I need help installing XP

[PizzaDude]

I'm installing XP on a new hard drive and I'm using the boot from CD method. After I format the drive and it requires me to restart(like it should) I get to the screen at the top of this page and it freezes, everytime. I can move the mouse around for about 5 seconds then the wole screen freezes and I'm required to reboot. What's going on?

 

[hjo3]

Sounds like a bad XP CD. It wouldn't happen to be a "backup copy," would it? A lot of them cause problems like that.

 

[PizzaDude]

No it's not a "backup" copy. It's a retail version of XP Pro.

Anyone ever had problems like this before? Is there anything in the BIOS that I don't have set right or what. Remember, I'm a first-time builder so I might have missed something that's obvious to most people.

Here's the setup I've got running:

Shuttle AN35N-Ultra mobo
512gb Kingston pc-3200 DDR
mobile Athlon XP 2400+ 45w
Zalman CNSP 7000A AlCu HSF
Antec case w/ 350w PS
GeForce4 Ti4200 128mb video card
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound
120gb Seagate 8mb cache HDD


Bump for any ideas.

 

[mechBgon]

In your motherboard's BIOS, go to the Advanced Chipset Features sub-menu and set your memory frequency to100%, and also raise its voltage to 2.6 volts in the CPU Ratio/Voltage Control sub-menu. If the problem persists, yank that sound card out and try again.

 

[stevty2889]

Try mechbgon's suggestions first. If you are using 2 sticks of ram, you may also want to try it with only one stick of ram, and run Memtest. Are your hard drive and CD-Rom on separate IDE channels?

 

[n0cmonkey]

And no over clocking. 🙂

 

[PizzaDude]

Thanks SO MUCH guys. I'll try after work (3:30 central time 🙁) and get back to you. I appreciate it A LOT. So far you guys have made my first build an excellent experience.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

pizza sounds good today..
<--off to Godfathers 😉😀

 

[farscape]

I had a similar problem a while back and it turned out that the keyboard was set as USB in the BIOS. Disabled that, and away it went.

 

[PizzaDude]

Originally posted by: farscape
I had a similar problem a while back and it turned out that the keyboard was set as USB in the BIOS. Disabled that, and away it went.

hmmm, odd. Was that on your current mobo(AN35N) cause thats what I have. Heh. I'm gonna try and fix this thing now.

I'll post back on how it went.

 

[PizzaDude]

OK. I tried mechBgone's suggestions and it hasn't worked yet. Running the memory frequency at 100% makes the memory run at 333mhz, and the memory is pc3200 so it should be run at 400mhz, right? Just wanted to make sure you caught that mechBgone.

OK. So NOW when I try and install it says "setup is being restarted" and it reboots. And it will keep going in circles.

SO, what's next to try?

Oh, btw, I pulled the sound card and no change either.

 

[PizzaDude]

Originally posted by: stevty2889
Try mechbgon's suggestions first. If you are using 2 sticks of ram, you may also want to try it with only one stick of ram, and run Memtest. Are your hard drive and CD-Rom on separate IDE channels?

Yes they are on separate IDE channels.

 

[PizzaDude]

UPDATE:

IT worked! Instead of trying to finish the installation from halfway through I did the whole format over again and it worked.yippeee.

Thanks for the helps guys...it seems mechBgone's suggestions worked afterall.