syntax error in the .SIF file that setup uses at line: 6637

[Czar]

Hello,
First, I just want to make clear I'm not an expert building PCs and I'm
learning as I go
I've been reading you message board for a while but this is my first time
posting.
I'm having problems installing windows XP Pro. I've just built my PC and I'm
trying to install windows XP Pro.
These are the specs:

-ASUS Motherboard for Intel Pentium 4 / Celeron Processors, 800Mhz FSB
Model# P4C800-E DELUXE
-Intel Pentium 4 / 3.0CGHz 512k socket 478 Hyper Threading Technology 800
MHz FSB
-CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, Low Latency (Twin Pack)
1GB(2 x 512MB) 2x(64MX64) PC-3200LLPT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreaders.
-2 Western Digital Raptor 36GB SATA WD360GD 10,000 RPM 8MB Hard Drive OEM.
Set up on RAID-0
-ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP Taken from my other PC
-Thermaltake W0014 Silent Purepower 480W with Black housing - Xaser Edition
ATX 2-Fan Power Supply.
-Thermaltake Xaser II A5000C Plus Chassis, 10-Bay, ATX Full Tower. Built-in
Hardcano 7, Large Side Window

As you can see, I have the 2 raptor on Raid 0 using Intel® Raid for Serial
ATA, ICH5R chipset with a stripe size of 64KB.
My problem begins when I start installing windows:
As soon as I press F6 after windows ask to install the new RAID drivers, a
new window comes up with the following message:
"Setup could not determine the type of one or more mass storage devices
installed in your system, or you have chosen to manually specify an adapter.
Currently, setup will load support for the following mass storage:"

<NONE>

"To specify a special disk controller for use with windows, including those
for which you have a device support disk, press S"
"If you don't have any device support disk, or don't want to specify
additional device for use with windows, press "ENTER"

After I press "s" a new window comes up
"Please insert the disk labeled manufacture-supplied hardware support into
drive A:"
*Press enter when ready*

After I press enter this new window comes up..
"You have chosen to configure a SCSI adapter for use with windows using a
support disk"
<INTEL® 8280IER SATA RAID CONTROLLER>
"Setup will load support for the following device"

After 30 to 40 seconds windows is starting..

Here is where the problem begins. A new window shows with the following
message:

"There is a syntax error in the .SIF file that setup uses at line: 6637
Setup cannot continue. Shutdown or restart your computer."

I've tried with Asus IAA Drivers and intell latest drivers with no results.
Also I've tried to install windows xp pro without installing the IAA Raid
Drivers and nothing
Can someone tell me if am I doing something wrong or missing some steps
installing windows? Or maybe, there is a hardware problem.

Any help with this issue will be greatly appreciated
Thank you,

 

[JeffO]

You obviously have lots of experience, but maybe the area
you're venturing into is a little thin.

SIF files, I believe, are Setup Information Files
(someone correct me if I'm wrong) used during Windows
setup. They're like super-INF files for WinPE. INF files
are among the most powerful text formats there are. They
create and modify the registry, copy and delete files,
etc. There are a few SIF files that may be available in
XP. Everyone must have TXTSETUP.SIF. Optionally, you may
also have WINNT.SIF or $WINNT$.SIF.
LAYOUT.INF, that nearly every INF file calls at the
beginning, takes over from TXTSETUP.SIF after the
install. I'm not sure TXTSETUP.SIF is ever used after the
install. I think LAYOUT is used afterwards.

So back to your problem:
As the SIFs get chained together in the sequence Windows
Pre-install Environment wants to, way at the end, on line
6637, there's a problem. I don't think there IS a line
6637. The biggest file is TXTSETUP.SIF, which is not even
1000 lines.
There must be another SIF included with your WD RAID
controllers? Still, even after chainging them all
together, it's hard to believe all the lines add up to
6637 lines. If they do, somehow, then I would suspect the
very last SIF to be stuck on the chain - your WD driver.
If there isn't a SIF file included, then try copying the
WD driver INF file and rename it with the SIF extension.
I'm not sure setup will look for drivers on a CD drive.
Maybe the entire problem is that you're inserting the CD?
I think at the Win install phase, extra drivers have to
be on a floppy disk. The drivers ought to end with SYS,
maybe some DLL's, and then the INF file (or SIF file).

This is food for thought that I hope helps you to figure
it out. I don't think the problem is with any of your
equipment or firmware, just the files or file locations.