i can't install windows

[noxiousCaitSith]

i was pretty sure i'd be able to finally finish my computer today but windows seems to be having problems installing.
"a problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer

session3_initialization_failed"

there's some other stuff...basically says that i should check that i have installed my hardware/software correctly.
then it says if this is a new installation, ask your hardware/software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need. blah blah blah. anyway, i have windows xp and i just bought it yesterday.

i have :
GA-P35-DS3L motherboard, and the bios is already updated to F8b.
X3350 CPU.
4GB (4x1GB) corsair ddr2 pc6400
320GB western digital hard drive.
i'm guessing the parts are all good since they show up on the bios.

i have 2 dvd drives and 1 hard drive.
i'm not really sure about the boot order or whatever, but i have the cdrom as first and then the hard drive cause i have to boot from the windows disc. so, i have no idea what the problem is aside from maybe i have some power cords connected wrong. but it seems to be fine. i have an 8800GT and the 4 pin connector is going directly from the power supply to the graphics card.
i'm pretty sure the cpu and heatsink/fan are installed correctly. it shows that it's at 28 degrees celsius so that sounds pretty good.
other than that i don't know what other information might be needed to help.
also i've never done this before so i'm a total n00b pretty much. i've read through the motherboard manual and checked that the bios settings were ok and hopefully they are.
frustration! wheeee!

 

[Fokks]

How far into the installation do you get before that message comes up?
What size is the drive, and how are you choosing to format it?

I would try to get it down to minimal parts and try again.

Pull out all but one of the RAM sticks.
Disconnect the second DVD drive, and any other cards or devices that may be plugged in, so that you're just down to:
cpu / motherboard / 1 stick RAM / video card / hard drive / dvd drive

Go into the BIOS and set it to the safe defaults, reboot.
Then try another reinstall.

 

[Fokks]

A quick google shows some people with that "session3_initialization_failed" could be a dirty/bad cd, or issue with the drive. If the CD looks OK, perhaps try your other DVD Drive to do the install.

 

[noxiousCaitSith]

yeah i just looked that up. the cd is brand new and has no smudges at all. and the dvd drive that it's in is also new. though the other dvd drive was taken from someone else's computer so i have no idea if it even works. i'll probably disconnect that one...hopefully that's the only problem.

it seems to get pretty far in the installation. it takes a few minutes before the message comes up. anyway, i changed the cable so i don't think it's that either.

edit: it gets to "setup is starting windows" then stops...

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i HIGHLY suggest taking out all of your ram and using only 1 x 1gb to install your OS, if that works then good, install it then run some system stability tests

if you can't install with 1 x 1gb reset your cmos, pull out your ram sticks for a few hours, put them all back in and try again with 1 x 1gb. also try to run memtest86+ v2.01 for 1 full pass at least.

 

[noxiousCaitSith]

fixed. 'twas a setting in the bios apparently. well i'm pretty much set now aside from setting up the wifi.

 

[Roguestar]

What setting was it? Post back your resolution and it'll help others that have the same problem.

 

[noxiousCaitSith]

well i think it was the setting that i changed. the SATA AHCI Mode was on AHCI when it should've been on "Disabled". so there's nothing wrong with any of the hardware thankfully. now i feel dumb. but at least we now know that the error i got can mean a variety of things. in my case, a setting in the bios relating to the hard drive.

 

[jterrell]

Gratz on the fix... I would have suggested downgrading bios a bit if you hadn't already resolved this.

I hate being on the latest, greatest.