ching0001

I've built several PCs before, but I'm no expert; Hopefully someone can rescue my holiday weekend...

MSI P6N Diamond 680i
Intel Core2Quad 2.5Ghz@133 6MB Cache
RAM, Twin2x4096-6400 (yes, installed in position 1 and 3)GPU, 9800GTX 512 DDR3, PCI-E 2.0
only 1 SATA/300 Drive (yes, all jumpers removed; should be good to go and BIOS sees it fine)Case, Thermaltake

I have changed boot sequence to boot from CD; I'm using an XP w/ SP1 install cd (I've tried a VISTA boot, but no luck there either);

Problem: It behaves differently each time I boot; I can get it to read from CD, and it asks me to hit F6 to install drivers for drives; It sometimes will get to the screen to select 'S', but usually it just eventually hangs.

Any ideas on what I could be doing wrong? The 'idiot' lights on the bottom USB show that all 4 lights are green; It really just wants to install OS.... I'm at a loss (and never took back a board with chip after applying the fan and heatsync..... I'm sure Fry's will love me).....

I think I'm close..... Could it be heat related? Please help!

linderman

first off all you must realize you are using a sata hard drive which is connected to a sata controller >>>>> the windows CD doesnt have any sata controllers drivers in your SP-1 version


so you need to enter the bios / change the sata controller to IDE mode / then it will behave like an IDE drive and the OS will install >>>> after the OS is installed then install the motherboard chipset drivers, after that you can re-enter the bios and set your sata controller back to sata mode

on the topic of win xp install >>>>> I would seroisuly consider slipstreaming service pack 3 into your windows cd

a sp-1 only cd is VERY outdated

google search for a tutorial on slipstreaming using Nlite

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ching0001

Thanks for quick input... here are some more details:

In BIOS, I have following settings:

On-Chip IDE Controller = Enabled
PCI IDE Busmaster - Enabled
on-Chip sata controller = disabled
raid mode = IDE


I also config'd the following in the INTEGRATED PHERIPH section:
Onboard E SATA Controller = Disabled
onboard E-sata Option ROM = Disabled

Last, powersupply is 700watts (forgot that earlier).

Any other advice.. seems like b/c it gets to different levels of progress during install from CD that it is heat; very unstable, but hoping you can help further....

linderman

I believe this should be set to enabled


on-Chip sata controller = disabled


then you should be able to set the sata controller options to IDE mode



or you can do the whole "PRESS F6 TO USE A SCSI RAID DRIVER" thing

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linderman

post back with your progress

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linderman

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ching0001

Onchip sata controller = enabled now.... but no good.

I kept the other two as follows:

Onboard E SATA Controller = Disabled
onboard E-sata Option ROM = Disabled


Strange thing, too, is that I had a vista install cd; it hangs there as well.
thanks again for the help...

linderman

check your temps in the bios PC health and monitoring section


you may also want to check your memory with memtest ??????

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linderman

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ching0001

arg...... i just looked at the Corsair XMS2DHX box that the guy at fry's told me to get.... it clearly states in all caps:

PLEASE NOTE: Corsair's line of 4gb memory kits are designed for PCs featuring 64-bit operating systems. Installing 4gb onto PCs with 32-bit operating systems is not advised nor supported under warranty....

what do you make of that?

I also dropped in an IDE drive and pulled out sata drive; it made it all the way to last screen of the blue install screen when I read that garbage on the instructions for RAM..... beautiful. Looks like it is going to take more $ to fix this....

ching0001

CPU running about 23 degr Celc....

linderman

I am running 4 x one gig sticks of corsair DDR2-800 (PC2-6400) without any trouble ?

and a 32 bit OS >>>> the 32bit wont see or use all 4 gig only about 3.5gigs but I can live with that

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linderman

I would try driopping down to 2 x sticks and see how far you get ?

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linderman

after re-reading your post from the beginning I see you have 2 x 2gb sticks


try your install with just one stick


or exchange the sticks for some one gig versions


i would go to the corsair website and check with your motherboard model and see if they list those two gig sticks as compatible ????

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linderman

your sticks are NOT listed as compatible ?

http://tools.corsairmemory.com/retai...6710&id=120137

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ching0001

took a trip to bestbuy to undo the trouble caused by Fry's; spoke to a nice kid in the 'repair shop' after the component guy wouldn't answer my question b/c he didn't sell me the board in first place.... arg...

we are at 34% formatting the 300GB drive and my sense is that this is going to work; i didn't check first to see if the ram i purchased was compatible, but it is working. i should check it while the drive is formatting....

maybe i've redeemed myself? time will tell.

linderman

what have you changed to get things running ?????



I would say if you are that far along in the format process you should be good to go!


I am sorry to hear you have such a struggle / but its a damn enjoyable feat once you slay the dragon

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ching0001

formatted the whole 300GB drive and kaput; rebooted and blank screen

thinking about giving up

going to slap in an IDE on slave channel and see if i can at least get that installed (have a maxtor laying around); if not, back to the package and back to the store; they can have it

linderman

I feel your frustration; been there many times myself! got a few wholes in the shop walls to prove it !


if you can get windows on the IDE drive it will be easy to clone the drive to the sata drive with all the drivers into the IDE drive first >>>