Loop: can't reinstall Vista

[Brett]

I just put a computer together and am trying to install Vista. The computer
shut down during the Vista install. It shut down because of an overheating
warning. I can't update the BIOS (which is supposed to allow higher
temperatures) because I can't get Vista installed. Now when I reboot, this
comes up:

The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error.
Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click "OK" to
restart the computer, then restart the installation.

I can hit F8 to get the boot menu. I select Last Good Known Configuration.
No luck. Same thing happens. I can't set the DVD drive as the primary boot
device because I'm using SATA hard drives. Vista gives some odd error about
unable to install if SATAs are installed and the DVD is primary. I have to
set one of the SATAs as primary. But then of course, the bad Vista is there
and hence the loop.

The computer has no floppy drive.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[Brett]

I may have solved this. It seems one side of the heat sink that came with
the Intel Core2 Duo wasn't secure. I've secured it and the overheating
warnings stopped. Then I got the computer to prompt for booting off of the
DVD drive. Formatted the HD and reinstalled ok.

Brett

 

[Rick Rogers]

Yep, that'd do it. Incidentally, you don't need any OS installed to update
the BIOS. While there are many OS-based utilities, they are not required.
Also, to my knowledge, the max temps are not going to change with a BIOS
revision, they're pretty much set in stone by the manufacturer specs.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org