Computer works, XP doesn't...

tacojoethethird · 06-28-2008, 08:55 PM

Hey all,

I just built my own computer and the computer itself works, but as soon as I try to install Windows XP x64 (SP2) I encounter lots of problems.

First it wouldn't install because there was a device error. Fixed that. Then it said a file was missing from the brand new unused hard drive. Fixed that. Then it said there was a corrupt file on the install disc. Got a new one.

It then took 15 hours for XP to install. And guess what, once I rebooted, XP didn't work.

I have gotten to the point where XP installs in about 6 hours, and then works afterward, but takes 5 minutes just to get to the loading screen. Once logged-in, it takes at least a minute to open any window, the start menu, anything.

Here are all my components:

Nzxt Zero Case
XFX Nvidia nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard
XFX GeForce 8800GTS 512 MB 256-bit GDDR3 Video Card
OCZ 700W Power Supply
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0 GHz
OCZ Reaper DDR2 1066 RAM (2 x 2GB)
Western Digital 7200RPM Sata HD ( 2 )
ASUS DVD plus/minus R DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA ( 2 )
Thermaltake 110mm CPU Cooler
Logitech MX518 Mouse
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard
Samsung 19" widescreen LCD monitor

I tired to install XP x64 on one of the HD's formatting into NTFS

Theoretically this computer should be really fast. Did I get something that's not compatible, am I doing something wrong, anything?

I really appreciate any help I can get cause I've been working on this thing for at least 4 hours a day since the 24th.

Thanks,
Taco

-Let me know if you need any more info.

patriothntr · 06-29-2008, 06:57 AM

Have you run a memtest, or tried a linux live cd?

Disconnect everything that you aren't using, like the extra drives to see if that helps...or try installing XP on the other HDD.

Right now I'd be concentrating on the HDD and memory to see if one of them has a problem...

tacojoethethird · 06-29-2008, 07:08 AM

I'll try a memtest after work today.

I have not tried a linux live cd. Based on the memtest I might try that.

I have tried installing to both HD's, I have tried installing to them on the full partition and on smaller partitions. I have tried installing with only one cd drive and on HD connected. I honestly have no clue what's going on.

Once I'm home from work I'll let you know the results of the memtest.

Thanks

chauffeur2 · 06-29-2008, 07:50 PM

Hello tacho, Welcome to TSF!

First of all, it should never take 15 hours to install Windows® XP!
Windows® should install on a new HDD in about 55 minutes maximum.

There seems to be a major error with something that you are doing here.
Have you set up the SATA configuration for the HDD's correctly?
As mentioned the RAM you have could be the issue too.
(When you use the Memtest86+ tester, please run it independantly for each stick and then again with both installed, in all you will need to run the tester 3 times.)

I suggest that you may also be having a conflict issue with your video card and the on-board graphics output.
Go into the BIOS and disable the on-board graphics (after running Memtest); reboot the computer and tell us what happens.

Kind Regards,

tacojoethethird · 06-29-2008, 09:35 PM

No memtest error, individual or with both. chauffeur2 I'll try your advice next. Thanks.

lazareth1 · 06-30-2008, 01:47 AM

It sounds like the symptoms of a PC which has had the CPU caches' disbaled in the BIOS. Just to be on the safe side, load the default settings in the BIOS and save. See if this works.

tacojoethethird · 06-30-2008, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazareth1

It sounds like the symptoms of a PC which has had the CPU caches' disbaled in the BIOS. Just to be on the safe side, load the default settings in the BIOS and save. See if this works.

That's really weird cause when my original installation failed it told me to disable caching. I did and it didn't help at all. But I enabled it right after, so that shouldn't be the problem, but I will try doing a complete reset and see what happens.

tacojoethethird · 07-01-2008, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chauffeur2

Hello tacho, Welcome to TSF!

First of all, it should never take 15 hours to install Windows® XP!
Windows® should install on a new HDD in about 55 minutes maximum.

There seems to be a major error with something that you are doing here.
Have you set up the SATA configuration for the HDD's correctly?
As mentioned the RAM you have could be the issue too.
(When you use the Memtest86+ tester, please run it independantly for each stick and then again with both installed, in all you will need to run the tester 3 times.)

I suggest that you may also be having a conflict issue with your video card and the on-board graphics output.
Go into the BIOS and disable the on-board graphics (after running Memtest); reboot the computer and tell us what happens.

Kind Regards,

What do you mean by "Have you set up the SATA configuration for the HDD's correctly?" ... I'm not using jumpers, XP x64 should have the drivers for them, one HD is in SATA1 and the other HD is in SATA2... Am I missing something?

chauffeur2 · 07-06-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

What do you mean by "Have you set up the SATA configuration for the HDD's correctly?" ... I'm not using jumpers, XP x64 should have the drivers for them, one HD is in SATA1 and the other HD is in SATA2... Am I missing something?

At the beginning of the XP Setup for the installation a message appears to press F6 to install third party SATA Drivers; without these installed you will have problems.

To obtain the Drivers, go to the HDD's manufacturer's website to download them for installation, because XP (no matter which version) does not have them.

Kind Regards,

tacojoethethird · 07-06-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chauffeur2

At the beginning of the XP Setup for the installation a message appears to press F6 to install third party SATA Drivers; without these installed you will have problems.

To obtain the Drivers, go to the HDD's manufacturer's website to download them for installation, because XP (no matter which version) does not have them.

Kind Regards,

I have no floppy drive, and there are no drivers for my HDD.

http://support.wdc.com/product/download.asp?groupid=606&lang=en

The link above shows the only available downloads for my HDD's.

