Check the bios settings to ensure that they match the hard drive specifications. I had a thinkpad a while back that had the same symptoms (ie would hang, couldn't re-install XP, etc). I would boot LiveCD Linux so I tracked it down to the hard drive.

Although my problem ended up being a problem with the hard drive, the symptoms were similiar so it's worth a look. GLTY

I am so tempted to just conclude here by stressing, "US hardware should only run with US software." But what I'm more curious is have you updated Windows with US Windows updates? What if updates are controlled region specific?

Very similar event occured when I took a laptop from United States to another country as a donation to a cause. When the OS needed updates they simply clicked on update and it was all good. But not much later (about 1 month into it) the laptop started to show frequent blue screen and/or hang-ups.

This later was addressed at Microsoft conference in Rochester, NY that the operating system released to other countries are not the same as the US release. It's not just a language difference but ranging from encryption system to core instruction codes. Intel, would not confirm publicly, also stated that chips released to other countries are not the same as US version(s). This, I think, has something to do with the security where the very hardware released to others could not be used against the country that developed...but that's another story.

So, what if updates were not "compatible" with the Windows version? Compaq's Presario series were reported in the past that certain updates were causing malfunctions in US as well as abroad. Can Acer share the similar symptom?

Well, since your computer does not boot correctly how about using the good old method of using floppy drive to do your fdisk and format? Can you boot to a floppy? If so you can use any boot disk to fdisk and format. Your laptop's BIOS then set to CDROM boot and see if you can reinstall.

...or have you tried this already

I tried first the live CD, and when that booted fine and windows still wouldn't install, i did a full install of Ubuntu with no problems.
I had bought another hard disk, same capacity, also by Samsung, and switching between the two doesn't help. Previously I had been able to install XP Media Center2005, Professional 32 bit, and Home Edition.
Now i can only install either Linux or Vista.


Well... yeah I tried that. I can format it fine in another laptop, because i don't exactly have an external floppy to attach. but even if i format it, i have to install XP, and then it hangs at the beginning of that. The regional updates could also be a cause, but i'm not sure, as I had a Compaq Presario for 3 years before this, and it was also a refurb deal from the states, always online and updated it, and it nver had any problems before i came here and someone kindly dropped it off the top of a cupboard.
Anyways, it's still in warranty, so Acer's had it for a week now but still i haven't heard back from them. As long as they fix it i'll be fine, but i'm still trying to second-guess the cause.

Could it be the simple fact your Hardware and hard drive are just broke for some unexplainable reason and all the common stuff does not work for it. If so just get them replaced, which you already have.

I just skimmed the posts but by chance did you run a diagnostics (F12 key I believe) and see if any errors popped up?

Possibly it's the motherboard or the connector. it's not the hard drives. that i think i've already established, by checking with the linux disk checker, and chkdsk and perfectly fine xp installs in the hard disks in other laptops.

It happened on my desktop pc once. It was a problem that was caused by a BIOS function called ACPI or something like that being disabled. It\'s something like a device management for os or a compatibility thing... try to find ACPI in your bios and enable it

It's been a while, so by now it's all sorted out. It turned out to be a combination failure of the processor and motherboard, some little thing on it that froze only with XP. However, since it was a dual core AMD (back then it was almost the first in Pakistan) no one including the authorized Acer dealerships knew how to repair it. I got a little P2 Toshiba from them as a spare machine, and then with that problem, and issues with the stamp on the warranty card, it took 8 months for them to come up with a solution. Meanwhile the laptop had been sent to the center in Bahrain, where they couldn't fix it either, but at least diagnosed the problem. So they sent over a new motherboard and processor from the states, but then informed me that due to the warranty issue (bought from CompUSA -- never again) they wouldn't repair it for free... the cost would have been $500. So since I bought the laptop for $750 after rebates, 500 was a bit too much, seeing as they also said that once repaired, the warranty would be effectively finished. I asked them if they could do anything else, and a friend of mine who knew the top ppl pulled a few strings, and they agreed to offer me the option of the same $500 payment, but for a trade in of my laptop for the current model (from 5116 to 5611) and a 3 year warranty. All considered it sounded like a good deal, especially since it had been a year since the original purchase. Because the laptop specs they sell here are pretty limited (60GB, 512MB ram, combo drive) I got them also to put my previous specs in (160GB, 2GB ram, super multi drive) for no extra cost, and they complied. So now I finally have a working machine, but have learned never to buy AMD in Pakistan, at least for the next few years, till the technology gets a bit more absorbed.

That's strange that this problem only affects Windows XP, it is highly odd. I've never heard of a computer just crashes on one version of an operating system but works with its successor and its competitors. Oh well, at leas you got it resolved.

I'd just go with a Mac, it just works (until there are actual component failures, there's no such thing as flawless hardware).

xboxrulz

aspire 5102wlmi
Frustrating Problem With XP On Laptop

I tired installing xp, but after booting from cd and loading all the drivers, right after the fat and ntfs drivers, it says "setup is loading windows" and then it hangs there. How to install xp pro in acer aspire 5102wlmi - 0.00 hr back.

-reply by Mallikarjun

Same problem with XP on Acer 5102
Frustrating Problem With XP On Laptop

Replying to Grafitti
Hi Grafitti, I have exactly the same problem as you had. Only XP refuses to load, not even in safe mode or from setup cds. Also bought the laptop at CompUSA and taken abroad. Did you find out which processor/motherboard hardware problem exactly prevented XP to load? If known I could perhaps disable the service/driver related to it from booting (if not essential for XP to load)
Txs,
Gert

-reply by Gert