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["God's Beard!"]

I just started building a new computer, and I went to install my System Builder edition of XP pro with SP2, but it changes to a blank bluescreen when it gets to the loggin in section.

It does the same thing when trying to start in safemode.

Here are the parts I'm using:

HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725032GLA360 (0A35411) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C for System Builders - OEM
DFI LANPARTY DK P35-T2RS LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
CHAINTECH GSE96GTC GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
Rosewill RP500-2 ATX12V v2.01 500W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA, UL, TUV, FCC - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Is it possible there's some sort of hardware incompatibility or something? I know enough to know what parts I need to make a computer, but I'm not computer literate enough to know how to fix something like this, and I need some real help here...

I get the windows set up screen, it loads everything, then says that it's loading windows and my computer makes this long scream...

editops it's service pack 2

double edit: found these on the newegg reviews:
Cons: Does not contain drivers for any new computer. Does not even contain driver for SATA drives.

Other Thoughts: In order to install XP on any new computer with a SATA drive: you need to download the driver, then use a third party software to merge the driver with the XP disc, then burn a new disc which you can use to install XP. Then good luck finding the drivers for all the other stuff. I have no doubt that MS is doing this on purpose to force everyone to use Vista.

Cons: Serious pain with new hardware. New EX38/E8400 system. This won't install from boot - starts but hangs forever with ""Setup is starting windows"". Tried Win2k and older XP/SP1 version and both installed and ran fine. Installed XP/SP1, put this in CD drive and let it autostart. Selected ""Install"" and then ""Upgrade"". That got this installed but system was a slow and wouldn't shut computer off. Reason - wrong HAL installed. System thought it was running a Pentium One without ACPI. Install/Upgrade again, this time using F5 to force HAL to ACPI Multiprocessor PC. (Technique explained in MS Knowledge base) Now installed correctly and running as it should. By the way, when install says ""Three minutes to go"" it will take 15-20 minutes to finish - wait for it.

Other Thoughts: When older Windows versions work and a newer one won't, I call that "defective by design". You may choose other words that I can't list here. Two days, four attempts to install and innumerable reboots once again demonstrate why Linux is going to replace this. Linux installed on this hardware flawlessly in half the time, with one reboot.


These two people seem to have the same problem that I do, but I don't really understand how they fixed it. Should I just use Linux?

 

[zoku88]

I have no idea how to help you, everything seems fine to me. Maybe, try installing it again?

But seriously, I would try putting a newer OS on it (any distro of linux, vista, wtv.) XP is what? 6 years old? It's aging.

You can prolly put the drivers on a floppy. XP can load drivers from floppy (not usb, though)

 

[madmook]

So... are you loading SATA drivers before the xp install or does your bios have an ide compatibility mode?

 

["God's Beard!"]

So... are you loading SATA drivers before the xp install or does your bios have an ide compatibility mode?

I'm sure I'd be able to run IDE, but I don't have any IDE drives, unless I strip the ancient 40GB out of my old comp.

how do I load SATA drivers? the only thing that came with windows was the disc...

 

[zoku88]

I'm sure I'd be able to run IDE, but I don't have any IDE drives, unless I strip the ancient 40GB out of my old comp.

how do I load SATA drivers? the only thing that came with windows was the disc...

If it really is a problem with the SATA drivers, load the drivers on a floppy then use that floppy when you reinstall Windows (when it asks for drivers.)

 

[madmook]

Running IDE compatibility mode (if your bios has this option) does not mean using an older ide harddrive. It still means using a SATA harddrive but making Windows XP think its an ide drive.

Windows XP cannot "see" a SATA drive unless you load (via floppy drive) your chipset's specific SATA driver. But usually XP won't install and stop with an error message, and you seem to have gotten past that. Still, I think you should go into your bios menu and search for anything resembling "ide compatibility" and see if its enabled...

 

[C.Dark.DN]

um, i built a computer with sata drive and i didn't have to load the drivers first

 

["God's Beard!"]

Running IDE compatibility mode (if your bios has this option) does not mean using an older ide harddrive. It still means using a SATA harddrive but making Windows XP think its an ide drive.

Windows XP cannot "see" a SATA drive unless you load (via floppy drive) your chipset's specific SATA driver. But usually XP won't install and stop with an error message, and you seem to have gotten past that. Still, I think you should go into your bios menu and search for anything resembling "ide compatibility" and see if its enabled...

ooh, will try.

 

["God's Beard!"]

there's a "SATA mode" option, but it's already set to IDE. the other options are RAID and AHCI.

There's also some LEGACY option that says it has something to do with OS compatability. Should I try turning that on?

