hard drive issue

[coolzero16]

ok I *think* im having a hard drive problem. ill explain below:

i just got my new system set up:

p4 2.4
ga-sinxp1394
80gb 7200rpm maxtor hd
16x dvd
48x cdrw
enermax 350
gf4ti4200

when i put in the windows xp cd to load everything in, it booted up and started everything normal. I went through formatting in NTFS and when the computer restarts its actually supposed to install the OS right? well no, it didn't. it just kept bringing up the formatting screen and asking me to re-re-re-format over and over and over again. IT WOULD NEVER recognize that the HD has already been formatted and if i disabled everything except the hard drive it would say disk boot failure.

next i tried windows 98SE. i used fdisk to delete the existing partition and then create a new one and i set it active. I went to format the drive and install windows 98 and when it go to installing the OS it said "could not install windows 98, there is an error on hard disk"

next i tried redhat 8.0: it went through formatting and i picked out all the packages i wanted to install. About 40% through the installation process it stopped


i know i dont have 3 different OS cd's that are scratched. anyone have any last ideas i could try before i call maxtor up?

 

[microAmp]

I doubt this could be a solution but any chance that you have another memory stick to try out? Or if you are using 2 of them try each one by itself?

Another idea is that if you have a 2nd hard drive laying around not being used, put that in and see if it'll install. If it does, stick the problem hard drive in and see if you can run scan disk to check for surface errors, etc.

 

[EeyoreX]

Also, since you say your system was just set up (of course, this is always on the top of my list of things to check when having/troubleshooting similar errors) is to make sure your drive cables are in securely and your drives are configured correctly (jumpers). Bad RAM is also high on my list, but normally RAM causes a BSOD rather than making people reformat over and over. But check that also, as it could be either.

\Dan

 

[bozo1]

Download Maxtors utility program and have it check the hard drive for problems.

 

[coolzero16]

thatz a good idea, thanks. ill let you know what turns up