Windows XP won't install

2008-07-01 04:29:59

#1

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

I'm hoping someone here can help.

I've just built two new computers for my little brothers and neither will install windows from a fresh format.
Here's the components:
AMD64 X2 6000+
Gigabyte GA-MA770-S3 motherboard
512MB 8800GT
2*1GB 800MHz Corsair (4-4-4-12 timing)
320GB Western Digital sata2 hdd
liteon dvd drive (ide)
520W corsair PSU

I've tried both of my copies of 32 bit xp and my new version of xp64 (straight out of the box)
and it fails to copy files to the hard drive during setup. The files it fails on is not consistent but I can't get a full install done.
I've reseated everything and tried the other ram slots on the mb. I've also tried the dvd drive and a spare hdd from my pc
and it has the same errors.
It also bluescreens sometimes during the file copy process sometimes (message says "IRQ not less or equal" I think)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

2008-07-01 04:31:24

#2

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

you have to load some SATA drivers first.... Check Gigabytes homepage for info. I hope u have a floppy disk

2008-07-01 04:33:49

#3

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

thanks for the quick reply.
It can see the drives so I guessed it was the motherboard or ram

2008-07-01 04:40:54

#4

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

usually you have to hit a "F-key" on bootup to load the drives

2008-07-01 04:43:46

#5

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

(assuming it's not lack of SATA drivers)

Sounds like some part of the hardware is failing.

You say you've built two? Identical? And they both do the same thing? Is it all new hardware?

Some things to try:
1. Reset the BIOS.

2. If that mobo has on-board video, leave the 8800 out, and try with the on-board only.

3. Only have 1 stick of RAM installed.

4. Now try to install XP again.

5. If that doesn't work, go through the BIOS with a fine-tooth-comb turning off anything the isn't absolutely required.

6. And try again.

7. If it doesn't work at this point, then RMA the mobo.

8. If it does work, then try adding the second stick of RAM.

9. If is still works OK, install the 8800 (if it isn't) and disable the on-board video.

10 If that still works ok, you're either good to go, or you may want to try re-enabling some of the features you turned off in the BIOS in step 5.

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-01 04:45:49)

2008-07-01 05:04:27

#6

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

yeah both are identical, except for the 8800's. One is a XFX and the other a Palit. I went for a cheap pc that would be able to play most new games. (Cost AU$750 each) All the parts are new.
The mobo manual says that only sata raid drivers need to be added, which I obviously don't want to do. It doesn't have onboard vga. Is there any benefit trying my 8800gt or X1950pro in it?

2008-07-01 05:09:37

#7

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

I've just dug out an 80gig ide drive, the same thing happened. Failed in the copy and bluescreened. I'm trying ram now

2008-07-01 05:25:58

#8

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

If they're BOTH having the same problems, then it's not the video card(s).

If it's just one, then it is a possibility, and it would be worth checking by swapping it/them with something else, for testing.

If it's only one of the two that is failing, then you can work out which component is causing the problem by swapping parts between the two...

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-01 05:26:30)

2008-07-01 05:33:15

#9

Nappy: Apprentice; +151|6499|NSW, Australia

unlikely but maybe possible issue?

have you got the jumpers on the hdd's in the right places?

2008-07-01 05:35:14

#10

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6763|N. Ireland

Why are you installing XP on those machines ......

2008-07-01 05:37:03

#11

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Nappy wrote:
unlikely but maybe possible issue?

have you got the jumpers on the hdd's in the right places?

Sata's don't have jumpers...

...they have pull-overs instead!

(seriously, they don't have jumpers (waits for some bright spark to say "these one's do"))

2008-07-01 05:40:09

#12

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

wait, you dont want to install the SATA drivers??? Well if u got SATA HDs and no IDE in spare, then u have to install the SATA drivers!!! Otherwise ur motherboard (and Windows XP) will just not recognize the HD (Sata drivers came with SP3 for XP)

2008-07-01 05:44:18

#13

Cheez: Herman is a warmaphrodite; +1,027|6708|King Of The Islands

Scorpion0x17 wrote:
(waits for some bright spark to say "these one's do"))

*cough* _{SATA 150 compatibility jumper} *cough*

My state was founded by Batman. Your opinion is invalid.

2008-07-01 05:54:50

#14

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Slayer wrote:
wait, you dont want to install the SATA drivers??? Well if u got SATA HDs and no IDE in spare, then u have to install the SATA drivers!!! Otherwise ur motherboard (and Windows XP) will just not recognize the HD (Sata drivers came with SP3 for XP)

@deepblade_42: Slayer is right - I thought "no he can't be that silly, can he?"...

Anyhoo...

If you're trying to install XP, pre SP3, you will almost certainly need to tell the XP install program to load some drivers (which you'll need to have on a floppy (and have a floppy drive)) before it tries to copy files to disk.

Last edited by Scorpion0x17 (2008-07-01 05:55:22)

2008-07-01 05:56:00

#15

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

sorry I meant that because I don't need raid on them the sata drivers already on the motherboard are sufficient.
Anyway its working now, and it wasn't the harddrives. I removed one stick of ram and it installed fine. I'll be returning the ram.

thanks for your help everyone

2008-07-01 05:56:03

#16

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

A u got a brandnew XP-SP3 version then?

I thought you´ve tested the RAMs before?

2008-07-01 05:58:35

#17

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6792|...

You can use nLite (http://www.nliteos.com/download.html) to make a disk with the SATA drivers pre-installed (slipstreamed). It is quite easy actually.

2008-07-01 05:59:05

#18

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Slayer wrote:
A u got a brandnew XP-SP3 version then?

I thought you´ve tested the RAMs before?

So, not

Slayer=Win

then? ;P

Scorpion0x17=Winzzorz!

2008-07-01 06:02:05

#19

deepblade_42: Member; +3|6648|N.S.W Australia

no, it has sp2 on it though. although on another pc I installed xp86 with no sp's pre installed and it didn't require any extra drivers either (it was a cheap gigabyte one also).
The only test I did with the ram was to try the sticks in the other two slots. because it seemed like a hard drive write error I tried that first

2008-07-01 06:18:33

#20

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

well when it´s working now I think I can close this one down huh?

2008-07-01 06:32:27

#21

Slayer: ---hates you; +1,137|7026|Hell, p.o box 666

dang, closed!

BF2S Forums Windows XP won't install

Nappy wrote:

Scorpion0x17 wrote:

Slayer wrote:

Slayer wrote:

Board footer