Multiple Issues on Windows MCE Install

[hepcat06]

I built my computer yesterday and installed Windows MCE a few hours ago. Many strange things have happened since then. I'll try to list all of them, but first, here's the full specs of my build:

ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939
Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM
eVGA 256-P2-N515-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB
WD Caviar SE16 SATA 300MB/s 250GB
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Sound Card
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Computer Case
Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
Dell 2405 LCD Monitor

The computer boots up fine, the problems are in Windows itself.

First of all, when I clicked on "My Computer" I noticed that my CD/DVD drive had been assigned letter "G" and my hard drive had been assigned letter "H." My computer says drives c, d, e, and f, are removable disks. Device manager says I have 5 Disk Drives. It lists them in this order:

SMSC 223 UHS-CF USB Device
SMSC 223 UHS-MS USB Device
SMSC 223 UHS-SD MMC USB Device
SMSC 223 UHS-SM USB Device
WDC WD2500KS 00MJB0

These slots seem to correspond to some of the ports available on the monitor. What's going on?

Second, I'm having a hard time installing drivers. My CD/DVD drive is working, but it won't automatically start the disks I'm putting into it. I also gotten the following message several times when I try to install something:

"The windows installer service could not be accessed. This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode (I'm not), or if Windows installer is not correctly installed."

Similarly, it looks like Windows Explorer of all things is not on my computer yet either, so I can't go to Windows Update. I did install Firefox since I had that downloaded onto a flash drive, but my internet access is not working. (I did install the latest chipset drivers and the Nvdia LAN drivers, but not the firewall!). I plugged my DSL cable into the LAN port, which made it light up yellow and orange. My router is registering the connection, and I'm typing this on my roommates computer, so I know this isn't a problem with my DSL service.

In short, everything's a mess. Can anyone help?

 

[timswim78]

Try installing MCE with only the hardware that you need. Then add the extra hardware (eg, USB card readers) one at a time. Also, don't even bother with drivers that came on a CD because they are probably outdated. Instead, go to the web site of the manufacturers and download the newest drivers, once you have the Internet up and runniong,

 

[Raduque]

That's.... a bit odd. I don't see how that system even boots, especially if "C:" is an empty removable drive. I wouldn't even know where to start to fix it, but I would like to know what happens if you yank the monitor's USB cable and take those drives(?) (card readers?) away.

In any case, I'm with timswim. Reinstall MCE with only the CPU, RAM, Vidcard and HD/CD. Disable the USB ports in the BIOS, along with the com/serial/lpt ports and FDD controller if you don't use one. I would also say(since you're using an audigy2) disable the onboard sound and modem, but not the LAN.

Also, one more question: What CDs did you use to install and what order? It goes XP CD, MCE CD, then "SP2 CD" which is the XP CD again.

Good luck!

 

[hepcat06]

Originally posted by: Raduque
That's.... a bit odd. I don't see how that system even boots, especially if "C:" is an empty removable drive. I wouldn't even know where to start to fix it, but I would like to know what happens if you yank the monitor's USB cable and take those drives(?) (card readers?) away.

In any case, I'm with timswim. Reinstall MCE with only the CPU, RAM, Vidcard and HD/CD. Disable the USB ports in the BIOS, along with the com/serial/lpt ports and FDD controller if you don't use one. I would also say(since you're using an audigy2) disable the onboard sound and modem, but not the LAN.

Also, one more question: What CDs did you use to install and what order? It goes XP CD, MCE CD, then "SP2 CD" which is the XP CD again.

Good luck!

When I removed the USB cable from monitor, the USB drives are gone, but my HD still has the letter H and the CD drive is G.

I'm going to reinstall. The three cds that came with the OEM package say:

Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2005 Disk 1
Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2005 Disk 2
Windows XP Media Center Edition Version Updates for Version 2005

Last night I installed them in that order.

I already disabled the onboard sound, but not some of the other things you mentioned. I'll try and figure out how to do that from the MB manual.

Thanks, let's see what happens...

 

[hepcat06]

Reinstalling after I turned off USB in the Bios and disconnected the USB board from the monitor solved the drive letter issue. My hard drive is now "c" and my CD/DVD drive is now "d"

However, I still don't have IE and can't get on the internet on my computer. During set up, I kept getting asked for the files on "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD" I don't have that CD and at first I assumed they meant the MCE CD that says "Updates for version 2005" on it. Windows insisted I need the SP2 CD.

I tried downloading SP2 on my roommates computer, but he has XP home and the site won't let me download SP2 without also installing it. (I have no idea why my roommate does not already have SP2 installed on his computer).

Is there anything I can do besides order the SP2 CD from Microsoft and wait for it to arrive?

EDIT: There must be another way to get that CD. Microsoft's website says it will take 4 to 6 weeks to ship.

 

[ND40oz]

Originally posted by: hepcat06
However, I still don't have IE and can't get on the internet on my computer. During set up, I kept getting asked for the files on "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD" I don't have that CD and at first I assumed they meant the MCE CD that says "Updates for version 2005" on it. Windows insisted I need the SP2 CD.

The "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD is disk 1 of the install. Just put disk one back in and you'll be fine.

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: ND40oz

Originally posted by: hepcat06
However, I still don't have IE and can't get on the internet on my computer. During set up, I kept getting asked for the files on "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD" I don't have that CD and at first I assumed they meant the MCE CD that says "Updates for version 2005" on it. Windows insisted I need the SP2 CD.

The "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD is disk 1 of the install. Just put disk one back in and you'll be fine.

I thought I said that already? 😛 The "Updates for Version 2005" are probably the most current XPMCE updates on CD (like the XP Rollup/SP2 CDs), and it probably has Update Rollups 1 and 2 on it. You use this to update the OS after install.

Anyway, let us know how it goes this time.

 

[hepcat06]

Originally posted by: ND40oz

The "Windows XP Professional Service Pack II CD is disk 1 of the install. Just put disk one back in and you'll be fine.[/quote]

Raduque, ND40oz, you were both right. I put the first cd back in (after reformatting and starting completely over) and Windows MCE finished installing properly. I was able to access the internet and everything else seems to be working!

Building your own computer leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment, but man, it can make you feel really dumb too.

 

[dev0lution]

I've run into that issue and it usually happens when you have a USB device like your monitor or a card reader. Randomly assigns the USB or card reader drive letters before the hard drives. MCE is really not a polished product for an end-user. The install process is very much geared towards an OEM who learns the quirks.