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I cannot install any version of Windows on my machine. Is it a hardware or software issue?

Posted By : Charles of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on May 3, 2005

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Hi,

I have a AMD K6-2 PC with 400MHz speed. I am using this from last 4yrs. Recently I am facing a problem with windows installation. When I try to install win98, the installion will abort some time at 90% and sometimes after 100% during 'updating system settings'. If installion completes and when I enter windows, it shows explorer.exe error or SHLWAPI.dll linked to missing file <xxx.xxx> and i am not able to do anything excpet restarting the PC.

Also sometimes during booting the system shows 'You must reinstall windows'. I have tried installing win98 for several times but couldn't succed one or the other error messages!!

I tried installing win95, but this gives windows protection fault error, then I tried installing win2000 professional which also aborted the installion. Tried installing winXP, but same result. when I installed windows ME, the system kept on re-booting... not able to do anything.

This is a very strange problem, everytime I see a different error messages. I tried formating the disk, created new partition table, but of no use. I am not able to understand wheather it's a hardware problem or a software problem. I am confused, pls. let me know how shall I proceed.

Thanks in advance

shashi

This question was answered on May 3, 2005. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.


This may be a hardware issue, Shashi Since you mention a Protection Fault Error, I suspect a memory problem This could either mean the system memory is bad, or since Windows can substitute system memory with hard disk space, you may have a bad hard disk

I would try replace one or both hardware with compatible ones and see if the problem is resolved

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Posted by Charles of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on May 3, 2005

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