Problem with my build [edit: new problem]

[jonessoda]

I had just finished installing Windows (XP Pro 32bit OEM), and was logged on, and attempted to install the drivers that came with my motherboard (Gigabyte GA-K8N PRO-SLI, the drivers as I remember them were for AC-97 sound, USB 2.0, AMD 'Cool & Quiet operation,' and two other things), and (I assume) after the drivers installed (it didn't give any install messages, status bars, or the like, just an hourglass), the system restarted.

Upon Windows trying to restart, I get an error message stating that Windows can't restart because the following driver is missing:

system32/DRIVERS/pci.sys

Which I assume is the driver for the PCI ports, but I could be wrong.

Tomorrow I am going to try a full reformat and reinstall of Windows, but I should like somebody's opinion on the matter as to what I should do about the motherboard drivers.

This is my first build, and I have no idea why this is happening, unless the motherboard driver installation managed to delete this driver. Any help you can give me, any at all, will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fardringle]

Hopefully it was just a fluke and a re-install will fix the problem. However, I would recommend that if you do re-install Windows, install one driver at a time and reboot between each one so that if the problem returns you'll know exactly which driver is at fault.

 

[jackschmittusa]

A search on Google suggests that some have solved the same problem, attributing it to memory errors.

 

[jonessoda]

Thank you both.

I reinstalled Windows, and when reinstalling my motherboard drivers, declined to install the AMD Cool and Quiet driver and the AC-97 driver (I'm using a Soundblaster card for my audio), and it is working perfectly now.

 

[jonessoda]

Okay, it's up and working, EXCEPT for one major problem:

It's not recognizing its onboard ethernet connection

It says it has 2 IEEE 1394 network connections, but despite having used the same network cable as is in this one (plugged to the same spot on the router), it won't add a LAN connection.

The lights go on in the ethernet port in the motherboard, but the computer refuses to recognize the connection.

Edit: I've tried installing the drivers from the Gigabyte website (transferred via thumbdrive), but it says "there is not enough space on drive C:\ to extract this package. Please free up 53.93MB and click Retry." The drivers from another source (apparently the same file) say the same.

I have approximately 272 GB free, so unless this file is absolutely massive (and yet somehow fits in a package of 35 MB), it's not working.

 

[jonessoda]

Also, in the 'safely remove hardware' menu, my C:\ drive shows up, which I assume is abnormal. It's a Seagate 300GB SATA drive. Any known fixes?

 

[Fraggable]

Wow, what a weird set of problems.

Have you checked for a BIOS update on the mobo manufacturer's website?

The C: drive should not show up in the remove hardware window.

Run Memtest86 if you haven't already, it sounds like bad memory may be at least part of the problem.

Boot into safe mode and try to unpack your driver file.

 

[jonessoda]

Well, I installed a PCI card network adapter, so it's working. I'm posting this from my new rig.

 

[RBauer]

my SATA drives show up in remove hardware as well but not as c: just list 2 scsi drives. as far as installing those onboard lan drivers copy driver off the thumb onto ur desktop. it sounds like u ran it of the thumb drive which was almost full?