Majorproblems installing XP Home w/SP2 on new build

[alvinator]

First, here is my build specs:

64 Athlon 3500+
ASUS A8V Deluxe MOBO
4x 512 Rosewill PC3200
Samsung 1614N ATA133
NEC 3520A DVD
Powercolor 9800Pro128 AGP
Zalman 400PS

Had no problems with building. RAM recognized and processor recognized.Problems started with XP install. Got as far as files installed though it wouldn't install 5 files and I skipped them.

After the file install on XP, the rest of the install failed with a message saying see system admin. Oddly, it indicated that a prior ops was previously installed yet this is a brand new system.

This is my first attempt at a build and right now I am at a loss what to do?

Any suggestions?

I think I also have bios problems though I thinkI successfully reflashed it.

 

[cleverhandle]

Memory is usually the first thing to test. Run memtest86 for a while and see if anything pops up. It'll probably take some time with that much RAM, so go put on some coffee or something.

 

[mechBgon]

If it does have memory errors, also try cranking up the memory voltage another notch to 2.7 volts, and/or removing two modules. Personally, I would've bought anything but Rosewill and also stuck with two modules, but that isn't much help to you at this point.

 

[toant103]

"Oddly, it indicated that a prior ops was previously installed yet this is a brand new system."

Is this a brand new hard drive?

Take all but one of the memory stick out. upgrade the bios, and try installing xp again.

 

[alvinator]

Sorry I took so long responding to the prior suggestions but here is now where I stand.

I removed 2 sticks of memory and ran memtest86 on remaining 2 sticks of 512 and the sticks passed.

I changed out the 2032 CMOS battery and did the jumper thing. In fact, my pocket PC needed a new 2032 so I installed the one I took out of the mobo. My Pocket PC then reported a 100% full battery so it wasn't the battery.

I reflashed bios.

I reconfigured the drive partitions to a 50 and 110 GB partition as I had inadvertently partitioned the whole 160GB as one drive.

I changed the RAID controller from RAID to IDE operation.

My windows installation still bombs out after installing files, always with a different reason.

On bootup from CD, I now get the following messages:

No device is found

Bios is not installed.

Then I get NTLDR is missing.

I did notice when looking at my "missing" BIOS that the memory is recognized but the CPU is not listed.

Where do I go from here?

Thanks to all!!!

 

[necine]

I had the same exact problem a week ago. Take your drives off of cable select and set the jumpers manually. Well, actually as it appears you only have one cd drive, and one hard drive. So that probably not the problem. Use one stick of 512 to try to get that sucker installed.

 

[mechBgon]

You might still try boosting your memory voltage. A 400W Zalman may not be enough PSU either, got any other quality PSUs you could try?

 

[Danzilla]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
You might still try boosting your memory voltage. A 400W Zalman may not be enough PSU either, got any other quality PSUs you could try?

You're not over-clocking, are you? If not, 400W should be plenty and there's no reason to mess with memory voltages either.
1) you sure there are no errors on the windows CD? Isn't a burned copy, is it?
2) I had similar problems once. Windows seemed to install fine, would try to boot up and error after error. Turned out my brand new hard disk was bad.

A couple things to try, new build? reseat everything. Also, try and remove everything not essential. Just the hard drive, one stick memory, one drive for the Windows CD. From your description, you didnt' have much 'extra' that would need removing, but thought it'd be worth suggesting anyway.

D.

 

[alvinator]

Thanks for the replies!

I am not overclocking, the XP CD is brand new registered, I have an extra hard drive that I was going to maybe install so I swapped it out and still have the same problem.

I ran memtest86+ last night for 8 hours on one stick of ram, no errors.

I did try boosting voltage to 2.7 and that did not work.

When I get the message, a device is missing and no bios installed, what could that be referring to?

 

[Danzilla]

I think it just means it can't find a boot device. You sure hard drive is one of the boot options and it didnt' get removed or something when you set it to boot from CD? Only other thing I can think of.
Maybe a problem with the motherboard? Try attaching hard drive to other IDE controller.

 

[mechBgon]

When I get the message, a device is missing and no bios installed, what could that be referring to?

That would be a disk controller finding that there aren't any drives plugged into it, and signing off without initiating its own BIOS. For the A8V Deluxe, if you aren't using the Serial ATA controllers (VIA and Promise), you can disable them in the motherboard's BIOS.

What are the jumper options on your Samsung hard drive, precisely? If you're using round ATA cables, Have you tried new, flat, boring 80-wire ATA cables?

 

[CaptnKirk]

You either have the Hard Drive jumpers set incorrectly . .
the Boot Sequence in the wrong order . .
a corrupted Install recognized during the Boot Sequence . .
or D, all of the above.

I have seen this before, so here's a soultion:

1) Double check and verify HDD Jumper set to MASTER - your's should look like this:
[ : : | | ] - for the Samsung 160GB.

2) HDD on IDE0 (Primary) no slave HDD on this cable during this installation.

3) DVD/CD device also set as a MASTER and also a single device - on IDE1 (Secondary)

4) Clear CMOS - you're starting clean.

5) As the computer starts, tap the DELETE key, or whatever you do to enter the BIOS.

6) Set Time & Date, then LOAD DEFAULT SETINGS.

7) Set BOOT SEQUENCE - Make the DVD/CD the FIRST and DISABLE all other devices from the BOOT selection.

8) Restart - as it begins to run, put the INSTALL CD into the drive, do the restart again if needed.

*NOTE: you will have to change the boot sequence after the install is done,
and put it into the normal FLOPPY, HDD, CD order.

