Windows XP install problem-- won't boot after installtion - Finally working!! Woo!

[Apossum]

Hey everyone-- I'm doing a fresh install on a new PC and am having problems with it. I formatted my HDD, installed windows, it restarts, goes to the bios screen and hangs, but asks if I want to boot the CD again. I do and it goes right back to the first step of the set up (and offers to reinstall.)

I tried changing the boot order from CD->HD, to HD->CD, and it goes to the bios screen, restarts, goes to the bios screen, and restarts on an endless loop. anyone know what the problem is?

[SOSTrooper]

When it asks if you want to boot the CD again, you're supposed to leave the keyboard alone, and let the computer boot from the HD instead.

Leave the boot order on 1) CD-ROM, 2) HD-0.

As far as the problem w/ the looping restarts, I'm not sure what causes it yet. But if you can get the XP installed, do it first, and worry about the loop later.

[seen]

When it asks if you want to boot the CD again, you're supposed to leave the keyboard alone, and let the computer boot from the HD instead.



Do that

[Apossum]

I did that, didn't press anything, and it boots up to the initial set up on the disc (same set up I did before) and offers to reinstall.


I think it's my SATA drive. I'm probably just going to buy a small, 20 gb ATA100 drive to install XP on.

[SOSTrooper]

What if after the initial Windows setup copied all the files onto the HD and restarts, you take out the CD and see if it can boot into the HD?

Make sure you have plugged the SATA HD to SATA 1 on the motherboard. Not sure if plugging to other ports will result in problems, but it's a good habit to keep in mind. Other than that, the computer SHOULD boot fine whether or not you're using PATA or SATA HD and DVD writer.

[johnnypark]

If you're installing to a SATA drive then XP doesn't have native support for it. Did you install the drivers on the initial boot sequence when you set up XP, prior to restarting? If not then you'll need to use a floppy disk to install them, it asks you to do so during the installation at the beginning.

Too much work IMO. I haven't even owned a computer w/ a floppy drive in about 3 or 4 years, let alone had a spare sitting around to make a boot disk to reformat another machine.

[Apossum]

I decided to skip the whole Floppy boot/streamlined XP trail and just bought a PATA hdd so i can totally rule out the SATA deal.

I formatted the PATA completely (not quick), it is set to Master, in fact I took out the SATA altogether, did the initial windows XP home install, and the same thing is happening. It skips over the hdd for some reason and loads up the XP setup back at step 1.

So I took out the install CD, set it to boot from the hdd, and now it says "BOOT DISK FAILURE, insert the Windows XP CD and hit enter" I do that and it brings me back to step one with initial windows set up like before :wall:

So I try the repair option. apparently the boot sector is fine, chkdsk doesn't find any problems, and all is peachy according to the recovery menu.

I have been trying everything, trying every combination of fixes, all kinds of combinations of bios settings, reading everything on the web about XP not installing, all kinds of stuff and XP just. won't. fucking. install. I've never been so stumped in all my PC experience.

Something else seems to be preventing it from going all the way through, because I don't think XP is supposed to be this hard to install on a new system. Could it be a problem with the mobo?

I've even downloaded other XP home install discs, all with the same results. I'm thinking of trying an XP pro install instead to see if that goes any better. Sorry for the piracy talk but I really just want to get this thing running.


If nothing else works, I think I'll just exchange the mobo? I dunno.

[SOSTrooper]

Try installing XP with SP2, I know for sure that works (supposedly). I got a student's edition w/ SP2 built-in and I installed it on my Abit IP35-E fine w/o any extra drivers, and I also have SATA HD, and PATA DVD writer.

Or maybe buy Vista Home Premium and install that for DX10 support ^_^

[Apossum]

Try installing XP with SP2, I know for sure that works (supposedly). Or maybe buy Vista Home Premium and install that for DX10 support ^_^


Forgot to specify-- I have been using XP discs with SP2.

man, I don't want to drop that kind of money on full Vista. I should at least get XP or anything on here so I can get the cheap student upgrade :)

i'm so tempted to call Geek Squad at this point. but they'll probably be more lost than I am, then charge me $100 for it...

[SOSTrooper]

Do you happen to know which GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 revision you got? This should be printed on the box label or the motherboard somewhere.


*edit* I was just reading your Gigabyte manual and seems like there is a big section on how to install your SATA HD before/during your XP installation. As johnnypark suggested, you might want to try to follow that instruction, even though it seems like a lot of work with floppy drives; it's a lot better than returning your motherboard or taking the computer to geek squad.

[johnnypark]

I'm with SOSTrooper, I'd check the forums on the manufacturer site (or just google the model for that matter) and see if there are any known problems with it. You're 100% positive all the cables are where they need to be, have the IDE cable in the Primary channel? I'm sure you've checked all that stuff but in my experience, the biggest problems come out of the smallest oversights, even when you know what you're doing.

And actually, it's not considered piracy to use another Windows XP copy if you're using your serial # that you paid for. I've made custom installs of Windows with extra software (mainly freeware like Mozilla, Winamp, codecs, etc) pre-installed, as well as removing things I don't use (extra language support, etc) to decrease install times. I forget the name of the program, but it's all completely legal to make backups if your own disk (for example, if you wanted to add SP2 to your SP1 install cd and burn a copy, and you can do the same with hot fixes so you don't have to Windows Update every time you reformat).

You might try using a different IDE cable, although if you had the same issue with the SATA drive I doubt it'll make a difference. Is this a new mobo/system, or did you reformat a current machine? Are you overclocking or running completely default settings in the bios (aside from the boot order of your cd rom/hdd)?

