New install problems...please help.

[Tullphan]

New XP Pro install...new motherboard, hard drive, new everything.
Formats ok, copies files ok. When it restarts & gets to the "39 minutes left", it locks up. Restarting it, it may lockup during the splash screen, or get as far as "restarting installation" & locks up. Tried 3 different discs & re-formatting (both full & quick) & re-installing...all with the same results.
Ideas? Suggestions?
Thanks.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Gonna need some system specs if you want any real help, there are just too many variables to narrow down otherwise. I would initially suspect CPU overheating, Video or RAM issues, but a simple BIOS update may be all you need.

 

[moonsite]

It happened to me before. I had bad RAM.

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: moonsite
It happened to me before. I had bad RAM.

Ditto. Usually will error out or lock. It could also be bad bios configuration(s) in your motherboard.

I would try and run Memtest before trying to install your OS, and see if it comes back with any errors.

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Gonna need some system specs if you want any real help, there are just too many variables to narrow down otherwise. I would initially suspect CPU overheating, Video or RAM issues, but a simple BIOS update may be all you need.

Here's the specs:
Shuttle AN35N Ultra motherboard
Asus Radeon 9200SE Video
AMD 2400+ Mobile
TR2TT (Designed by Thermaltake) TR2 M4 CPU Cooler (used AS3)
Kingston 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
WD1200JB 120GB HD
NEC DVD+/-RW
Antec SLK3700 BQE Case w/350W PS (Antec also)
I checked the temp after several restarts & the cpu was at 32c & the system temp was at 28c.
I'll try another stick of ram to see if that's the case, but like I said, I got past the formatting & the file copying but it either gets stuck on the finishing installation part or on the splash screen or the restarting setup.

 

[Blazer]

set your ddr volts to 2.70 and retry,sometimes the default voltage is to low

 

[Tullphan]

I tried a different stick of ram...some PC2700 out of a fairly new Compaq...same results. I'll try setting the voltage to 2.70.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Upgrade to the latest BIOS if you don't have it already.

 

[Tullphan]

Tried doing the voltage thing...nada...trying the bios flash now.

 

[Tullphan]

Tried the bios flash but it did not help...still freezes after splash screen. Any other ideas?

 

[Blazer]

both of you are using 300 watt power supplies,anyone can test with another PSU

 

[Tullphan]

It's an Antec 350W power supply.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Did you plug the 4-pin (ATX12V) connector in? (see page 18, "Step 9" of your mobo manual)

 

[MrChad]

Did you run MemTest?

 

[Tullphan]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Did you plug the 4-pin (ATX12V) connector in? (see page 18, "Step 9" of your mobo manual)

Yes

Originally posted by: MrChad
Did you run MemTest?

No, but I did try 2 different sticks of memory...different brands, different speeds.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: MrChad
Did you run MemTest?

No, but I did try 2 different sticks of memory...different brands, different speeds.

Run MemTest. If you have problems with both sticks of memory, you may have a problem with your motherboard.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: Tullphan

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Gonna need some system specs if you want any real help, there are just too many variables to narrow down otherwise. I would initially suspect CPU overheating, Video or RAM issues, but a simple BIOS update may be all you need.

Here's the specs:
Shuttle AN35N Ultra motherboard
Asus Radeon 9200SE Video
AMD 2400+ Mobile
TR2TT (Designed by Thermaltake) TR2 M4 CPU Cooler (used AS3)
Kingston 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
WD1200JB 120GB HD
NEC DVD+/-RW
Antec SLK3700 BQE Case w/350W PS (Antec also)
I checked the temp after several restarts & the cpu was at 32c & the system temp was at 28c.
I'll try another stick of ram to see if that's the case, but like I said, I got past the formatting & the file copying but it either gets stuck on the finishing installation part or on the splash screen or the restarting setup.

Curious, what is your cpu set to? FSB and multi.

Fern

 

[Tullphan]

Well, you may be onto something. I changed the FSB &amp; Multiplier to your settings just for kicks. It was originally set to 133/Auto. I changed it to 200/11 &amp; restarted. It restarted the installation without lockup, but after a minute or 2 it completely powered off. I unplugged the power cord for a few secs, then plugged it back in &amp; hit the power button while holding down on the <del> key. It again powered off about the time it got to the bios screen. I unplugged everything again, including the atx connectors inside, reset the bios, restarted &amp; went back into the bios. This time I set the FSB to 200 &amp; the multiplier to 8. So far it seems to be continuing the installation procedure just fine.
Thanks for having me check that, tho I must admit I don't know why that had anything to do with it.
BTW, I'm running Memtest on my main machine &amp; it's found an error...does that mean bad memory?

 

[Fern]

Not a good idea to install an OS on an OC'd system. Change settings to 166 FSB and multi 11 (basicaly a 2500+). Then run memtest86 to see if your ram is OK. Unstable ram will foul up an OS too. If it passes, go ahead and install the OS.

Then start OCing again.

Fern

 

[slayek]

Hope I am not offending you! Did you checked the CPU temp? Is the heatsink is installed properly? I think jacking up the CPU speed before installing an OS is not a very good idea.
I have about the same problem in my 741GX-M board and a new sempron CPU. After installing the OS I jacked up the FSB setting to 200 and the system was not even going to the windows login screen. Till that point I had no idea about the CPU temp. I can not even get into the bios setup because of the horrible freezing. So I unplugged the machine and remove CMOS memory and rebooted the machine. this time system was up smoothly and going to BIOS for PC-Health revealed the reason. CPU temp was 87 degree C. I was shocked! The next thing I did was replacining the heatsink and now my system runs properly even after 17% OCing.

 

[Tullphan]

No offense, slayek &amp; Fern, after it shut itself down, I lowered the FSB/Multi. I had no idea what it was supposed to be set to. It's currently running about 38-40c. I'll run memtest to make sure, but i'd still like to know why the bios had the fsb/multi set so low &amp; why that had an effect on the install.