win xp bootup probs-mb? os? help!

boodah

Member
Aug 8, 2001
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First time 'builder'. Used old 30 gb hd (7200rpm) that had win98 on it. Now upgraded to shuttle ak31a, athlon xp 1800+, using same hd. Had some installation problems, so installed winxp over it. Now it boots up fine about 10% of the time, the other 90% of the time, I get a blue screen that says 'unmountable_boot_volume' and to restart windows. After 4-5 restarts each time, it goes through. But also, when it does goes through and I'm in winxp, I get 'new hardware found' and it says I need to install 'Via IDE Bus Controller '. I've installed the latest VIA 4-in-1 drivers (4.38(2)v(a)), winxp patches and fixes (including the one that is supposed to address the 'unmountable_boot_volume' issue) to no avail. I'm running out of ideas and, needless to say, am getting quite frustrated.

If it helps: 400w psu, geforce2 gts, dlink nic.

Thanks in advance for any/all of your help.
 

stockjock

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2000
4,205
2
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From what it sounds like to me is that you did not do a clean install. What I would do is Fdisk the drive and remove any partitions and then repartition the drive...reboot and format the drive and then install Win XP. Just my .02
 

boodah

Member
Aug 8, 2001
29
0
0
Thanks, StockJock.

Another question then. Wouldn't I lose everything I currently have on the drive if I format the drive? I'd rather not take that route because there's a lot of stuff on the HD that I would like to keep.

 

BKR

Member
Mar 18, 2002
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Yes you would lose all information on the hard drive. I would recommened a clean install as well.