't solved your problem yet.

[wizbones]

The easiest way to check for bad ram is to use micro-scope 2000.

Check it out at http://www.micro2000.com

It's more than a few bucks but I tell you what it's saved me moocho time in determining bad sticks of mem.

Well worth the investment, if'n you'll be working on allot of systems that is.

If you decide to get it tell em Wizbones PC sent ya. I don't know if I'll get anything other than a thanks from them, but doesn't hurt to try eh?

Thanks again guys for the great tips. I have had to put that project on hold for another week or so since it is running 98se okay for now.
I have tried swapping the ram at first to see if that was the problem and it did not seem to help. But I may try Microscope just to check the ram I have in there now to make certain that the ram is good.
In the meantime with the system running 98se I hear sounds coming from this drive during the idle times on the system. Almost as if it is being parked or going in standby with no APM features activated. They set to always on. I hope this drive is not going to die also.

Thanks again.

I think something such as that could be caused be a few things. Make sure that you have a good HSF. I have seen that happen do to improper cooling. Switch out the RAM and just about anything else you can till it works.