installation problems

[erik]

I've been trying to install XP Pro on my new computer. I
can get it to partition the drive (20,000 megs set for
the system partition), but it almost always freezes when
copying the install files (when it's still grey DOS text
of a blue screen). If it doesn't freeze, it resets
itself and comes back to the first setup screen again.
I've tried turning the caches off in the BIOS, but it
doesn't seem to do any good. Can anybody please help
me?!? ( I've been trying to get this thing running for 2
weeks now :/ )

3 GHz P4
1024 MB DDR RAM
200 GB 7200rpm
Asus p4pe-x MoBo

email me @: ehanson at uchicago dot edu

 

[Rich Barry]

Erik, did you try setting your Bios to Optimal Settings? Since you have
such a large hard drive did it come with installation
software?

 

[erik]

I dont have an "optimal settings", other than the
automatic defaults of the BIOS. I've tried tuning the
settings down, to make things easier on the hardware, but
haven't got any progress. As far as install disc for the
hard drive, no. It didn't even come with a ribbon cable
*rolls eyes*.

I think my main problem may be related to the post about
hard drives not always being found (url at end of
message). I'm running a similar MoBo, and have noticed
that the primary master EIDE often comes up as 'none',
even though it doesn't stop Windows Setup from
partitioning, formatting (NFTS), and intalling to the
hard drive. When/if setup does complete, it says it's
done that that part of installation and reboots, but
doesn't seem to find the info on the drive when it does
reboot. Has anyone looked at this other post, or should
this be addressed to Asus instead of this forum?

Thanks for the help, as well as any that my follow!

(http://communities.microsoft.com/NewsGroups/previewFrame.
asp?
ICP=GSS3&sLCID=US&sgroupURL=microsoft.public.windowsxp.har
dware&sMessageID=%253C13eef01c3f981%252464488ec0%
(e-mail address removed)%253E)

 

[chris]

When it reboots go into bios and set hdd as first boot device.After the
first reboot it boots from hdd not setup on cd. see if that helps. the cache
is for the cpu and retains no info.

 

[erik]

Chris-

It was a good idea, but it seems ASUS MoBos (as I think I
mentioned in another post somewhere) are having problems
picking up hard drives lately. I've tried like you say,
but it's being cute about it and not changing the
result.
See, while the Boot menu lists the IDE device options as
either "none" or "disabled", but the Main menu sees the
primary master spot as the hard drive. Of colurse, the
drive isnt detected in booting up, either.

Thanks for your help. I'm going to try a 98 install and
upgrade to see if that works, as well as focus on the
probability that this is an Asus issue.


Have a good one,
Erik