I'm going to switch over to Vista 64 bit and see what happens - it should work.

chauffeur2 · 07-06-2008, 07:21 PM

Good Luck with it.

lazareth1 · 07-06-2008, 07:39 PM

Yeah 64 bit vista is WAY better than 64 bit XP. And with the VISTA setup, you can use a USB drive or a CD to load the SATA drivers if you dont have a floppy.

Now you should have the drivers on the CD that came with your mobo. Usually in a sub folder called "disk". When it comes to the part where you chose which disk to install it on, there will be no disk so click on the "load driver" option and procede from there.

tacojoethethird · 07-07-2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lazareth1

Yeah 64 bit vista is WAY better than 64 bit XP. And with the VISTA setup, you can use a USB drive or a CD to load the SATA drivers if you dont have a floppy.

Now you should have the drivers on the CD that came with your mobo. Usually in a sub folder called "disk". When it comes to the part where you chose which disk to install it on, there will be no disk so click on the "load driver" option and procede from there.

OK. Thanks!

06-28-2008, 08:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
tacojoethethird Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9 OS: xp x64 sp2	Computer works, XP doesn't... Hey all, I just built my own computer and the computer itself works, but as soon as I try to install Windows XP x64 (SP2) I encounter lots of problems. First it wouldn't install because there was a device error. Fixed that. Then it said a file was missing from the brand new unused hard drive. Fixed that. Then it said there was a corrupt file on the install disc. Got a new one. It then took 15 hours for XP to install. And guess what, once I rebooted, XP didn't work. I have gotten to the point where XP installs in about 6 hours, and then works afterward, but takes 5 minutes just to get to the loading screen. Once logged-in, it takes at least a minute to open any window, the start menu, anything. Here are all my components: Nzxt Zero Case XFX Nvidia nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard XFX GeForce 8800GTS 512 MB 256-bit GDDR3 Video Card OCZ 700W Power Supply Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0 GHz OCZ Reaper DDR2 1066 RAM (2 x 2GB) Western Digital 7200RPM Sata HD ( 2 ) ASUS DVD plus/minus R DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA ( 2 ) Thermaltake 110mm CPU Cooler Logitech MX518 Mouse Saitek Eclipse Keyboard Samsung 19" widescreen LCD monitor I tired to install XP x64 on one of the HD's formatting into NTFS Theoretically this computer should be really fast. Did I get something that's not compatible, am I doing something wrong, anything? I really appreciate any help I can get cause I've been working on this thing for at least 4 hours a day since the 24th. Thanks, Taco -Let me know if you need any more info.

06-29-2008, 06:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
patriothntr Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 321 OS: XPsp3, PCLOS, other	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... Have you run a memtest, or tried a linux live cd? Disconnect everything that you aren't using, like the extra drives to see if that helps...or try installing XP on the other HDD. Right now I'd be concentrating on the HDD and memory to see if one of them has a problem...

06-29-2008, 07:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
tacojoethethird Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9 OS: xp x64 sp2	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... I'll try a memtest after work today. I have not tried a linux live cd. Based on the memtest I might try that. I have tried installing to both HD's, I have tried installing to them on the full partition and on smaller partitions. I have tried installing with only one cd drive and on HD connected. I honestly have no clue what's going on. Once I'm home from work I'll let you know the results of the memtest. Thanks

06-29-2008, 07:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,064 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... Hello tacho, Welcome to TSF! First of all, it should never take 15 hours to install Windows® XP! Windows® should install on a new HDD in about 55 minutes maximum. There seems to be a major error with something that you are doing here. Have you set up the SATA configuration for the HDD's correctly? As mentioned the RAM you have could be the issue too. (When you use the Memtest86+ tester, please run it independantly for each stick and then again with both installed, in all you will need to run the tester 3 times.) I suggest that you may also be having a conflict issue with your video card and the on-board graphics output. Go into the BIOS and disable the on-board graphics (after running Memtest); reboot the computer and tell us what happens. Kind Regards, __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

06-29-2008, 09:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
tacojoethethird Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9 OS: xp x64 sp2	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... No memtest error, individual or with both. chauffeur2 I'll try your advice next. Thanks.

06-30-2008, 01:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
lazareth1 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hong Kong, previously Fife in Bonnie Scotland Posts: 1,066 OS: Vista SP1, Ultimate My System	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... It sounds like the symptoms of a PC which has had the CPU caches' disbaled in the BIOS. Just to be on the safe side, load the default settings in the BIOS and save. See if this works. __________________ "Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted" JAFFA KREE!! Peace Through Power!!

07-06-2008, 07:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
chauffeur2 Manager, TSF Articles Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 10,064 OS: Xp Sp3 with all updates + Vista™ Ultimate SP1. My System	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... Good Luck with it. __________________ Dave T. Submit New Articles If it works, Don't fix it! Especially if Bill Gates had anything to do with it!!

07-06-2008, 07:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
lazareth1 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hong Kong, previously Fife in Bonnie Scotland Posts: 1,066 OS: Vista SP1, Ultimate My System	Re: Computer works, XP doesn't... Yeah 64 bit vista is WAY better than 64 bit XP. And with the VISTA setup, you can use a USB drive or a CD to load the SATA drivers if you dont have a floppy. Now you should have the drivers on the CD that came with your mobo. Usually in a sub folder called "disk". When it comes to the part where you chose which disk to install it on, there will be no disk so click on the "load driver" option and procede from there. __________________ "Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted" JAFFA KREE!! Peace Through Power!!