need help with building computer

[crabbyman]

Ok.......I have done all of the hard parts.......I am down to loading the OS onto the computer. I have tried to use floppy disk boot disks and I get a "Disk I/O Error"........then I tried to boot off of the CD and then I get the message "DISK BOOT ERROR...INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER"..........Please help..I am getting frustrated!

 

[spanky]

first off... go into the bios and make sure u know what the boot order is. then check the jumpers on ur hd and cdrom to make sure they are correct (like... make sure u do not have two device as master on the same ide channel).

 

[poohhairt]

I'm not sure about the floppy problem, but make sure you are using a bootable cd. The disk for your OS should be fine. Make sure you check the boot order like crabbyman said.

 

[spanky]

Make sure you check the boot order like crabbyman said.

*AHEM*

 

[AnAndAustin]

Well you want boot sequence to be A: C: CDROM or floppy HD0: CDROM, find this in the BIOS (usually DEL to enter SETUP when your RAM is being counted up after power on). A: should boot, but do check the cable is the correct way around (red line is at 1 location) and that you haven't missed out a couple of pins. Also check the floppy power lead is connected correctly and try the spare one too. You should always be able to boot off floppy.

If you go into BIOS you should easily find if your IDE devices are being detected correctly by either selcting AUTODETECT IDE or else use the first menu and see what is displayed. I take it you are familiar with Master/Slave and Primary/Secondary notations.

 

[crabbyman]

The power on the floppy only goes one way....and its on the right way...
My BIOS detects everything as it is..except it is calling my CD-Rom 20 instead of 24....but I dont think that matters..it detects my DVD, CD-R, floppy, and HDD.

I also tried different boot orders......no luck...

I know I set the jumpers right..double checked them as soon as I had the problem...

The cable on the floppy is on correctly also........I tested it the other way and the power light stays on all the time...which means its connected wrong..

 

[AnAndAustin]

Is it booting at all from floppy, HD or CDROM? If not it could be a mobo or BIOS fault, you may need to RMA it. Is it possible to try some components in another PC, most particularly the HD and floppy drive?

 

[crabbyman]

it makes the sound that it is booting.........like you can hear the floppy click...and whirl..but then it says the error message... same with the CD..it spins and then it says error

 

[AnAndAustin]

That's strange, sounds to me like a BIOS or mobo problem to me although it could be your an incompatability. This could be an AthlonXP CPU in a mobo which can't use it, a SB Live in VIA chipset or some wierd resource conflict. Can you try some of your components in another PC to help isolate the faulty component?