Problems installing Windows XP or 2000 on newly built machine.

[Justin Bowers]

Hi...I am having considerable trouble installing windows
xp pro, xp home, or 2000 pro onto a newly built computer
i have. First of all, here are the specs:

Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz 512k Cache 533FSB Processor
Shuttle AV49N Motherboard
Ultra Extreme Memory 512MB PC2700 DDR 333MHz (one stick)
Matrox Video Card
Western Digital 20GB Hard Drive
Western Digital 80GB Hard Drive
Creative 52X CD-ROM
*Unknown* CD-RW
Sound Blaster Live! 5.1 Sound Card
*Unknown* 56k Modem (Creative Chipset)
Floppy drive
300 Watt Power Supply

The computer boots up fine and goes through the POST. It
recognizes the processor speed and type. It recognizes
the amount and speed of the memory. It recognizes all of
the storage drives. The video is fine. It does not give
any errors on the screen. (btw...I have tried removing
the sound card and modem and I have switched out the
graphics card.)

I have tried installing both Windows XP Professional,
Windows XP Home, and Windows 2000 Professional. All of
them have broken at one point or another. The setup does
not break at the same place with any number of
installations with any distro. I have not tried to
install Linux as I would probably have more problems
there than with Windows.

Windows XP throws up the "setup did not copy this file
correctly" error during the first stages of the
installation from 0 to 4 times. I can try to retry or try
a different XP disc and it usually goes past it as if it
loads the stated file. Then at the very beginning of the
second stage of the installation it has a fatal error
that states that windows did not load the product
catalogs correctly.

I have gotten Windows 2000 to install, but during the
installation it throws up the "this hardware or software
is not digitally signed by microsoft" message many times
for basic devices such as the sound, volume manager, pci
bus, etc...i can get it to boot though after i go through
the installation. It is very unstable afterwards, even
after patching up the os with windows updates. It blue
screens or just locks up.

I have tried at least 3 different installation cd's for
both Windows XP and Windows 2000. I have removed the
sound card and modem and have tried 2 different cd-roms
with no luck. I also tried installing on just the new 80
GB drive without the 20 GB hd plugged in. I have still
not have any luck with any of this.

I have tried setting the default bios settings, and I
have tried flashing the bios with the most recent update.
I have tried changing the dimm slot that the memory stick
is in. I have tried a different power supply also. No
luck with any of it. I have also tried installing windows
different ways, such as from a floppy or from a command
line.

I know its a lot to read, but I want to put all the
information I can remember into this first post. If
anyone can help me, I would much appreciate it.

 

[Richie]

First, try removing the second hard drive.
Install only the one you want the installation on.
Unplug the Creative CD, and use only the CDRW for installation. (I've had a
few problems with Creative CD drives)
Matter of fact, like you've done, remove 'anything' that isn't necessary to
install windows.
If you get the base installation done, the very first thing to do is install
any motherboard drivers that came with it. Those are critical. More so than
Windows Updates.
If that's an older 300w pwr supply, it may cause problems with the CPU and
faster MB bus. But, I believe if your installation will get that far, it
should be ok. I'd just feel better with a 400w or better with dual HD's and
dual CD's on a newer system.
Lastly, try getting a different memory module. Maybe a friend will let you
borrow one to try.

Rich