Errors installing XP on new system

[Stephen Austin]

Hi all,

Wondering if someone could help me with this, I've just put together my new
system, specs as follows:

Antec Sonata Case with 380W truepower PSU
ASUS A7N8X Deluxe m/b
1Gb Corsair TwinX 2700
XP 2500+
Sapphire Radeon 9600
Seagate 80 Gb Serial ATA hard drive (ST380023AS)
LiteOn DVD 16x48
LiteOn CDRW 52x24x52

I managed to put it all together no problems, configured the BIOS to the
correct processor speed (left most options in there at default).
Then I come to install the OS - WinXP. According to the instructions for
SATA drives, I needed a third party driver disk, I made this from the m/b
CD, put it in and proceeded to install. At various stages throughout the
install, it either crashes or gives errors. Such as failing to copy file X,
upon a retry it appeared to succeed (did it?). Many different BSOD's, one
recurring error - when it got through to the installing devices stage it
keeps saying that a lot of the drivers are not signed - they should *all* be
signed shouldn't they? coming off the install disk as they are!
I also attempted to install Win98 when I got fed up with XP, it installed
better (no drivers needed for the disk for some reason!). But once
installed, it continually crashes with various things - explorer.exe
crashed, registry got corrupted etc.
I am at a complete loss - I have spent a lot of money on the system and
really don't want to told I have a major hardware incompatability or
something of the like.
Can anyone help?
Oh, one last thing, I have already tried updating the BIOS - that worked,
but had no effect.

TIA,
Steve

 

[D]

Stephen-

Regarding this:

keeps saying that a lot of the drivers are not signed - they should *all* be

signed shouldn't they? coming off the install disk as they are!

No, not neccassarily. My SB Audigy Gamer software tells me the same thing.
Just click "continue anyway" and proceed.

Now, about your SATA issue. I took a look at the manual for the A7N8X and
could not find any mention of a third party disk for your SATA. The only
time I have ever seen this is at the begining of the installation of WinXP.
Nevertheless, the third party driver install is for RAID configurations, not
SATA. The next time you install WinXP, just ignore the third party install
for RAID devices. Why don't you give the following procedure a try, and post
back to this newsgroup to let me know if it worked:


Visit the following link and get one of the following registry patches-
http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/registry.htm . The patches
offered are: Windows XP default allstart, safe allstart, and gaming
allstart. These registry patches are designed to optimize services within XP
resulting in faster startup and shutdown times, and smother operation of the
OS. I personally install the "safe allstart" whenever I do a Clean install.
In addition, I follow (for the most part) Black Viper's super tweak Guide
found here http://www.blkviper.com/Articles/OS/OSguides.htm. Generally, I
perform the following whenever doing a fresh install:


1. Before powering-up for the first time-insure the only hardware connected
are the following:
*Motherboard with RAM, Processor, heatsink and fan
*Video Card
*Floppy
*Hard Drive
*CD/DVD ROM or burner
*Keyboard and Mouse

2. Power-up and immediately get into BIOS (press delete key)

3. Load "optimized defaults"

4. Disable the Sound, LAN and Firewire ports

5. change USB settings to USB "1.0" or "1.1" only

6. "save and exit"

7. Install Windows XP

8. Install Service Pack 1

9. Install your video card drivers

10. Using a friends internet connection, download and burn to CD the latest
NForce2 All-in-One Drivers from Nvidia's site.

11. Restart your computer and enter the BIOS again.

12. Enable everything that was disabled in step 4.

13. Change USB to 2.0"

14. "Save and exit"

Your computer will now restart. When Windows loads it will automaticly find
the Lan and Firewire devices.

Now, Windows will stop and ask you for the drivers for your soundcard and
USB 2.0. Just click "cancel" and wait for the operating system to stop
loading.

15. install your NForce2 Drivers. Shut down and install your speakers.
Restart-go into Device manager and insure you do not have any conflicts.



16. Install SATA drivers if required


17. Follow Black Viper's "Super Tweak Guide"

18. Install Black Viper's "Safe Allstart" for your version of Windows XP.

**Before begining with step 6, insure you DISABLE
any onboard devices such as sound, firewire, and USB 2.0 support. The only
exception is your onboard NIC. Trust me, life will be alot easier if you do
this. When you hit step 12, if using these onboard devices, simply boot
into bios and
enable them. When the system boots into WinXP, install your drivers in
accordance with the instructions.




Good Luck,


D.

 

[Ed_]

Can't help with the first problem, but the reason you're having problems
with Win98 is because it only works correctly with a maximum of 512 MB of
physical memory. Take out one of the memory modules and just run with 512
MB and Win98 should have no problems.

I'm a little confused by something in your post. You say:

"I needed a third party driver disk, I made this from the m/b
CD, put it in and proceeded to install".....

Shouldn't the third-party drivers be put in as part of the install when Windows
asks for 3rd party drivers, after choosing the F6 command?

Perhaps I'm not getting something here

 

[Stephen Austin]

Thanks for that, I'll give it a go tomorrow and report back with my results.

Steve

 

[Stephen Austin]

Hi all,

I'm a little confused by something in your post. You say:

"I needed a third party driver disk, I made this from the m/b
CD, put it in and proceeded to install".....

Shouldn't the third-party drivers be put in as part of the install when Windows
asks for 3rd party drivers, after choosing the F6 command?

Perhaps I'm not getting something here

Sorry, I should have made myself a little clearer - I meant that I had to
press F6 as you said and use a floppy with the drivers on.

 

[Laths]

I had a stick of 512 mb pc133 Crucial Ram, which when I placed in my boys
pc Mobo ECS with SiS chipset, all sorts of problems started. Went back to
the generic stuff and all was well. The 512 stick worked fine on my Abit
mobo via chipset..
Could be worth a go.

 

[D]

I see. Your point regarding the SATA makes sense. Good job with trying a
standard ATA hard-drive. Now, we know the problem is not an issue with SATA.
Unless there is a manufacture defect, I highly doubt that it is your power
supply. You have pobably seen numerous posts regarding minimum power supply
recommendations. Pay no attention to it. I've calculated power requirements
for numerous system builds, and your has plenty. You just might be on to
something regarding your RAM. Try removing a stick, and get MemTest86. This
is a utility that operates from your floppy drive (independent of the
operating system). Just make sure that you set your 1st boot device to
floppy. I personally used this utility on my own system when I was having
problems and discovered one of my Crucial DDR 2100 sticks went bad.


Let us know how it goes,


D.