9) When the screen prompts come up read them carefully - you will have to delete any previous copys, and install new, not repair.
You will have to delete the prevous partitions, and only make a single partition, my choice for the size is 25000GB,
never less than 15000GB, & you won't need 30000GB.
Let the balance of the hard drive be partitioned my the Disc Management after installation is complete. ( You're installing it on drive C:/ )

10) It will run the formatting - do it as NTFS, and not the 'Quick' one.

11) Run the program in and make any entries as you are prompted - KEY CODE, set dates, names.

12) On the restart, while the computer does it's cycle - bring it back into the BIOS, & reset BOOT SEQUENCE:
FLOPPY, HDD, CD-ROM then resume the re-start. It should load & bring up the WinXP Splash & complete the task.

13) Partition the Balaance of the HDD ( Best to install SP1 before you do this )

14) Drag 'My Computer' of the start pop-window so you can easily access it.

15) Right click MY COMPUTER - then EXPLORE, look down the list & find MANAGE
and select DISK MANAGE -
Select the unactivated drive volume & slice aand dice to whatever you like, make
up to 3 more partitions, & do whatever you like. I make a 'D' for DIGITAL,and an 'E' for EDITOR, any size your chose.

Respond if this works for you.

 

[alvinator]

Captain Kirk,

Everything was going as you planned, XP startedto install files but then could not install some, my retries failed so I skipped files, then the blue screen appeared killing the install at about the 55% file install level. I'm going to try again after supper unless you have some more suggestions in the meantime. We're getting there!!

Thank You!

 

[CaptnKirk]

You can't skip any files - clean the disc . . .
there's a smuge or a fingerprint somwhere messing up the data string.

Very, very carefully run cold water from the tap on the data side &
gently rub with a finger in a circle around the disc.

Have a soft paper towel nearby, and lay the disc on it data side up, and BLOT - do not wipe, to dry.
After it air dries for about 5 minutes, try again.

 

[alvinator]

I'm on my third try installing files and I still get files that won't install and a subsuquent blue screen of death. I've washed and dried the disk as apecified. I know we are close here but I don't know how to get past these files that won't install.

 

[mechBgon]

Did you try new flat 80-wire ATA cables yet? Colored end plugs into motherboard, far end plugs into first drive.

 

[alvinator]

I.ve tried 6 times to install XP with no success due to files hanging up.

Any more suggestions? Could it be bad memory though I ran memtest86+ all night last night with no problems.

Thanks in advance. I really appreciate the help you nice folks are giving me.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Go to a single stick in slot 1 & try again.

 

[alvinator]

I'm using flat cables. Also, I forgot to mention, I'm just using one memory stick right now to get installed. I'm thinking of ordering approved memory for this mobo. The Rosewill is not on the list. Probably made a mistake buying it in the first place.

 

[CaptnKirk]

You can't skip any files during the install or it will fail.

Did you use a different ribbon cable to the HDD/Mobo ?
Can you barrow a copy from someone & use your KEY CODE ?

Try a single stick of memory in each slot, & if it fails - move to the next slot.

Try a different CD-ROM as the master for the install ?

Last resort would be to set HDD as CABLE SELECT - I've seen that work on replacing a DELL OpSys.


I had this same problem with a friends MSI last week - it took 6 tries before we got it loaded.

 

[Mogadon]

Is the CD-ROM new too?

Like CaptainKirk said, maybe try a different CD-ROm if you can.

Maybe the actual CD is bad, try a different one with the you code.

 

[alvinator]

I have a seperate ribbon cable for both the HDD/MOBO and the CD-ROM/MOBO. I might be able to borrow an XP disk, good thought! I'll rotate the memory stick.

We'll get this solved. I'm also learning a lot from a bunch of helpful people!

I'll start working on this tomorrow PM, I'm bleary eyed right now.

 

[alvinator]

Overnight, I ran memtest 86+ again and it found no errors in 32 passes.

I found a brand new Windows XP SP2 that came with my Company Notebook. Ran the installation and got the blue screen of death with the message "Page fault in non paged area" for whatever that is worth.

I then tore out a working CD-ROM from an older HP computer, did the install with the new CD and started getting files that would not load again. That didn't work.

I'll try switching memory slots later but in the meantime are there any further ideas?

 

[CaptnKirk]

Did your Hard Drive come with a DIAGNOSTICS program ?

The MAXTOR and WESTERN DIGITALS come with programs (CD or Floppy) that
will let you write 'ZEROS' - which is known as "low Level Format', and you can
return a Hard Drive to the 'Factory Condition' which makes it ready for loading.

It works in DOS & takes anywhere from 1 to 8 hours to completely clear a hard drive.

If you can do that, you can set the computer to the standard BOOT SEQUENCE of
FLOPPY/HDD/CD-ROM & try it from there. I'm not seeing this as a Memory Glich,
it looks like a deep corruption in the HDD that needs to be cleaned out.

Make sure that you don't partition anything except the C:/ drive for 25000GB
when you start the install, & don't skip any files if they don't load.

Since you have a second disc - if you do get a file load error, eject the CD & put
in the other disc then hit RETRY & see if it will pick up the file from the other CD.

One other possibility would be to put the questionable HDD into another system as
the SLAVE & just use that computer to delete all remanants of partitions & format it
there before you return it into this system & try the install again.

Overall I've seen this happen to peoples computers about 30 times, & it's usually
something that was botched in the original installation that pooched the HDD.

4 of those times the HDD had to go to the ZERO WRITE to clean it up,
most of the time the 15 step procedure will fix it.

Keep me posted . . .

One additional thought . . Power Supply ? Excessive ripple in the output.
Might pick up a 450W & try that in the case.

 

[alvinator]

I checked with Samsung and they have the low level format utility available for download which I will do when I get home this PM. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks again!!!