New Build, Won't Recognize Windows Installed

[faithwarrior118]

1. Overview of the problem
   Computer won't pass the Verifying DMI pool, it fails and then asks for the boot cd-rom
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   I recently build this computer and had everything working great, so I go to install my operating system (Windows XP). I put the CD in and go through the prompts and eventually it reboots. Then it prompts for the Boot CD again like it never installed windows in the first place, but I can go into the Repair module which gives me a C prompt and see the C:\Windows directory is there.
   
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   It worked right one time (the first time actually). I got into Windows and started installing the drivers for the onboard soundcard, and ethernet from the Gigabyte disk. Then the program hung, and I had to reset the computer by holding the power button to power it off. It's never worked right since.
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   The problem is now completely repeatable. It fails at Verifying DMI pool everytime and asks for the boot disk. When the boot disk is provided it starts up like it's never installed windows in its life.
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   I went into BIOS and tried changing the boot order. I've even tried formating the hard drive and reinstalling after that.
   
6. My software:
   • Windows XP Home Edition with SP1a
     Antivirus, Firewall, etc not yet installed. Heck, I didn't even get the video card drivers in.
   
   
   
7. My hardware
   • 
     PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W EPS12V PFC Power Supply
     GIGABYTE GA-EP43-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
     G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
     Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
     Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJB 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
     Random DVD drive I had lying around the house (SATA)
   
   
8. Other information that might be relevant
   I've installed and reinstalled Windows multiples times on my old computer, but I've never encountered a problem like this before.

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[mechBgon]

So the motherboard knows the hard drive is there (since you can install/reformat/reinstall), but it won't actually boot from it.

As a quick-&-dirty option, hit F12 at the POST screen and wait for the boot-device menu to come up. Then select the hard drive manually, and it should boot. And when you get to the Windows desktop screen, the first thing I'd do is enable the Internet Connection Firewall to keep possible worm attacks at bay. WinXP SP1 is quite vulnerable to automagic worm attacks.


So in the BIOS, in Advanced BIOS Features, there's the two boot-device settings, First/Second/Third Boot Device and Hard Disk Boot Priority. I think you want to set the first one to your ATA/100 drive, and the second to Hard Drive, but maybe you already did that?


Oh, and I'm being forgetful. Also look at your WD hard drive's jumper setting. A recent-model Western Digital ATA drive that is on its own data cable, without any other drives, usually wants to be the special Single Master setting, which is easy to do: just pull the jumper cap off the pins and leave it off, and that's Single Master.

Any good?

 

[faithwarrior118]

Oh, and I'm being forgetful. Also look at your WD hard drive's jumper setting. A recent-model Western Digital ATA drive that is on its own data cable, without any other drives, usually wants to be the special Single Master setting, which is easy to do: just pull the jumper cap off the pins and leave it off, and that's Single Master.

Any good?

This was the solution I needed. Once I removed the jumper to put it in single master it booted up into Windows with no further issues. In fact, I'm typing this from the new computer right now.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me. Please check your PMs.