Device problems
One reason could be that you've installed a third-party mass storage device driver that isn't compatible with Windows 2000, or you've installed the wrong driver for the device. This is generally more common with SCSI adapters, but it can also occur if you've installed a third-party IDE adapter. In this case, installing the correct driver should clear up the problem and allow Setup to complete normally.
Other possible causes are that the system has a device connected to it that's causing Setup to hang or that there's a configuration problem with a device. If you're using SCSI devices, make sure you've configured the SCSI chain properly with the last device on the chain being terminated. Check the SCSI adapter's BIOS configuration to make sure you've configured the adapter's properties correctly. If all looks good, disconnect all SCSI devices except the hard disks and retry Setup. If your system uses IDE drives, make sure you've configured the drives' master/slave jumpers correctly and that the drives are properly recognized in the system's BIOS.
BIOS and HAL problems
Another potential source of the hang could be the system's BIOS. If the BIOS doesn't correctly support the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI), Setup will exhibit this problem. The solution is to upgrade the system's BIOS to fully support ACPI. If the manufacturer doesn't offer a BIOS update directly, you can obtain a BIOS upgrade from Unicore or Microid Research.
Another potential source of the problem could be that Setup is using the wrong Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for your system. This goes hand-in-hand with the ACPI problem. If you don't want to wait for the BIOS upgrade or can't find an upgrade, you can try installing a different HAL during Setup. To do so, wait until you see the message, "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration," then press [F5]. Setup will prompt you to select the desired HAL.
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Help!!
Ran the debug script to remove formatting, partitions, and third-party disk managers and failed to complete the clean install of W2K. Re-installed Win98 and the O/S install went off without a hitch. Perfect install and when I tried to upgrade the Win98 install with W2K it said the same error message. Bios update? Honestly I have never had to mess with any BIOS issues in all my four years of working on computers but this one's a customers computer and they purchased a multi-licensed W2K to resolve the hassles that plagued them with BillGates98. It's a darker blue screen than windows 98 but it's very real. First W2K blue screen I have ever seen. What/who must I brutally murder to get this install to take?
Chris in Houston