Windows 2000/XP Installs Always Crash!

[Unsolved Paradox]

Just hooked myself up with a new system, here's what I got:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3000+
MB - Asus K8V
RAM - 1 GB KingMax PC3200
HD - 2x Maxtor 160 GB S-ATA
DVD - Sony DWD-18A dual-layer
VID - ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 XT
AUD - Sound Blaster Audigy 2


I split up my HD's into a bunch of partitions. The plan is to install Win98 on one partition, WinXP on another for a dual-boot (which I've done successfully on the comp I'm using now).

What happens is that the setup files will copy over, the system reboots itself to continue the installation process, and I get a blue screen error informing me that my HD is an "unbootable device". It asks me to run chkdsk /f to validate drive integrity.

CheckDisk turns up nothing, and neither does Scandisk (including a full surface scan). Changing the formatting from FAT32 to NTFS, deleting/recreating partitions and swapping out WinXP with Win2000 make no different; always the same error.


Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[MrChad]

Windows 98 is not going to play well with that hardware. 98 has trouble with systems that have more than 512 MB of RAM. I'm also not sure how well 98 handles SATA drives. Is there any particular reason you want to dual boot with 98?

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

The comp I'm on now has 768 MB of memory, never had a problem with 98.

98's the only one that's been ok on my S-ATA drive; it's 2000 and XP that seems to hate it.

I dual-boot with 98 in case XP fails; it's the lowest common denominator that current apps still support, so I put things like emergency recovery utilities in there.


This is quite perplexing...

 

[MrChad]

There are better recovery tools for XP than Windows 98. Bart's PE is one example.

Are you loading the SATA drivers provided by your motherboard manufacturer during boot up (F6)? Is your boot order configured correctly in the BIOS?

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

98's also there for emergency e-mails (school/work), and so on, but I get what you mean.

I'm going to sound like a real moron, but I just found out 5 minutes ago that S-ATA drivers existed (while poking around this forum, ironically enough). Um, I didn't get any that I know of; only thing that might be related is an Asus CD of utilities.

So far, what I've done is:

• Made a PartitionMagic 8 floppy

• Booted new comp with Win98 boot disk, used the PM8 disk to partition/format (all FAT32) both HD's

• Installed Win98 on a partition

• Tried to install 2000/XP on another partition, but get BSOD

Where did I go wrong?

 

[MrChad]

When you install XP, hit F6 when it first boots and supply your SATA drivers on a floppy disk.

You can download them here.

I honestly think you should just make one NTFS XP parition and keep 98 away from this system, but it's your perogative.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Hmm, have to run some errands before trying this out, but thanks! Will drop by in a few hours and note how it goes...

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Sigh, no luck; made the floppy, S-ATA drivers loaded fine...slightly different error.

Same BSOD, without the "unbootable device" part. Still a crash, a STOP command followed by some values.

Thanks for all the help!


Edit: a buddy of mine recommended flashing my MB BIOS; would that help? I grabbed the .ami file off the Asus site, no idea how to use it though...

 

[MrChad]

You might want to run Memtest to make sure there isn't a problem with your RAM. RAM issues often manifest themselves during Windows setup.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

To be thorough, let it run for 7 hours and 22 passes; not a single problem.

I'm so very puzzled...

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Anyone have words of advice?

 

[mikecel79]

There are two different drivers on that site. One for the RAID controller and one for just an SATA controller. Are you sure your using the right ones? In the Windows XP setup do you get to the point where you have to partition your drive or choose a partition?

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Hmm, I'm using the Promise drivers; if I'm not mistaken, that's what I want?

Nope, don't get to choose to format/install to a partition.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: Unsolved Paradox
Just hooked myself up with a new system, here's what I got:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3000+
MB - Asus K8V
RAM - 1 GB KingMax PC3200
HD - 2x Maxtor 160 GB S-ATA
DVD - Sony DWD-18A dual-layer
VID - ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 XT
AUD - Sound Blaster Audigy 2


I split up my HD's into a bunch of partitions. The plan is to install Win98 on one partition, WinXP on another for a dual-boot (which I've done successfully on the comp I'm using now).

What happens is that the setup files will copy over, the system reboots itself to continue the installation process, and I get a blue screen error informing me that my HD is an "unbootable device". It asks me to run chkdsk /f to validate drive integrity.

CheckDisk turns up nothing, and neither does Scandisk (including a full surface scan). Changing the formatting from FAT32 to NTFS, deleting/recreating partitions and swapping out WinXP with Win2000 make no different; always the same error.


Does anyone have any suggestions?

Blue screen during the install of WHICH OS? Write down the exact stop error please.

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: Unsolved Paradox
Hmm, I'm using the Promise drivers; if I'm not mistaken, that's what I want?

Nope, don't get to choose to format/install to a partition.

As I said there's two Promise drivers on that page. Are you sure your using the right one?

If you don't get to choose which partition to put XP on then the drivers are not being loaded.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Checked both ATA drivers; one is for RAID, which I'm not using. Whether I load the drivers or not, the same error appears.


I get a blue screen installing Windows XP Professional, with this specific message:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive eto make sure it is properly configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption, and then restart your computer.

Technical Information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7CB663C, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Could there be a problem with the size of my drives? I know Windows XP doesn't natively support 160 GB HD's, though I had hoped that partitioning/formatting beforehand would work around that (no partition is bigger than 50 GB).

 

[Fern]

Maybe see if anything HERE helps

See the device drivers section.

 

[Unsolved Paradox]

Hmm, thanks for the link; my HD's are on the HCL.

Now that I've looked at it really closely, it may also be under the Hardware Issues. The chain may not be properly terminated; I'm not familiar enough with sequencing hardware devices to determine it by visual inspection...

Could it be something that I can change in the BIOS?