Boot help

[spyblog]

Ok, first time ever building and need hlep. Everything is done and now it's boot time.

So I hit power and it comes up and lets me pick BIOS or POST. I've never done anything like this before so I have NO idea where to go from here. If I wait it says something like "Hard Disk Failure, Please enter Boot Disc and hit Enter" - I havent installed WinXp because I dont know what to do from here.

What's my next step?

Thanks

PS as far as I know all hardware is connected properly. HD sata cable is in sata1 if it matters and dvd-rom is in ide primary. Havent done any software stuff yet, thats whee i'm stuck.

 

[Sonic587]

Put your windows XP disc in your CD-rom. Make sure that your BIOS is set to boot up from there. Install, then enjoy.

EDIT: You'll need to hit F6 to install your SATA HDD drivers from a floppy. If you don't have those, you'll need to visit the website of the manufacturer and download them.

 

[spyblog]

Ok cant do WinXP yet, gets that boot message.

So I do SATA first? When do I hit F6? It seems it says something like NLTDR missing or something when I use floppy.

 

[mechBgon]

Could you please post a full list of all your hardware, brand & model We'll get you up and running but some information is missing here.

 

[spyblog]

amd 64 3200+
msi k8n neo platinum
2x512 kingston hyperx
9800pro
480w trueblue
lg dvd-rom
wd cavair 80gb

I tink I have i all connected right. I'm not sure about the hard drive and the dvd rom, they confused me a little more. So far the hard drive has a small orange sata cable connecte dto the mobo in slot sata1. And the power slot has a power cord from the psu plugged in.

DVD has power and is plugged into ide 2 (also tried in 1) using the ide cord. yellow side is in mobo as the ide slots are yellow. Was that a bad gues?

lol thanks for helping

 

[mechBgon]

I don't have the motherboard manual for that board yet, so I'll have to download it at 56k speeds. Take a snack break.

 

[Sonic587]

Originally posted by: spyblog
Ok cant do WinXP yet, gets that boot message.

Hmm? You're getting the message about the boot disk because it's asking you for your windows XP disc. Enter your BIOS and set it up to boot from your CD/DVD-ROM, save your settings, and exit. Then, plop in your WinXP when you get that message again, press enter, and it should take over from there. Sorry if I wasn't being clear enough.

You'll still need the HDD drivers from WD so it'll recognize your harddrive.

 

[spyblog]

Ok if I put the windows CD it in doesnt do anything but go to the boot disk failure. Even if I set it to boot cd rom first. Did I connect it wrong? The green light is working.

And do I do thw harddrive drivers first? The only drivers I have are the ones from the mobo for sata raid drivers. The HD was oem. Do I need to download the drivers, put them on floppy, put that in and install before winxp?

 

[Sonic587]

You may want to double check your cables. Consult your motherboard manual on what end goes where. Make sure the DVD-ROM is jumpered to master(Look on the back of the drive and you'll find the jumpers). I have my drives on the secondary channel, if that helps. It shouldn't effect them being on primary, though.

You'll need the drivers when you are able to get windows xp to boot from your DVD-ROM. It'll say something like "Press F6 to install third party RAID drivers". Let's get this first issue out of the way before we get into that.

 

[spyblog]

Ok well I dunno wut to do. Oh, should I be using SATA power or LEGACY power on the HD? Using SATA atm.

Still have no idea whats wrong. My DVD was on Slave but it's master now and still nothing different. I'll write down the exact error message in a minute.

Sucks being so close to finished!

 

[mechBgon]

This is one BIG owner's manual, almost 7MB in Zip format I just reached 50% on that download, but I see you're getting some good help in the meantime

Since the nVidia nForce3 250Gb chipset supports SATA natively, it might not even be necessary to provide drivers on a floppy in the first place.

 

[spyblog]

Would a windos boot disk help me?

 

[spyblog]

Hmm, doesnt seem to matter what I do. CD or Floopy or the boot order it wont respond. Did I miss something?

 

[Sonic587]

It sounds like you might have your IDE cable backwards. Have you tried checking to see if they are in the correct orientation?

 

[spyblog]

Hmm ok well I'll switch the DVD one. The one end was yellow and so was the IDe on mobo...I guessed lol.

The SATA cables dont matter right? They seem to be the same on both ends.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: spyblog
Would a windos boot disk help me?

That should not be necessary in the slightest. If your system's set to boot from CD-ROM and is not doing it, then something's wrong somewhere. Start up the system and go into the motherboard's BIOS, then into the Standard CMOS Setup screen, and tell me if it sees the DVD-ROM drive as one of the IDE devices. Refer to page 3-6 of your manual for a picture of the Standard CMOS Setup screen.

 

[spyblog]

WOOO!

Is working! Windows Set-Up!!

I think my system IDe wasnt pushed in far enough. I didnt want to break anything. Shoved it in nicely and it works! Sorry for all the trouble. Bu I'm sure I'll have more problems hehe

 

[Budman]

mechBgon needs DSL BAD !!!!!

56K isnt going to do it for an ELITE menber !!!!

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: spyblog
Hmm ok well I'll switch the DVD one. The one end was yellow and so was the IDe on mobo...I guessed lol.

The SATA cables dont matter right? They seem to be the same on both ends.

You actually got your DVD-ROM cable the right way round, the yellow end does belong on the motherboard for it since it's an 80-wire ATA/133 cable. However, try the other IDE cable, the coarser 40-wire one that has only two heads. These cables are keyed, so they should only fit into the fittings one way.

Just to shoot way outside the box for a minute here... you did mount the motherboard on standoffs, correct?

 

[spyblog]

ok dumb Q. I'm at the part for my HD drivers. Do I do the raid driver or nforce storage controller?

 

[Sonic587]

nforce should be the one. However, as mechBgon mentioned, you might not even need drivers. Let WinXP load all it's standard stuff and see if it's able to properly recognize your drive before you resort to using the drivers.

 

[spyblog]

Thanks, woo so proud lol. First time and not any huge problems. Well one. I bent 2 CPU pins by accident when my dog bumped into my leg But he guys where I brought it from straightened them and then these little install problems. Yeh I'm a newb, but I had fun but I'm SO glad it's over lol.

Thanks for the help guys, we'll see if I need any more

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: spyblog
Thanks, woo so proud lol. First time and not any huge problems. Well one. I bent 2 CPU pins by accident when my dog bumped into my leg But he guys where I brought it from straightened them and then these little install problems. Yeh I'm a newb, but I had fun but I'm SO glad it's over lol.

Thanks for the help guys, we'll see if I need any more

Excellent job Be careful not to let your system catch worms by plugging it directly into the Internet without a firewall to keep worms from infecting your fresh WinXP installation. I'm not sure if the nF3 250Gb built-in firewall is armed by default. Consider downloading ZoneAlarm basic and installing + updating your antivirus software before plugging in the network cable, if you do not have a cable/DSL router to serve as a firewall against the outside world. The resources page of my guide has links to ZoneAlarm basic, and here is a security rollup package that Tostada pointed out the other day: Microsoft security rollup for WinXP SP1A systems to help close the door on worm attacks until you can get Windows and your antivirus software fully up-to-date.