Operating System won't install

[flyswatter]

This my first dual cpu build, but have built about 25 PC before. I
I tried to install Windows XP Pro - but when it gets to the "Setting up Windows" screen, it reboots itself and states that Windows Xp was not installed. It simply reboots itself. I also tried installing Windows 2000 and Linux Red Hat 8, but it keeps rebooting itself and as a result, I can't install an OS. I checked the memory using Memtest for 30 hours with no errors. I installed just one ram and alternated each of them, disabled USB, Serial, Parallel ports, ethernets, flashed the bios to the current bios and even ranned it with just one CPU without any success. Does anyone have any suggestions?


TYAN Thunder K8SD Pro (S2882-D)
No installed PCI slots
Dual Amd Opteron 246 with XP-90 Heatsink
2 x CORSAIR 512MB ECC REG DDR 333 RT
200gb seagate ultra ata
Sparkle Power FSP550-60PLN-B 550 Watts

 

[Fardringle]

Is that Seagate hard drive in the system SATA or EIDI (PATA)? If it is SATA, are you installing the drivers for the hard drive at the very beginning of the Windows install when it says "Press F6 now if you need to load SCSI drivers" (or something like that)?

 

[FlyingPenguin]

Set all BIOS settings to the SAFE defaults. Do not overclock.

Corsair memory sometimes doesn't work properly with default memory timing (even though it passed MEMTEST, Windows stresses the ram differently). Corsair has a list of mobos tested with their XMS memory and their recommended timing settings here: http://www.houseofhelp.com/v2/showthread.php?t=38150

You should use a copy of XP Pro that's at least slipstreamed to SP1 (Sp2 would be better). Original pre-SP1 XP installs will have issues with newer mobos.

Hope this helps...

 

[flyswatter]

Originally posted by: FlyingPenguin
Set all BIOS settings to the SAFE defaults. Do not overclock.

Corsair memory sometimes doesn't work properly with default memory timing (even though it passed MEMTEST, Windows stresses the ram differently). Corsair has a list of mobos tested with their XMS memory and their recommended timing settings here: http://www.houseofhelp.com/v2/showthread.php?t=38150

You should use a copy of XP Pro that's at least slipstreamed to SP1 (Sp2 would be better). Original pre-SP1 XP installs will have issues with newer mobos.

Hope this helps...

System is not overclocked. I tried to look for this type of memory and it happens to not be on the list via link.

Unfortunately I don't have XP Pro SP2 disk.
I've tried to install Windows 2000 Pro, XP Pro, MS Server 2003 Enterprise x64 and Linux Red Hat all unsuccessfully. I'm thinking it's the Mobo or possibly the memory. Any suggestions.