*CRAZY* - WinXP on a MSI MS-6337 Lite motherboard..

[DN]

Hello,

I've run into a problem with an MSI MS-6337 Lite motherboard (here).. I can't seem to install WinXP home edition on it as it freezes during the install.. I can't currently remember the name of the section it freezes in, but it's ALWAYS in the same place (the moving box on the left stops and everything is frozen).. In this section, it says it has 39 minutes left and I think it's where it starts to create program groups and the like so it's pretty much into the installation at this point.. I've removed everything except a video card which I know has functioned in Win98 forever.. The only things I can think of now are:

1. WinXP CD (yah, very unlikely, but still a possibility - might try it on another machine to be sure)
2. CDROM drive (hey, I've seen odder things happen, but then would it work all the way to this point?)
3. Hard drive (I've done a non-quick NTFS format on it and it went fine)
4. Motherboard (Has anyone installed WinXP on this motherboard? It's BIOS is up-to-date)
5. A setting in the BIOS that would make WinXP freak out (Maybe in old machines? Never seen it before). I've set it to defaults both optimized and normal.

Note that I was running all of this hardware (except for this 'new' motherboard) under Win 98 with no issues. One thing I might try is to see if Win 98 installs or not.. ANYWAYS, all I really want to know is if anyone here know of this motherboard properly running WinXP -- a long shot, but if I don't ask, I'll never find out.. Thanks..

 

[DN]

Bumper carz..

 

[MrChad]

You might want to try running Memtest on your RAM to rule that out.

 

[DN]

As I've said earlier, ALL of the other hardware on this motherboard was running PERFECTLY on another motherboard (the one I had replaced), so the likelyhood of any of it being defective is next to none unless somehow, while not being used between the motherboard replacement, it became defective..

 

[DN]

Just spoke to MSI, they said that WinXP should run on this motherboard (as I had thought) and they told me the next set of tests I need to perform (which match what I've written above).. LOL.. Ok, I guess I might as well get it done -- hopefully solving this silly issue.. I'll let you know what happens.. Ciao!

 

[AMCRambler]

Check the jumper settings on all your drives. HD and CD-Rom both. I've had problems with XP freezing during install with cable select instead of master or slave set on the drives. Check all your connections too, make sure everything is inserted correctly. Mem test is a good idea too. What video card are you using? If it's dual processor, it won't work in XP. I've got a Rage Fury Maxx sitting in my junk pile that I can't get rid of since it doesn't work in XP or 2000 with dual processors. That could freeze the install too. Check to make sure your cpu is securely in the socket. I've had problems with MSI boards where they won't boot if the heatsink isn't providing enough down force and pushing the chip into the socket. If all else fails you could try isolating the board completely from the chassis. I do it by unscrewing the motherboard, leaving everything intact I'll lay a book or board across the corner of my chassis on it's side and set the board on top of that. This will rule out and grounding issues you might be having.

 

[DN]

The thing is WinXP is freezing DURING the install, I don't have any boot problems persay.. It also freezes at the same spot during the install, again, I forget which step it's at, I think it's during the 2nd step and there are about 39 minutes left it says.. If I didn't have something properly connected, I don't think I'd get that far.. My video card is a Geforce 2 64Mb -- nothing that WinXP can't handle.. All this hardware, besides the motherboard which is a replacement for a motherboard that died was running in Win 98 with no problems.. It's a socket 370 motherboard single CPU (800/133).. I am not overclocking whatsoever either.. I'll have to do more tests before I can determine what exactly WinXP is whining about -- heck, I wonder if the WinXP CD (new) is defective -- however remote, it's a possibility also.. I'll get back to ya'll with whatever I find out.. Thanks.

 

[DN]

Well, I've eliminated the WinXP CD and CDROM drive as being the culprits now.. It's freezing during the 2nd step (preparing for install) at the 39 minute mark -- always in the same place.. There isn't much left to do except try another video card, ram (both worked in win98), maybe different IDE cables (I so doubt that's the issue).. Other than that, I've completed exhausted all other possibilities besides the motherboard.. SIGH.. MSI better replace this motherboard..

 

[AMCRambler]

Well I would try another operating system before you declare it toasted. My brother's Epox went tits up and it wouldn't work with any operating system. If it works fine with another OS I don't think replacing it will help. Have you tried posting in the MSI forums yet? They've got a link to them off of their support page I think. Sometimes you can find someone else who's had the same problem there. There is also a couple of moderator types on there that are very knowledgeable and may have some suggestions. I'm out of ideas though, good luck!

 

[johnjkr1]

are there any other pci cards installed at the time? I had a wireless card that would do the same thing. Also, you can try to rule out the hard drive by running the full diagnostic test on it from the maker of the drive..

 

[DN]

Well, I have eliminated every single piece of hardware in this machine to no avail.. The installation got just a bit further twice, but still freezes in around the same spot.. The ONLY thing I haven't checked is whether the CPU is overheating, but I have my doubts about that.. Right now, I'm installating Windows 98 SE without any issues using the same exact hardware as the last time it failed installing in Windows XP Home Edition.. If Windows 98 SE installs correctly then I can only conclude that this motherboard and Windows XP have an issue together -- something MSI could not confirm when I spoke to them..

I must admit, this problem is a REAL doozy compared to anything I've run into.. Yes, I've updated to the latest BIOS, etc.. All pieces of hardware eliminated as being an issue.. Hopefully I can RMA this motherboard back to MSI without any BS because even I am quite surprised about this outcome..

Any comments would be appreciated -- again, I've exhaused every single obvious possibility.. DOH!

 

[foofoo]

hi,
i know that it's been mentioned before but give memtest a try. sometimes memory that works on one mb will have problems in another. it costs nothing to try.
good luck

 

[wakedog102]

well I've got no technical advice to give other than, I had an MSI K8T800 which would freeze on WinXP install all the time. I just basically had to keep trying over and over to get it to install. The board finally stopped booting at all (wouldn't even power on to POST). RMAed it and got an ASUS board. ASUS board went in with no problems. Installed Windows with no problems, board is rock solid, hasn't crashed yet. Moral of my story is I'm staying away from MSI from now on.

 

[DN]

I've tried several WORKING pieces of RAM, it's not the issue guaranteed..

Windows 98 SE is working perfectly on the PC now.. So, the only thing that has changed between installs is the OS.. There's something about installing Windows XP Home Edition on this motherboard -- I say motherboard because I have truly virtually eliminated every single component as being the issue.. I =WONDER= what would happen if I tried to install Windows XP Professional..? LOL.. I'll bust a nut laughing if that works.. I think I'll give it a quick whirl.. Thank god I have a lot of hardware and stuff hanging around so I can perform all sorts of tests..

I don't know if I'd say MSI sucks, this is afterall a socket 370 motherboard, not exactly new, but yah, it SHOULD run Windows XP, period.. I wish I could find someone that is running it on this motherboard! Anyone?

Ciao..