Windows won't install - New Build

[Noema]

So I finally bit the bullet and built a C2D rig. Built went smooth and POSTed right up. Windows install begins normally.

Windows formats the drive, and copies the files. But when it reboots to continue the install, it fails to boot from the HDD drive and errors out (operating system not found message)

This is my hardware:

C2D E6400 (stock)
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB
OCZ GamerXtream 600W
2GB Kingston HyperX PC26400 DDR2
WD Caviar SATA 320GB HDD
HP DVD-RW
P5N-5 SLI mobo


Thanks in advance

 

[mechBgon]

At the motherboard's POST screen, try hitting F8 a few times, and wait for the boot-device selection menu to arrive. Then force it to boot from the HDD. If that works, maybe you just need to change the boot-device priority in the BIOS. If it doesn't work, check whether the mobo's SATA controller is on AHCI mode, in which case you'd need to supply the appropriate controller drivers on a floppy during Windows Setup, with the F6-key and all that (assuming WinXP).

Also, you don't have any additional HDDs (internal or external), flash drives or memory-card readers hooked up right now, do you? If so, it would be best to unplug them so they can't hijack drive letter C:

 

[Noema]

I was hoping you'd respond mechBgon! Heh.

Tried F8 to force booting from HDD. No luck. HDD works fine by the way; had it in my old system for a while.

I'll try the AHCI mode on the mobo in a while. Currently I have guests at home (grrrrrr!) and I wish I could just kick them out, haha!

Thanks in advance man.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Noema
I was hoping you'd respond mechBgon! Heh.

Tried F8 to force booting from HDD. No luck. HDD works fine by the way; had it in my old system for a while.

I'll try the AHCI mode on the mobo in a while. Currently I have guests at home (grrrrrr!) and I wish I could just kick them out, haha!

Thanks in advance man.

If you want, you could also switch the SATA controller to non-AHCI mode, which I think is called "Native" or "IDE" mode, and then re-run Windows Setup. In that mode, it shouldn't need any drivers supplied. But you give up some fancy stuff (NCQ and hot-pluggability, IIRC).

Good luck getting rid of those guests

 

[Noema]

Okay...finally kicked everyone out at 3:00AM (Mexico City time).

The mobo was set on IDE mode by default. So that was not the problem.

Goofed around the BIOS a bit, changed some settings, in particular "Access Mode" from 'Auto' to 'Large' after googling around a bit and it booted right up. Phew! I'm finally done with installing Windows.

Anyway, thanks a ton for your help mechBgon. It's always appreciated.

 

[mechBgon]

You're welcome That's pretty weird to have to change the access mode but whatever works!