please help!!!!
I just recently bought NEW hard disk to install on my pc , the old 1 was a small size but working fine, when i came to install windows on it the installation does not go beyond the blue setup screen, could it be a problem with my motherboard? The computer does picu up the new hard drive but it starts to load the drive when the xp disk is inserted but stop after about 15 secs. I have tried a few different xp disks and they all seem to have the same problem

If you reinstall the old disk and the machine works OK, I doubt that the motherboard is faulty. Make sure the motherboard supports the new disk/size.

Ensure the hard disk is jumpered properly. If the "old" disk was working fine, jumper the new one up the same way. ie; if it was set to CS (Cable Select) set the new one the same, and ensure it is attached to the same connector as the old one. (If you're using MASTER or SLAVE settings, connector placement doesn't matter. It can be attached to either the middle or end connector.)

Ensure all cables are properly and fully seated on any connectors.

Next ensure the machines bios recognizes the disk properly.

After the above the XP install should procede.

It is possible you have a faulty new hard disk. It happens. If you have access to another computer you could temporarily install it there and check it.

thanks thats all fine but now the old disk does not work either so do you think it could be the motherboard as I've tried eferything else , also like you said [I] have tried the drive in my other pc and it works fine meaning windows begins to load normally, but if I put it back inthe old pc and try to load windows it goes to the windows setup screen then just freezez there

"thanks thats all fine but now the old disk does not work either so do you think it could be the motherboard as I've tried eferything else ..."

Make sure the hard disk cable hasn't been dislodged from the motherboard connector.

"... also like you said [i] have tried the drive in my other pc and it works fine meaning windows begins to load normally ..."

By the term load, do you mean START, or, INSTALL?

"... but if I put it back inthe old pc and try to load windows it goes to the windows setup screen then just freezez there ..."

If XP was installed onto this hard disk on another machine, this hard disk will not properly start on a different machine.