 

[Sinatar]

there's a "SATA mode" option, but it's already set to IDE. the other options are RAID and AHCI.

There's also some LEGACY option that says it has something to do with OS compatability. Should I try turning that on?

Yea switch it to legacy.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Yea switch it to legacy.

*crosses fingers*

also, the long beep I get when I try to install windows apparently signifies a DRAM error, what does that mean? I only get it when I try to install windows.

edit: no change with legacy :-(

 

[madmook]

Change the setting back to ide, and try using only one of your ram sticks at a time to see if it'll boot.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Change the setting back to ide, and try using only one of your ram sticks at a time to see if it'll boot.

well, it seems like it's been on IDE the whole time, but just tried removing my second gig of ram and there's no change. This is with legacy off again.

 

[evlcookie]

Have you tried to install something like ubuntu? see if u can get that working.

The sound and not booting sounds similar to my current setup in which my cpu can't run at a certain speed, stock even, although this is a really old cpu. Make sure the cpu settings are correct in the bios, the 6850 multiplyer should be 9x333. Change it to say 8.5x333 or 8 and see if it boots up.

Mine would lockup on the windows booting / installing system if it was over a certain speed, its just about dead /cry.

If that doesnt help then its at least not a CPU issue. Since you have taken out one of the ram sticks and its still up shit creek, you could try memtest86 to check your ram, one stick at a time for say 20 mins each and see if it finds any errors. If not then its not the ram.

Of course since your on a windows machine typing this i guess? You could try create a iso of your current SP2 cd, use nlite to include the sata drivers you may need and burn that off onto a cd and try install using that.

Time to test most of your components and see if any of them are not working correctly.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Have you tried to install something like ubuntu? see if u can get that working.

The sound and not booting sounds similar to my current setup in which my cpu can't run at a certain speed, stock even, although this is a really old cpu. Make sure the cpu settings are correct in the bios, the 6850 multiplyer should be 9x333. Change it to say 8.5x333 or 8 and see if it boots up.

Mine would lockup on the windows booting / installing system if it was over a certain speed, its just about dead /cry.

If that doesnt help then its at least not a CPU issue. Since you have taken out one of the ram sticks and its still up shit creek, you could try memtest86 to check your ram, one stick at a time for say 20 mins each and see if it finds any errors. If not then its not the ram.

Of course since your on a windows machine typing this i guess? You could try create a iso of your current SP2 cd, use nlite to include the sata drivers you may need and burn that off onto a cd and try install using that.

Time to test most of your components and see if any of them are not working correctly.

downloading Ubuntu 64bit now. Is that the best version of linux for what I have?

I don't know about 6850 multiplier, but the bios says the CPU is running at 6x 333, should I change that?

 

[evlcookie]

Well it should be at 9x333mhz , 6x333mhz is an underclock. Give it a shot and see what happends.

6x333 = 2ghz, when your chip is 3ghz which is why its 9x333.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Well it should be at 9x333mhz , 6x333mhz is an underclock. Give it a shot and see what happends.

6x333 = 2ghz, when your chip is 3ghz which is why its 9x333.

strange, I restarted and it says 9x now. Trying up windows again just in case.

So Ubuntu 64bit should be fine for my system? It's just about done downloading.

edit: is it possible that the problem is with my processor? given that the beep error is DRAM failure and it's the only error I've gotten? Or would my computer not run at all if that was it?

 

[evlcookie]

The ubuntu should be fine.

The DRAM beep error sounds like its bitching about the ram. What's the ram's speed in the bios? 800mhz? or something else?

Also memtest86 is an easy to use memory tester, just burn it to a cd and it should boot then you can test your ram. Make sure you test with 1 stick at a time. Also you put the ram in the nearest slots to the CPU?

 

["God's Beard!"]

The ubuntu should be fine.

The DRAM beep error sounds like its bitching about the ram. What's the ram's speed in the bios? 800mhz? or something else?

Also memtest86 is an easy to use memory tester, just burn it to a cd and it should boot then you can test your ram. Make sure you test with 1 stick at a time. Also you put the ram in the nearest slots to the CPU?

yeah, it's at 800mhz, the sticks are in slots 1 and 3, should it be 1 and 2?

 

[evlcookie]

They should be together, yes. One next to each other.

 

["God's Beard!"]

They should be together, yes. One next to each other.

ohshit. testing new configuration now.

edit: no change :-(

 

[bill0527]

Your RAM timings may not be compatible with the default setup of your motherboard. You may have to play around with that or go look at your motherboard, see what kind of RAM timings you need and then buy the correct RAM.

edit: nvm, I just looked up your RAM and board and they are both compatible.

