Problems Setting up K8N Neo2

[GigaHurtz]

OK, so I got all of my parts in for my new comp (FX-53, Neo 2, 6800 ultra...the works...), and I've run into some really weird problems...

First off, im trying to run a single SATA Seagate 120, and unless I set the "Gate A20" option in BIOS to normal (instead of fast) the install disk Seagate provided won't boot. Took me forever to track that down...I'm still not even sure why this setting should matter.

Now I am getting blue screens of death while trying to install XP Pro (an OLD version, pre SP1). Stop message points out "mountmgr.sys". I don't even know what that is... I've had XP install succesfully, only to get momentary BSOD's followed by restarts at various times. At first I thought my CD drive was causing these (that seagate install disk wouldnt boot at all if i put it in, but would in my DVD drive). Long story short, its not the drive, and its not the IDE cable.

Right now I have both DVD and CD drives on the primary IDE channel, SATA in port 1.

I've reached the end of my limited experience, and would appreciate ANY help.

If i've left any pertinent info out, let me know..I'll give ya more than you'd ever want...

Thanks,
Loren

 

[Tab]

Maybe its your CD? Whats the exact error messages and when does it happen?

 

[GigaHurtz]

I've been through so many retries, its hard for me to remember exactly when the blue screens that I can actually read occur. The error messages are the generic XP crap, the STOP line is pretty long, followed by the "mountmgr.sys" line below that. I'll write it down next time. Seems like those messages occured during the initial XP install screen (before you have to restart).

BSOD's after that are unreadable because the comp restarts so fast. These types have occured during XP's first boot after install, and after installing mobo drivers (XP was recognizing new hardware after restart).

I'll try and keep track of exactly what happens when and post my findings later.

As for updates right now, I've given up on using the Seagate disk... all it does is quick format the drive, no drivers or anything are on the disk. I've taken to using the floppy provided by MSI that has the RAID and Storage drivers on it (during XP install, you know...the F6 option). Doesn't look like its made a difference though.

Could the fact taht I'm using an old XP Pro version have anything to do with it? I can't help but think since everything in my system is a generation ahead of XP that Xp is causing all of these problems.

 

[Bar81]

You shouldn't need anything for a single drive SATA install on the nForce3 250 chipset. Load up BIOS defaults and save. Pull out everything that's not needed and try a clean reformat and install. You should just have the mobo, vid card, HD, and DVD ROM since that seems to not have issues. Then, just boot from the WinXP CD and go for it.

 

[Ethex]

could be the memory. I hope you got top quaility memory since you dumped $800 in the processor. BSOD are memory dumps alot of times. yank a stick out and see if it works if no swap the sticks and see if it works. I upgraded a machine once where a stick worked fine with 98, craped out on the intall of xp pro, and worked fine after the install. just a bad sector I guess and the intall need to put somthing there.