can't get pc to install windows

[wlv]

ok ive just put a load of parts ive had lieing round together and they all appear to be working ok, these are:

amd 4400x2 cpu
bfg 7800 gtx 512 gfx card (also tried older 6200)
asus a8n32-sli deluxe motherboard
2gb corsair ram (the stuff that came out with the motherboard)
120gb seagate IDE drive
sony dvd-rw drive
enermax 485W psu


i have no problem starting the system up, but once the POST is done there is a LONG gap before the system says preparing to enter setup and then again after that, before it takes me onto the inital windows setup page. I format the disk and it copies the files to the computer before it says that the system will restart in 15 seconds.

Now is where the trouble starts, instead of proceeding to install windows xp it loops back into the first stage and although it tells me that there is already a copy of win xp now on the system i cant do anything to actually get past it other than reformat again which in turn loops me back round to where i am.

There are a couple of strange things in this.

1) the long pause before and after the message 'preparing to enter setup'
2) normally when installing windows it asks to boot from cd if i remember right?

I have changed the boot priority to the cd btw

anyone got some advice/help?

would be much appreiciated

 

[Blain]

* Clear the CMOS memory (while PS is unplugged).
* Cut back to two DIMMs (if you're using four).
* Format HD in a different rig to clean your 1st load off.

* Rinse and Repeat

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Blain
* Clear the CMOS memory (while PS is unplugged).
* Cut back to two DIMMs (if you're using four).
* Format HD in a different rig to clean your 1st load off.

* Rinse and Repeat

Yup. Adding to that:

Also, are you sure you've got the HD and CDR jumpered correctly? If they are on the same IDE channel one should be master one should be slave. Forget about cable select. Ideally, they should be on separate channels, if possible.

If that doesn't work, try low-level formatting the drive using the utility you download from the manufacturer's website. Typically it makes a boot floppy and you go from there. Sometimes an older HD just gets all gunked up and needs to be flushed out really well.

 

[wlv]

Originally posted by: Blain
* Clear the CMOS memory (while PS is unplugged).
* Cut back to two DIMMs (if you're using four).
* Format HD in a different rig to clean your 1st load off.

* Rinse and Repeat

i should really have said in original post ive already cleared the cmos and am only using 2 dimms anyway - but ill try formatting drive in another pc now

thnx for reply

 

[wlv]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: Blain
* Clear the CMOS memory (while PS is unplugged).
* Cut back to two DIMMs (if you're using four).
* Format HD in a different rig to clean your 1st load off.

* Rinse and Repeat

Yup. Adding to that:

Also, are you sure you've got the HD and CDR jumpered correctly? If they are on the same IDE channel one should be master one should be slave. Forget about cable select. Ideally, they should be on separate channels, if possible.

If that doesn't work, try low-level formatting the drive using the utility you download from the manufacturer's website. Typically it makes a boot floppy and you go from there. Sometimes an older HD just gets all gunked up and needs to be flushed out really well.

ye they are both master on ide1 and ide2.

These parts were all in 2 seperate pcs only a couple of days ago and working fine so its quite a strange situation

 

[Bozo Galora]

take the CD out adter first system files install, during the reboot, allow reboot to complete, then it will prompt to put it back in

Edit:
do not attatch anything USB

 

[wlv]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
take the CD out adter first system files install, during the reboot, allow reboot to complete, then it will prompt to put it back in

Edit:
do not attatch anything USB

just tried that, but once again it just loops back round to the blue screen where it will ask me to reformat/repair etc

 

[Navid]

Enter the BIOS and make sure that the hard drive you are trying to install XP on is on the list of bootable hard drives. Also make sure that in the boot priority list, the hard drive is selected as one of the options.

 

[wlv]

ye its seleceted in both your suggestions

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: wlv
2) normally when installing windows it asks to boot from cd if i remember right?

Yes, it asks to press any key to boot from CD. Are you saying it does not ask you?

You can remove the CD drive from the boot priority list in the BIOS. Then, reboot and press F8 or F11 or one of the function keys depending on your motherboard to get the boot option list up and select the CD. The next time it reboots, it will boot from the hard drive since the CD drive is not in the boot list.

 

[Bozo Galora]

change HDD in bios from LBA to large

 

[wlv]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
change HDD in bios from LBA to large

i only get the choice of disabled + auto.

tried both anyway, still the same problem