Refuses to install on MBP 2.0

[BTBAM]

This is really starting to piss me off. I have tried 3 diffferent XP disks and they all hang during installation at the choose partition screen. I dont know if it is that my keyboard doesnt work or what but this is getting ridiculous. I have reformatted/reinstalled OS X 3 times and really do not know what else to do besides throw in the towel. PLEASE if anyone has any advice let me know.

[BTBAM]

If anyone has even a remote idea of how to fix this please IM me on instant messager at iLoveAngelaBaker as IRC does not work on my school's network.

[kirreip]

you have to be a little more specific: what exactly does not work? you mention your keyboard. is it a USB-keyboard? have you tried another one? it could be that you need a PS/2 keyboard because the drivers for your USB-keyboard (if it is one...) are not installed by then. Does your keyboard work in OSX?

Edit: Well, I just saw that it is a MBP and that you probably use the one that is built in...

[BTBAM]

Yeah I am just using the Macbook's keyboard. Basically it freezes when it gets to the choose partition screen and I noticed that next to each partition it just lists "Unknown" for what kind it is. This is for all 3 partitions that show up. Also, on one of my disks, when it is loading the various plugins, a screen comes up saying that it cannot find a driver for an external disk named "unknown". Ill try and take a pic of it.

[BTBAM]

Just a quick update, I have tried TWO more Windows disks, this time trying out an XP Home disk and both still freeze when it gets to the screen asking if you want to press enter to install, R for repair, etc. If ANYONE can help me it would mean a lot as I just want to get Windows installed and am not sure what to do. I was contemplating possibly reverting back to the old firmware and reinstalling that but what do you guys think?

-Zach

[diamondsw]

You need to provide more information.

Did you previously install XOM? If so, you will need to backup, reformat, and restore, then let BootCamp do its thing.

Do you have any other devices connected during setup (USB, Firewire, etc)? I highly recommend disconnecting anything else, as it may interfere with the keyboard (USB devices especially).

Please also include your partition layout, so we can see if anything is amiss with it.

[BTBAM]

Yeah I did have XOM previously installed but have since backed up and re-installed OS X three times. I really do not know what the issue is but I am thinking it could be something with my partitions but don't know what as I am just using the Boot Camp software to set partitions. I have tried 5 GB Windows Partitions as well as 10 GB. I have also tried disconnecting all my other peripherals during installation and every time it still freezes. Please explain how I can show you my partition layout but at the moment, I have just reverted back to a single OS X partition.

Thanks,
Zach

[holyjewsus]

I've got a few suggestions...

Okay, when you say you're backing up and restoring os X, try doing a reinstall from your original system disc instead.

Also, I think there is a topic on here about reformating your drive and losing your partition table, maybe that has happened to you? I think there are some terminal commands to get it back.

Don't hurt me if I insulted you with my naivityeeee!

[BTBAM]

That sounds like it could be the case as I am relatively sure that this is a partition problem. Can anyone post instructions to fix this? I am very new to the mac world and am not too sure how to get much done on here so as detailed as possible would be awesome.

Thanks,
Zach

[BTBAM]

Also, just to note that while I tried to get the XOM Windows XP solution to work earlier on before Boot Camp came out, it never actually did work. This was after I entered in all the terminal information to bless the xom file. The problem with that was that it never booted into the windows installer so I just called it quits with that after trying for days.

[holyjewsus]

http://forum.onmac.net/showthread.php?p=5321#post5321

This is what I was talking about.

[BTBAM]

That looks good but it says not to do it if you have repartitioned or reformatted your drive after the XOM installation and I have, several times. I dont want to brick my MBP so can anyone varify that this will work?

[BTBAM]

I took a photo of the farthest that I have gotten with any of my 5 installation disks before it freezes. As you can see, it shows each of the parittions as "UNKNOWN". From here, it wont let me choose the partition with the up and down keys. If anyone has any idea whats going on, let me know.

http://www.geocities.com/awflwaffle/DSC00314.JPG

[BTBAM]

ALRIGHT, making progress. I tried the process the HolyJewsus showed me in that thread and it kind of worked. Before doing it, my harddrive was already partitioned using Boot Camp and afterwards I actually got it to respond at the screen shown above, but it only showed the C: drive and nothing else. When selecting it, it said that Windows could not be installed on this partition. Puzzled, I went back and repartitioned using Boot Camp and tried installing agian. This time it went back to not responding at all and showing the screen above. I tried the process of recovering my GUID partition once again and it once again only showed one partition but this time the computer did not respond whatsoever and wouldnt let me do anything. Let me know if you guys have ANY ideas of WTF is up with this whole deal.

-z

[blargity]

You'll resolve this much more quickly if you actually format your entire disk and start over. Insert the OS X disk, hold c down while you boot, and you'll end up in the installer. At the top you'll see a Tools menu, go down to Disk Utility. Delete any and every partition on your hard drive, and then let OS X install. Once that's done you'll be like out of the factory, and then it should be a simple matter of installing Boot Camp without a hitch.

You're right, it looks like a partioning issue.