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HDD / Format Problem - Can't install OS - NEED HELP IMMEDIATELY!!!

L

leepark

Member
My setup: Athlon64 Winchester 3000+ / DFI Ultra-D NF4 / Corsair Value 1GB (512x2) / Leadtek PX 6600GT TDH / Hauppauge PVR250 / Seagate SATA 200GB / NEC 3520A DVD / Pioneer CRW-F1 CD / Mitsumi 7 in 1 Floppy / OCZ Powerstream 420W - just finished building it a week ago.

I wanted to erase everything on the HDD and reinstall Windows XP MCE2005 - I installed OS but discovered that (although I selected new install) there were files remaining from previous install - I manually started erasing every file and folders that I could from my computer. I tried to reinstall the OS hoping this time it would clean install - I think I messed up and deleted some essential files.

(Something I need to tell you before I go further) Ever since I assembled the components and booted up the very first time, the screen prior to the "LANPARTY NF4" screen and those prior to the "WINDOWS XP" screen come up all scrambled and not legible with some screens totally (from top to bottom) covered with strange characters. After installing various drivers (mobo, video, etc.) the above mentioned screens show up legible and clean at times but revert back to bad on occassion (totally random). Does anyone know why this is happening? Is there something wrong with mobo, video, etc.?

Anyway, back to the current problem... The computer won't let me install the OS. I can't get to the OS setup screen (the blue colored one). I made a "Win98 Start Up disk" from my older computer and tried formatting by typing, "format g:/u" but can't (actually, it's very difficult to tell what's going on because the characters not legible).

Does anybody know how to get beyond this problem? How do I remove everything (format) from the HDD and start fresh? How do I install the OS?

PLEASE HELP!
 
Do you have a legal bootable CD for MCE2005? Set your BIOS to boot from CD and you don't need the W98 floppy.

Messed up screen: if the screen is not readable for the BIOS setup screen it is probably either a video card or monitor problem.
 
The OS is legit, I just bought it yesterday. I wanted to find a way to erase everything on the HDD and start fresh but installing the OS the first time did not do that even though I "new installed" it.

What can I do about the other issue? Like I said, when I installed the new drivers the screen come up normal but go bad once in a while.
 
Screen:

You video card may be defective, or it might default to sending a very high refresh rate that your monitor can't display properly. When the screen is garbled what does the on-screen display of your montor show the refresh rate to be?

What kind of monitor is it?


Install:

Didn't the OS install show you the existing partition and ask whether you wanted to keep it?

>> tried formatting by typing, "format g:/u"

Oh, so you're trying to install the OS to g: instead of c: ? Why?
 
I don't know what the refresh rate was. I have a Sony 19" LCD. Why would everything be okay once it enters the OS if it's a video card issue? I can even play games (Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell) without problem.

It may have showed me the existing partition but I can't see it because the characters are messed up.

I tried install OS to G because that's what the computer assign the HDD as. Can / Should I change that?
 
LCD: it could just be really really bad at displaying 640 x 480 screen resolution since the native resolution is 1280 x 1024. Odd since it should just be able to use 1280x960 and double the pixels.

Or the card could be sending something goofy like a 200 Hz signal until the drivers are loaded.

Or the card could be defective.

You could boot with that W98 floppy then use your LCD info display to check the referesh rate.
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
LCD: it could just be really really bad at displaying 640 x 480 screen resolution since the native resolution is 1280 x 1024. Odd since it should just be able to use 1280x960 and double the pixels.

Or the card could be sending something goofy like a 200 Hz signal until the drivers are loaded.

Or the card could be defective.

You could boot with that W98 floppy then use your LCD info display to check the referesh rate.
Click to expand...

Re. resolution - it may have something to do with this because when I first installed Windows the resolution was such that the characters and icons were HUGE with terrible resolution. Of course, it was easily fixed with adjustment. If it's a problem with resolution what can I do?

Re. 200Hz signal - what can I do?

Re. I just talked to my IT guy and he suggests I send the card back for replacement. How is Newegg with defective products? The card was the first thing I bought (ordered Feb. 2) but I built the computer last week.

Re. I can't check anything because I can't read anything on the screen. Is it possible to change the resolution?
 
Originally posted by: leepark
I tried install OS to G because that's what the computer assign the HDD as. Can / Should I change that?
Click to expand...

Yes.

Unplug all other HDDs and then install XP. Make sure it shows "C" on the partition screen as you're installing. Once installed, plug back in your other HDDs and let them get detected as D, E, etc. or whatever.

You cannot easily change this later and it *will* cause you problems down the road.
 
If there is a defective component that is causing the problem - is it most likely the: video card or motherboard (or something else)?
 
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