ATTN: System Builders; Strange XP Install Problem

[Migganis]

Attn System Builders:

I've recently completed a build for a friend who wanted a computer to use for school. I've run into a strange problem when trying to install windows XP professional. I can't determine if the problem is hardware based or software based.

Here are the components:

Viewsonic 17? Optiquest Monitor
Biostar M7VKQ Motherboard AMD Athlon XP 1700+
256MB PC133 PC100 SDRAM 168pn
Samsung1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE 3 1/2" INTERNAL DRIVE
Seagate 20.0GB 5400RPM EIDE Ultra DMA
OEM Panasonic Matsushita-Kotobuki DVD CD-RW Combo Drive
ATX Mid Tower Case with 300-Watt Power Supply (Blue)
Logitech Cordless Mouse and Keyboard
Intel 56.6 kbps modem
Coolermaster Case Fan

Here is the problem:

The computer boots properly. I can access BIOS with no problem, the motherboard properly detects all the hardware. When I put the windows XP installation CD in, the setup has no problem formatting the harddrive. I have tried formatting with both NTFS and FAT32. The setup program begins copying the operating system files, and without fail it STOPS on SHELL32.DLL and says that the file could not be copied correctly and gives me the choice to skip the file and try the next. So initially I skipped the file and the operating system appeared to continue installing and eventually started up. A couple days later everything began to crumble and the operating system no longer even booted up. I've tried installing WinXP home and WinXP professional and they both say they can't copy the same file. I initially thought the problem was with the harddrive (it was a fujitsu) so I sent it back and got a seagate. STILL the same problem. The DVD drive also seems to work fine... has anyone encountered this problem when installing windows? I've yet to try installing earlier versions of windows. Could there be a problem with any of the hardware that is indirectly causing this problem? If anyone has any idea, PLEASE HELP!!

Thanks.
mike

 

[Willoughbyva]

See if there is a bios update to the motherboard. Try a different cd rom drive.

 

[Noid]

maybe a bad XP system CD?

 

[foofoo]

hi,
another strong possiblilty is bad ram. try running docmemory or memtest and check it (you can install the testing program on a floppy and run it from there)
or if you have a stick of memory that you know is good you can just swap it out and see what happens.
good luck

 

[everman]

Couldn't be a bad disk if both discs don't work ( I'm assuming legal copies with original disks here). Could be your ram, similar problems like that can occur although not neccesarily the same file every time.

 

[Willoughbyva]

I agree check your memory with memtest or similar program.

 

[xSauronx]

had a similar problem installing windows (98 in this case) on my bro;s machine, bad ram was the problem for me, definitely try memtest...could also check your CD for scratches, scratches are evil

 

[HappyPuppy]

Bad memory. Had the same problem many times.

 

[Migganis]

Well I went to Circuit City today and picked up a brand new stick of RAM. Loaded it up, bam, same damn problem. Install quits on SHELL32.DLL. I should also mention that if I skip shell32.dll, it proceeds copying more files and then stop randomly on another file. I can then press ENTER several times until it eventually copies and continues with the installation. This happens for probobly 15-20 files. I tried doing this for all the files but the OS just fell apart... helpp!!

 

[mechBgon]

Try it with a name-brand 300W+ power supply such as Antec or Sparkle Power.

(edit: also try a different, brand-new 80-wire IDE cable, and make sure the HDD and mobo are on opposite ends so there's no vacant cable beyond the HDD to cause signal bounce)

 

[Willoughbyva]

Do a google search for memtest86 and run it. What bios are you using?

 

[Migganis]

Running Memtest now. The errors are up above 80,000.. hmm. Probobly safe to say my RAM is useless. Could it be that both the brand new RAM chips I have tried are both currupt?! I guess i'm going back to circuit city tonight to get more -- third times a charm? btw, I'm using the award bios that came with the board.

 

[Willoughbyva]

Does the board use jumpers to set the processor speed? Or did you manually set it to 1700 or something? A 1700XP doesn't run at 1700. I noticed a bios available on biostars tawain website, I think it ws for newer processors. I wouldn't update it until the memory errors went away, try to got new memory and see what it does.

 

[Migganis]

Well I noticed that the processor was running at 1.10 Ghz when I first got the OS running (before it crumbled). So is it possible that the problem is with the motherboard? If I get a third stick of RAM and the same thing happens, should I just get a new motherboard? Also, if I have the awdflash.exe utility on disk, would it be possible to flash the BIOS without having the OS installed?

 

[mechBgon]

Ok, hold on. Look at the right (front) edge of the mother board, below the button battery but above the IDE plugs. There's a jumper there that selects the FSB of the CPU. Put the jumper cap on the pins to the right, for 133MHz bus.

Also, did you try a quality (repeat: *quality*) power supply, or are you trying to skate by with a generic?

 

[Willoughbyva]

I'm not sure the speed of the 1700xp I have a 2000xp and it runs at 1600 or so, so it sounds about right. Look on the biostar site and see if your bios is the sam as the one posted there, or if there is a newer one posted. To be honest I would feel bad trying to flash a board with bad ram in it, it might mess the flash up and youd have a dead board. You can flash from a floppy. I would go to www.bootdisk.com and get a win 98 boot disk. copy the award and rom files to the floppy in a directory called 1 or some such. Boot the computer with the floppy in the drive then copy the flash program and the rom to the ram drive. then I would proceed with the flash. If you download the new bios it will usually have directions on how to flash it. I was just telling you how I have done it. Don't forget that if something goes wrong (like the ram screws up the flash) you will probably have a dead board on your hands. You will probably have to get a new bios chip to fix it. However some newer motherboards have it so you can reflash it. Look on the website and see if your is one of them.

Good luck

 

[Migganis]

Well I took the chance, updated the BIOS. Now I'm running memtest86 on the RAM chips and they are both coming up error free. Very odd... Now i'm reinstalling the operating system and everything seems to be going smoothly, it doesn't stop on random files now. I guess I should've just listened to the first response I got.. =)

 

[mechBgon]

Do you have the CPU running at the proper speed now too? Just curious.

 

[Migganis]

Yah, it registers at 1.47 GHz.