Win XP won't install

[Dean Weiss]

I just built a new computer and am having a very
frustrating time trying to install the OS. Here are my
comp specs-

DFI NF2 Ultra Infinity Mobo
AMD Mobile XP 2500 CPU
2x256 mb OCZ 3200 Dual Channel Ram
Seagate 120 GB HDD
Sapphire Radeon 9600 Pro

I had the OS installed on this computer already, but
after I installed all the drivers for the mobo, monitor,
keyboard and graphics card the computer crashed. When I
restarted it, I got an error message saying something
like "Windows could not load because it is corrupted". I
decided to format the HDD and do a complete reinstall.
After the HDD is formatted and Windows saves it's files
to the HDD the computer reboots. Instead of going to the
windows splash screen and then installing XP, the
computer either goes back to the initial setup screen
where I format the HDD or it freezes on a black screen
that lists the PCI Devices and says "press any key to
boot from CD...." on the bottom of the screen. I have
tried formatting in both NTFS and FAT, and both quick and
regular options and nothing works. The odd time when I
try to reformat I get a message saying that windows
doesn't recommend installing two OS's on the same HDD. If
it is installed, why won't it load properly?

 

[Tim]

Sounds like it may be a hardware fault.

I would as first step, download memtest86 from www.memtest86.com and run it
for a minimum of 5 extended runs. Any memory errors reported will need to be
resolved before you will be able to install an OS. Errors may be due simply
to inappropriate memory or other BIOS configuration issue and of course, it
may not be memory.

Please read the instructions on the memtest86 site and take note of what it
says about Test #5.

- Tim

 

[Dean Weiss]

Okay, I've run Memtest86 overnight (all tests 2 passes)
and I have no errors or problems with my ram. What else
could be the problem. I should mention that yesterday
evening I tried installing the OS and got an error
message. After I formatted and the comp rebooted, it went
to the black screen and and said "error loading the
operating system".

-----Original Message-----
Sounds like it may be a hardware fault.

I would as first step, download memtest86 from

www.memtest86.com and run it

 

[Dean Weiss]

Okay, now I know that the problem is most likely in the
BIOS . I just hooked the HDD from my new comp into my old
computer and set it as master. Then on my old comp I
entered the BIOS and set it to boot from the CD drive. I
put in the Win XP disc and restarted the computer. It
worked like a charm, installed no problem. Then I shut
down the old computer and removed the new HDD and
reinstalled it in the new comp, set the BIOS to boot from
the HDD and now I get this error message "DISK BOOT
FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER". What the
heck is going on? I've tried using the failsafe defaults
in the BIOS and that won't work either. Somebody HELP!!!!!

 

[Tim]

Well, it could be your HDD.
If you have a Windows boot CD, you could try formatting the drive and / or
doing a check disk.
Perhaps go to the drive manufacturers web site and look for any diagnostic
tools. If it is a new drive, depending on where you live you made need to
return it pronto if its faulty.

I see you have tried " failsafe defaults ". If prior to trying this you had
any accelerated settings, corruptions may already have occured.Did you have
your DFI bios set to any accelerated setting? IE have you overclocked it?
Some motherboard bios have a setting such as "Optimal" which may actually
overclock the system mildly and / or tighten memory timings. Since your
memory seems to test OK, such a setting could stuff things up. Some systems
are very sensitive to even mild overclocking of any of the buses (EG AGP,
PCI, FSB) - SATA especially.

At this point I would lean towards a duff drive...

- Tim