Computer Trouble -- WinXP x64
 

This problem is starting to get to me. I'm trying to install Windows XP x64 on an otherwise perfectly operational Linux machine. When I start the Windows install, the keyboard begins acting strangely: it's like the keyboard is unresponsive, then once it finally "catches," it sticks. For example: I go to type in the registration key, for example, and I hit "Q." Nothing happens. So I hit "Q" again, and again, and again. Finally, I get a whole row of "QQQQQQQQQQQ." It stops on it's own after 6-20 times.

At first I thought this was a keyboard problem. Except that the same keyboard works fine on my other computer. It's also not isolated to the keyboard -- the mouse responds similarly, as if sometimes it's listening, and sometimes it's not. I have both of my computers on a KVM, and it works fine for the "slow" machine, and fine for Linux on the "fast" machine, but for some reason Windows isn't working right on the "fast" machine.

So after a long fight, I get Windows installed. I'd hoped that maybe the USB drivers in the installer were somehow incorrect, and that the full-fledged Windows drivers would be better -- no such luck. Fortunately, I have another symptom: if I click on something, say, a close box, it changes shading, then closes. The interesting thing is that there's an unusually long delay between the computer's acknowledgment that I've clicked (the change in shading) and the response -- like the whole machine is hung up, waiting for something. The "hang" lasts for anywhere from about 1-3 seconds.

I tried booting into Safe Mode, in hopes that perhaps there's something special here ... no such luck. If it helps any, the motherboard is an Asus A8NE, with an AMD 3200 processor and 1GB of generic memory. The keyboard and mouse are both Logitech.

I'm open to anything -- any random ideas, and off-the-wall concepts or stories that you picked up somewhere are good. I'm desperate.

Thanks in advance,

Dan

Am I missing something? You are trying to load a 64 bit version of Windows XP on a 32 bit machine? That AMD chip looks like it is only 32 bits. Why Windows XP x64?

The chip is good, this is a keyboard driver issue so says the Microsoft engineer sitting next to me. He suggests that if you're using a USB keyboard, try a PS2 and vice/versa.

I see your problem. It's "trying to install Windows".

Sorry could not resist.

At least he can install it on any machine he wants, sorry can't resist.

? huh

I think he means that you have a wide variety of of hardware choices as compared to the limited line of Apple machines.

But not nearly as many machines as you can install Linux on.

Heck, here at the house alone I have Debian running on my router machine (old Pentium 200), a Debian install on a IBM 486, Ubuntu on my desktop (dual AMD rig), Ubuntu on this laptop (new Dell D520), the OS of my Nokia 770 (ARM based tablet) is debian based. If you want to get work stuff involved, then I'll claim my little tiny portion of the IBM mainframe running SuSE Linux.

I'll agree wtih stomachmonkey - your problem is trying to put Windows on a perfectly good Linux machine :)

Excellent, I knew I was making an obvious mistake. I'll just go back to running Linux alone on that box. ;) Now I've just got to figure out how to play rFactor under Linux ...

Ok, seriously: yes, it's a 64-bit processor. If I try to install a 32-bit OS on it, it complains. One Linux installer gave me a nice dialog box that says, "Groovy processor, dude, you need a 64-bit OS to run on that thing!" I tried to load the driver software that came with the keyboard (who ever heard of a keyboard driver?), and it complains that the driver is 32-bit.

I don't have a PS/2 keyboard handy. I don't even think I have a PS/2 plug in the back of the machine. I agree that it's probably a driver issue, but I'm honestly not sure which one. (Seems like a USB host controller could be at fault too, no?) If the MS Engineer says he's sure it's a keyboard issue, I'll push down that direction. It's just bizarre that my other windows machine (admittedly 32-bit) would run fine with this keyboard, while the 64-bit version of the same OS would totally crap out on it.

Thanks for the pointers. I'll hopefully post again from the other machine in 2 hours once I've figured out how to install a keyboard driver without a keyboard. :)

Dan

Alright, just finished downloading and installing the latest version of the driver from Logitech, no joy.

What else?

Tried the latest version of the video driver, ATI x600 series ... it seems like it's marginally better, but definitely not fixed.

Any other thoughts?

Just fought through the install for all of the Asus-associated motherboard drivers (except the BIOS updates; I'm not trying to muddle through that with mouse/kb acting like they are). Just as bad as before.

I'm beginning to wonder if I have some kind of actual hardware problem. Linux is robust enough that it shrugs it off, but Windows is too fragile to deal with it. Anyone ever see anything like that?

Dan

Does the machine have enough ooomph ot run Linux as a host and a guest install of Windows via VMWare? Will VMWare play RFactor well enough for you? May be the easiest solution....

VMWare, not a bad idea. Seems like I'd lose enough efficiency in the emulation process that it wouldn't be any quicker than the slow machine. If I can't fix Windows, I may end up doing that. Good idea.

There is a package called driver magician that will look at your machine, go to the web & pull down the most current drivers for every device. I've had good luck with it.

Doing a quick google, it looks like it may be possible to play rfactor in Linux under wine... you will need a version of wine with directx 9 support though, but it is out there. May want to try cedega or crossover as well (commercially supported wine - not all Free is free)

Yeah, choices that result in a much harder task of making a stable OS. While I'm no MSFT fanboy even I have to admit the platform would be much stabler if the endless configuration permutations were less.

DJ's issue looks to be shaping up to be a prime example of this.

UHHH....

Linux works. Windows won't install. Hence this thread.

Just out of curiosity. why XP x64? Everyone knew it was a train wreck from the jump, and honestly seemed more like a proof of concept "See we can write a 64 bit XP" than something actually useable. I've never heard a single good thing about it and when it came out, most people recommended waiting for Vista.

Why not try Vista x64? I've heard it's leaps and bounds better than 32. I was going to try it, had it all set to install, but 32 bit pissed me off too much and I just reformatted and put something else on. My friends that have used x64 say it cleared up a lot of issues from the 32 bit version.

Anyway, you might want to check the BIOS and try playing with the ACPI options, Legacy USB and things like that. Or, if possible, use a PS/2 keyboard

hmmm, installing is really not that much of a beni if it don't work.;)