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Question

XP hangs up on reinstall

Sep 6, 2012 2:49AM PDT

Hello,
After I bought a new computer I wanted to reinstall Windows XP on the old one to wipe the hard drive so I could donate it. I booted from the XP disc, deleted all partitions, and began the install, but it hangs up just after "installing devices" at the point where it tells me "setup will complete approximately: 33 minutes"

I've tried powering the machine down and restarting several times. Three times it resumed the installation at the T-39 mark and hung up again in exactly the same spot. Twice it tried to do a fresh install, then hung up at exactly the same spot.

I've seen some answers to similar posts recommending swapping out video cards and the like to, but I am minimally "techie" and just want to be rid of this machine safely. Ideally, I'd like to get XP reinstalled for the recipient. Any ideas? At minimum, I want a clean hard drive. It looks as though the partitions I deleted before the first reinstall are indeed gone, so can I assume it's safely wiped and whoever I hand the machine off to can't easily access my files?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
There are too many causes.
Sep 6, 2012 2:55AM PDT

From USB things plugged in to machine issues. It is a gift so why not install Linux and move on?
Bob

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Answer
Something you didn't mention . . .
Sep 6, 2012 2:55AM PDT

You did create a primary partition and format it, right?

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Formatted during install?
Sep 6, 2012 3:05AM PDT

I deleted all partitions until all I had left was unpartitioned space, then at install I specified that it was to be formatted as NTSC. I presume this formats it as required?

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More likely NTFS.
Sep 6, 2012 3:11AM PDT

Unless there are more clues such as "I had my printer plugged in during the install" I think a Linux install would be best. It's a gift so why not hurry it up and move it out?
Bob