Strange problems occuring when I try to install WinXP

[Sauro]

Hey guys. Computer was running fine until i reflashed the bios. Started getting lockups, so i reflashed bios to older version. Problems presisted. Rereflashed to newer version and started from scratch. (Ran Memtest for about 5 hours, no memory errors). Upon install of WinXP I get these at the same time. I tried switching harddrives, but it freezes at 19 min in on both of the drives. Harddrives are 74gb Raptor and 80gb Maxtor(IDE). Motherboard is MSI K8N NEO4. RAM is OCZ3200 REV2 Plat. Video is X800XL. I think it points to the MB, but if anyone has any suggestions/ideas I would be very appreciative if you lended your opinion. Thanks!

 

[Conky]

Try a different CD drive to install it? Or maybe the disc is dirty? Just guessing...

 

[Praytus]

I did something similiar on a shuttle MB and had the same problem. After many days, I realized that when I flashed the BIOS, it changed the voltage on my RAM. Changing it back sold my problem.

 

[gsellis]

19 minutes in is not very descriptive. So, i386 has been copied, the system has gone through the blue progress bar and rebooted with the Luna looking setup, right?

Chances are it is a device in Plug and Play that is not in the XP infs. What is attached and in PCI slots?

If you got to the GUI look, you are past HD drivers. Net drivers, audio drivers, and video drivers can fail at this point. But, something attached to a USB or Firewire port or in a PCI slot could also be the culprit.

Edit - OH, and you are doing this OFF the net, right? XP with SP1 will be owned by a couple of worms before the system is up if it has a direct connect to the internet or infected network.

 

[Sauro]

I don't think the CD on the drive is dirty, because of the lockups that were occuring before I formatted. The RAM voltage could be the problem, but with it freezing at the same point each time leads me to believe that it shouldnt have anything to do with the RAM. gsellis, it is freezing with 19 min remaining in the install, not 19min left. It always freezes at the "Setting up Start Menu" which is past the install of device drivers. Although I will try to remove my sound card and TV Tuner to see if they make a difference. Thanks for the responses guys!

 

[gsellis]

Yes, remove the tuner and make sure it is off net. You are still in plug and play at that point, so it could be hanging on a driver load. If you try the install again, do not use quick format for NTFS. That will force the format to also look for bad blocks, but that probably is not the issue. This sounds 100% driver related.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: Praytus
I did something similiar on a shuttle MB and had the same problem. After many days, I realized that when I flashed the BIOS, it changed the voltage on my RAM. Changing it back sold my problem.

That's what I have been thinking my problem is. What would be a good voltage setting for some TCCD chipped RAM (Patriot XBL 2x512)? 1.55? Don't want to fry the memory of course...