Cant install windows

[djcripsen]

Cliffnotes: Trying to configure hardware in dos before it installs windows, it sits there frozen or monitor shuts off. "Setup is inspecting your computers hardware..."

Specs:

LanpartUT NF3 250gb
A64 3000+
1g Corsair Value Select pc3200
BFG 6800 OC
WD 250gig 7200rpm IDE
Thermaltake Purepower Silent 420Watt

Problem:
Cant get windows to install. I have a win98 boot disk load it up. Got my HD fdisked and formatted. Insert the win98 cd. Says its going to configure hardware...After that the computer either sits there on that screen or the monitor shuts off and nothing happens. Anyone?

 

[Malak]

Just a question, why are you installing windows 98?

 

[mechBgon]

Welcome to the Forums djcripsen One of the tricky things about Western Digital hard drives is that they have four jumper settings: Master, Slave, Cable Select, and then Single Drive. Single Drive is done by removing the jumper from the pins and leaving it off. If your WD is by itself on its own data cable, try Single Drive and I bet that will get it on track. If not, post back with the latest symptoms

Also, if you're doing a fresh WinXP installation, read my worm-avoidance suggestions. The Ongoing prevention part will help you get a high level of malware resistance down the road, too, especially if others are allowed to use the computer at times. If you really will be doing Win98 then you'll need to use just 512MB of RAM to start with, and do some Windows tweaking before the other 512MB will be fully available to Windows.

While I'm at it... I would go into the BIOS and boost the memory voltage to 2.7 volts for stability.

 

[djcripsen]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Im installing win98 because I only have an upgradable version of WinXp not a fresh install.

I will go try to remove the jumpers. Thanks for the article too.

 

[djcripsen]

I removed the jumpers and still the same problem.

 

[mechBgon]

Start installing WinXP directly from your WinXP Upgrade CD and I believe it will simply ask to see your qualifying previous OS's CD (Win98) to confirm you're eligible. If you do have to install Win98 then you should run just a single 512MB module, because Win98 is by over 512MB of RAM. See if either of those ideas get it going

 

[djcripsen]

I removed one of my ram sticks. This is what I did. I booted with win98 boot disk. Went into the winxp directory with dos. opened the i386 folder. Typed winnt.exe so then it goes into copying windows files. Prompts me to reboot when its done copying files. I take out the boot disk and reboot. Gets past the Post screen and then goes to the screen saying "Setup is inspecting your computers hardware..." and sits there.

 

[mechBgon]

Did you raise the memory voltage to 2.7 volts yet

 

[djcripsen]

Ok, just upped to 2.7v and it still does the same thing.

 

[mechBgon]

You might benefit by updating the board's BIOS: link to DFI's BIOS-update stuff. Other than that, if it were me I'd try a lower-powered video card in there, like a GeForce4 MX or something, as a fact-finding step. That video card can draw a lot of power. You do have a power cable hooked up directly to the video card, correct?

 

[djcripsen]

yes sir. Umm...do you think it could be my power supply?

 

[mechBgon]

Umm...do you think it could be my power supply?

I always think it could be the power supply :evil: Ask anyone!

The new-generation motherboards and video cards both draw power on the 12-volt rail. Some power supplies have a lot more 12-volt amperage than others. Some power supplies are also much MUCH higher quality than others. The #1 fact-finding step, if you can do it, is to try a lower-end video card. If I can find any other likely reasons the DFI would inherently jam up WinXP Setup, I'll post them too.