Cant Get XP Installed on my PC

ScottieB · 02-02-2005, 12:52 PM

I'm new hear but have built systems before this one is driving me crazy.

System Specs

-ASUS "P4C800-E DELUXE" i875P Chipset
-Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail
-Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM
-Maxtor SATA Ultra Series GB
-500 PSU
-ATI 9800 Pro

Bios are upgraded and left at defaults.
bare system, no soundcard, ethernet, etc. only MB, CPU, HD, Video Card,

boot from the CD
Setup loads files (slowly)
Then it stops at the "Setup is starting windows" screen freezes up and I have to restart.

I first installed the factory drivers for the Hard Drive but then read how that was bad and feared extended bios on my Hard drive. returned the HD and got a brand new one. Still freezes.
Maybe I am missing a step in the bios but I read that if left at defaults it should be fine with my specs. Are there extended bios on my MB still? If so how do I wipe them clean? Any help would be appreciated.

**twajetmech** · 02-03-2005, 02:04 AM

Hello, which bios did you upgrade to....Prescott cpu's require bios version 1016 and above for proper support. Also you need to enable quick boot in the bios, if that is what you mean by extended bios, plug and play os should be "NO" in the bios, make sure nothing you have pluged in is on a usb connection, spread spectrum should be disabled in the bios as well as- Turbo should be in auto. Since you are using Corsair memory, I suggest you up the ddr ref voltage to 2.75, and set the memory timings manually, hope this helps some

ScottieB · 02-03-2005, 11:29 AM

Thanks for the reply, I have the upgraded bios V1019 and I tried everything you said but it still freezes at the "setup is starting windows screen"

I put in an IDE drive with Windows XP and all the updates installed and it will still freeze up at the point after loading files. I cant get to the repair screen. Maybe should I throw in the Maxblast CD and format the SATA drive? Is it causing conflicts? Probably not cause I discconnected it from the MB and still freezes up. Could it be my MB? I've tried a couple different XP discs one that worked earlier to install XP on my other machine so I dont think thats the error.

Thinking of taking it to the GeekSquad at Bestbuy to fix it and get the OS running. I'd rather donate the money here though, any other suggestions to get past this screen would be helpful.

**twajetmech** · 02-03-2005, 06:34 PM

Before you do all that....try booting with only one memory module in the A1 slot (blue) and see if you can install xp...if that fails, take out that memory module and try the other one in the same A1 slot...I forgot to mention that you should have legacy usb in the bios disabled. If you find you still have some instability, try setting the memory timings manually, first to what ever the stock timings are, then to 3-4-4-8 if need be, I suspect this is a memory issue....and, what brand 500w psu are you using.

Andy_S · 02-04-2005, 04:19 PM

I agree;
run memtest on each stick on its own in same slot. (leave on SPD memory timing)
Then try different slot if error's reported on both sticks.
http://www.memtest.org/
Sounds like you will only need to run memtest for a few seconds if you cant install XP. NOTE turn off usb legacy support as this will report error's in memtest.
Good luck ;)

ScottieB · 02-04-2005, 07:31 PM

Thanks for all the help guys after what seems like a hundred different combinations and a week and a half I finally got it running. I googled my problem and came up with a result on a different forum (cant even remeber which one) but it was the APIC setting in the Bios preventing me from moving forward. Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope my problem solved helps others, now to post my PC in the working asus thread!

02-02-2005, 12:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
ScottieB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3 OS: XP	Cant Get XP Installed on my PC I'm new hear but have built systems before this one is driving me crazy. System Specs -ASUS "P4C800-E DELUXE" i875P Chipset -Intel Pentium 4/ 3.2E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail -Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 - OEM -Maxtor SATA Ultra Series GB -500 PSU -ATI 9800 Pro Bios are upgraded and left at defaults. bare system, no soundcard, ethernet, etc. only MB, CPU, HD, Video Card, boot from the CD Setup loads files (slowly) Then it stops at the "Setup is starting windows" screen freezes up and I have to restart. I first installed the factory drivers for the Hard Drive but then read how that was bad and feared extended bios on my Hard drive. returned the HD and got a brand new one. Still freezes. Maybe I am missing a step in the bios but I read that if left at defaults it should be fine with my specs. Are there extended bios on my MB still? If so how do I wipe them clean? Any help would be appreciated.

02-03-2005, 02:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,387 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Hello, which bios did you upgrade to....Prescott cpu's require bios version 1016 and above for proper support. Also you need to enable quick boot in the bios, if that is what you mean by extended bios, plug and play os should be "NO" in the bios, make sure nothing you have pluged in is on a usb connection, spread spectrum should be disabled in the bios as well as- Turbo should be in auto. Since you are using Corsair memory, I suggest you up the ddr ref voltage to 2.75, and set the memory timings manually, hope this helps some __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs

02-03-2005, 06:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
twajetmech I helped the forums. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: LGA, NYC Posts: 2,387 OS: XP-Pro Sp2 & XP-Pro Sp2 Tablet Edition, Vista Ultimate My System	Before you do all that....try booting with only one memory module in the A1 slot (blue) and see if you can install xp...if that fails, take out that memory module and try the other one in the same A1 slot...I forgot to mention that you should have legacy usb in the bios disabled. If you find you still have some instability, try setting the memory timings manually, first to what ever the stock timings are, then to 3-4-4-8 if need be, I suspect this is a memory issue....and, what brand 500w psu are you using. __________________ PSU Selection/Info // Bench test // Thermal Paste // Memory Selection // Bios Beep Codes // CPU-Z// Posting System Specs

02-03-2005, 11:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
ScottieB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3 OS: XP	Thanks for the reply, I have the upgraded bios V1019 and I tried everything you said but it still freezes at the "setup is starting windows screen" I put in an IDE drive with Windows XP and all the updates installed and it will still freeze up at the point after loading files. I cant get to the repair screen. Maybe should I throw in the Maxblast CD and format the SATA drive? Is it causing conflicts? Probably not cause I discconnected it from the MB and still freezes up. Could it be my MB? I've tried a couple different XP discs one that worked earlier to install XP on my other machine so I dont think thats the error. Thinking of taking it to the GeekSquad at Bestbuy to fix it and get the OS running. I'd rather donate the money here though, any other suggestions to get past this screen would be helpful.

02-04-2005, 04:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Andy_S Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6 OS: XP/Linux/NT/2k	I agree; run memtest on each stick on its own in same slot. (leave on SPD memory timing) Then try different slot if error's reported on both sticks. http://www.memtest.org/ Sounds like you will only need to run memtest for a few seconds if you cant install XP. NOTE turn off usb legacy support as this will report error's in memtest. Good luck ;)

02-04-2005, 07:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
ScottieB Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix Posts: 3 OS: XP	Thanks for all the help guys after what seems like a hundred different combinations and a week and a half I finally got it running. I googled my problem and came up with a result on a different forum (cant even remeber which one) but it was the APIC setting in the Bios preventing me from moving forward. Thanks for all the suggestions. I hope my problem solved helps others, now to post my PC in the working asus thread!