Gig K8NXP-SLI "Setup is starting windows" error

[chubbymidget]

This seem like a common error that usually caused by conflicts. I've read every post I could find on it and on Google but I can't get it fixed.

Depending on what I have enabled and disabled and what drivers I F6 I either get lockup at "setup is starting windows" or reboot and it starts all over.

I've tried a fresh untouched drive (the SATA) I've tried with drives already setup with FAT32 partitions, NTFS, and with a bootmanager I use(Bootit) that loads fine. And I've tried with a wiped drive and

New setup everything new except memory Drives
k8nsp-sli
1x MSI 6600GT PCI-Express -Single mode
2x256 Kingston 2700 Ran Memtest with no errors
NeoPower 480
1x DVD r/w
PS/2 Keyboard and mouse

Tried various combos of these to install
2x160 IDE Maxtors
1x200 IDE Maxtor
1x160 SATA Maxtor Just bought today

All optional items are disabled in bios and unpluged from Mobo (serial, para, usb, 1394, etc)
All drives are seen by RAID utilities and bios
I've tried enabling and disabling RAID for everythign and just installing to 1 drive -IDE and SATA
Tried DVD Drive on Prim master and secondary master
Tried all 3 IDE drives on Prim master. One at a time and in a master/slave

I've tried the F7
I've tried manually giving IRQs to everything that I can.
I've tried yelling, cursing, mumbling under-breath.
I've tried F6 drivers from the "..\bootdrv\menu.exe"Mobo CD -installing both Nvidia drivers (choice E), and the SIL drivers3114 (choice G and H and I) and various combos of these with the various drives above.
I've tried Windows XP64-bit beta w/o drivers it dyes at the same place.
I've tried a XPSP1 oem disk, a Volume license disk, and a slipstream SP2+drivers disk

I've run out of things to try but I got to be missing something.
Any ideas?

 

[Uncle Bob]

Well, nothing immediately suggests itself, and you seem to have covered most of the technical bases;

Q. On the occasions when it reboots and starts over - can you be a little more specific? Are you saying it refuses to boot from the hard drive after the 1st setup stage?

FWIW, my suspicions would be a) memory compatibility (I know it passes memtest but perhaps it's a compability issue that is only exposed by XP)
or b) a defective motherboard.

I'd be interested to know how this one turns out......

 

[chubbymidget]

The reboot is at the "setup is starting windows" stage. It never gets to any drive or partition setup questions.
My bootit disk manager can boot from do some disk stuff. -simple app though.

I've taken my 2 sticks out and swap there slots/reseated them.
Still no joy.
Any other memory test apps I can run?

Any ideas at this point would be great?

 

[chubbymidget]

Ok I tried a single stick of 512 DDR I had it's PNY D512mpc270pt. I assssumed this board wouldn't support a single stick since it says it can't support 3.
The memory I was using is Kingston kvr333x72c25/256 x2 sticks.

I put my single stick in and ,knock on wood, install seems to be working.

Is all memory not dual-channel compatible?

 

[chubbymidget]

Thanks Uncle Bob. The memory was something I'd thought about but nixed as the reason -and I didn't think I had any other memory to use.

You got me re-thinking.

 

[Uncle Bob]

You might want to try adjusting the memory timings in the BIOS, try selecting an FSB of 333Mhz (i.e 166 x 2) instead of Auto (which is what I assume you have selected currently). Also, it wouldn't do any harm to up the DIMM voltage a notch or two - this can sometimes make a difference.

something else you could try; start with as basic a setup as possible (video/ram/1 x ide hd plus dvd) and boot from a Windows 98 startup disc (this can be downloaded from the web if you can't make one). Create a bootable FAT32 partition on the hard drive and format it using the /sys option. Copy the I386 directory from the XP cd to a folder on the hard drive. Disconnect the DVD and reboot from the hard drive. Run setup.exe from the i386 directory and see what happens..........................

let us know how you get on