[Apossum]

I'm with SOSTrooper, I'd check the forums on the manufacturer site (or just google the model for that matter) and see if there are any known problems with it. You're 100% positive all the cables are where they need to be, have the IDE cable in the Primary channel? I'm sure you've checked all that stuff but in my experience, the biggest problems come out of the smallest oversights, even when you know what you're doing.

And actually, it's not considered piracy to use another Windows XP copy if you're using your serial # that you paid for. I've made custom installs of Windows with extra software (mainly freeware like Mozilla, Winamp, codecs, etc) pre-installed, as well as removing things I don't use (extra language support, etc) to decrease install times. I forget the name of the program, but it's all completely legal to make backups if your own disk (for example, if you wanted to add SP2 to your SP1 install cd and burn a copy, and you can do the same with hot fixes so you don't have to Windows Update every time you reformat).

You might try using a different IDE cable, although if you had the same issue with the SATA drive I doubt it'll make a difference. Is this a new mobo/system, or did you reformat a current machine? Are you overclocking or running completely default settings in the bios (aside from the boot order of your cd rom/hdd)?



This is a completely new machine. No overclocking, nothing special. Everything in its right place. BIOS is at default settings aside from the boot order. I took out the SATA drive altogether, so I only have a PATA which I "installed" windows on. There's no primary channel that I know of since there's only one slot on my mobo for a PATA drive. I don't think it can be the cable because Windows did install on there, it just won't go through that next step after rebooting.

As for the legal back ups, does that mean I could take my XP disc with my serial number to geek squad and they'll do it with no problems? Because I'm ready to just drop the $100. I've got FEAR and Oblivion sitting here, taunting me, and I don't have any more time to waste on this (been at it pretty much since 3pm yesterday) :)


and this is revision 3.3

[SOSTrooper]

In your BIOS, make sure the SATA AHCI Mode and SATA Port Native Mode are disabled. That way you shouldn't require any drivers for XP SP2 installation.

If you're in the LA area, I'm willing to help in person. :)

[Apossum]

Okay, I've come to my senses and I'm not going to call the Geek Squad. That would mean they won :lol:


EDIT: We have a Windows screen!!!! Yes!!!


Turns out the problem was in my heart! All I needed to do was believe in myself all along!

No, I just changed a few things, reformatted, and installed again and now it's running. fuck yes!!! Thanks guys for the help, it really probably was just some small dumb thing. Oblivion and FEAR, here I come!

[SOSTrooper]

Great to hear. Let us know how the games run.

[johnnypark]

Glad to hear you got it running. Knowing it's a new machine, I'm curious now, what are your system specs?

And SOS - New mobos have settings which allow XP to recognize SATA drives w/o drivers? Damn, I was unaware anything like that was in place, shows how long it's been since I've done any significant upgrades. Might be building a whole new machine soon, though... :)

[SOSTrooper]

Yeah I just happened to install XP Pro SP2 onto my Abit IP35-E motherboard using SATA HD and PATA DVD writer, and I left the SATA settings alone in BIOS, and was able to install XP onto my HD w/o any extra drivers or problems. I could imagine it was more of a pain to work with older SATA motherboards before.

[Apossum]

Glad to hear you got it running. Knowing it's a new machine, I'm curious now, what are your system specs?

And SOS - New mobos have settings which allow XP to recognize SATA drives w/o drivers? Damn, I was unaware anything like that was in place, shows how long it's been since I've done any significant upgrades. Might be building a whole new machine soon, though... :)


specs:
Coolermaster Centurion5 case
8800GTS 640 mb
Core 2 duo - 2.66ghz
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 mobo
2gb DDR2 800
320gb SATA
160gb PATA (for the install, guess I'll keep it now)
32" Sharp LCD HDTV

running great so far :) Can't seem to get the text to look just right in XP though. Took a while to get icon and text sizes right but it still looks a little bright and blurry.

[johnnypark]

specs:
Coolermaster Centurion5 case
8800GTS 640 mb
Core 2 duo - 2.66ghz
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 mobo
2gb DDR2 800
320gb SATA
160gb PATA (for the install, guess I'll keep it now)
32" Sharp LCD HDTV

running great so far :) Can't seem to get the text to look just right in XP though. Took a while to get icon and text sizes right but it still looks a little bright and blurry.

Dude... that's a sexy setup! I'm quite envious :)

[Apossum]

Thanks :) I'm in shock after a couple hours with this...no pun intended, but Bioshock maxed running at 60fps is reedonkulous.

[munch]

Thanks :) I'm in shock after a couple hours with this...no pun intended, but Bioshock maxed running at 60fps is reedonkulous.

Don't lie about your FPS. We all know it can only run at 39 tops.

[seen]

specs:
Coolermaster Centurion5 case
8800GTS 640 mb
Core 2 duo - 2.66ghz
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 mobo
2gb DDR2 800
320gb SATA
160gb PATA (for the install, guess I'll keep it now)
32" Sharp LCD HDTV

running great so far :) Can't seem to get the text to look just right in XP though. Took a while to get icon and text sizes right but it still looks a little bright and blurry.

May I ask what the APR was not including your labor?(and don't count the TV either)

[Apossum]

May I ask what the APR was not including your labor?(and don't count the TV either)


APR? like financing? I'm not sure what you're referring to...if it is the rate, I have no idea since I paid it off.


Don't lie about your FPS. We all know it can only run at 39 tops.

it's true. my fps is only 39 inches long :(