 

["God's Beard!"]

tried Ubuntu CD. chose language, but if I try anything after that or wait a few seconds, computer shuts down automatically. Any ideas?

Your RAM timings may not be compatible with the default setup of your motherboard. You may have to play around with that or go look at your motherboard, see what kind of RAM timings you need and then buy the correct RAM.

it says to use 240-pin DDR2 800 RAM, and that's what I've got. Is there another aspect to the RAM I should be looking at?

 

[Vyer]

Is that everything you have in there? No other cards/NICs (I'm guessing that's probably onboard) or anything?

I've seen this happen and more often that not it has been RAM. But I've also seen it happen with bad cards (NICs, modems on older systems, etc.)

 

[evlcookie]

Something sounds borked. Im guessing ram but not too sure.

Get Memtest86 and run it over your ram. Only do one ram stick at a time. Let it run for 20mins or so and if it doesnt come back with an error, turn it off, try again with the other stick, repeat.

Only thing to do now is test one thing by one thing. Start by going barebones, cpu, videocard, ram and a hdd, remove everything else.

You could try and up the voltage for the ram in the bios and change the timings, but as bill said it should be compatible

 

[bill0527]

Yes I would recommend using memtest at this point. Your RAM is compatible with your motherboard and its even listed on the manufacturer's page of recommend RAM. You may very well have a bad stick and running memtest will determine it for you.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Is that everything you have in there? No other cards/NICs (I'm guessing that's probably onboard) or anything?

I've seen this happen and more often that not it has been RAM. But I've also seen it happen with bad cards (NICs, modems on older systems, etc.)

yeah, the only other things are the case, keyboard and mouse. I don't even have an ethernet cable hooked up, and the speakers go straight to the motherboard.

will try memtest now.

edit: lol testing for STDs:lol

 

["God's Beard!"]

ok, what the fuck.

I was in the middle of testing the first stick, I come back to check and my computer had shut itself down. Did it find an error?

same thing with second stick, 1% into the first pass, comp shuts down. Is this a RAM problem?

 

[evlcookie]

it's not overheating is it and shutting itself down? Did you install the cpu and heatsink correctly? its all seated?

Check in the bios to see what temp the cpu is running at, i think you still can these days.

 

["God's Beard!"]

it's not overheating is it and shutting itself down? Did you install the cpu and heatsink correctly? its all seated?

Check in the bios to see what temp the cpu is running at, i think you still can these days.

114C, shutdown is 85 :lol

so is the CPU dead? Can I just reset it? It did feel a little wierd going in... should I just do an RMI and get a new one?

 

[evlcookie]

I dont think its dead, just turn it all off and remove the cpu / heatsink and fan again and try putting it on all over again. Make sure its seated correctly and that the heatsink is flush with the cpu.

There should be some core 2 duo installation guides if your not too sure how it is meant to go in floating around on the net. Follow it and give it another shot, check the bios again etc.

You did install the heatsink and fan onto the CPU, right? :lol .

 

["God's Beard!"]

I dont think its dead, just turn it all off and remove the cpu / heatsink and fan again and try putting it on all over again. Make sure its seated correctly and that the heatsink is flush with the cpu.

There should be some core 2 duo installation guides if your not too sure how it is meant to go in floating around on the net. Follow it and give it another shot, check the bios again etc.

ok thanks, I'll get back to it when I wake up, I'm pretty tired and don't want to fuck this up more than I have. Thanks for all the help so far, I might need you guys again tommorow:lol .

 

[bill0527]

I dont think its dead, just turn it all off and remove the cpu / heatsink and fan again and try putting it on all over again. Make sure its seated correctly and that the heatsink is flush with the cpu.

There should be some core 2 duo installation guides if your not too sure how it is meant to go in floating around on the net. Follow it and give it another shot, check the bios again etc.

You did install the heatsink and fan onto the CPU, right? :lol .

I think we just eliminated bad RAM. Definitely sounds like the CPU and/or heatsink are not installed correctly... or possibly the motherboard was bad right out of the box.

Here is a page that has an Intel video on how to install a C2D chip and heatsink into a 775 socket. You have to choose your language and speed from this page and then a 5-minute or so video will pop up showing you step-by-step how to install it. It helped me out a lot when I built my first PC last summer. Installing the processor and heatsink was the only part I was worried about since I had never done anything like that before.

http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/100617.htm

 

[Waikis]

They should be together, yes. One next to each other.

NO!

They shouldnt be next to each other, the RAM should go to either DIMM A1&B1 or A2&B2 ,the combination is emphasized in the coloring too.

 

["God's Beard!"]

ok I was ready to celebrate with you guys, but then bad juju happened :-(

I reset the CPU and fan, which ended my overheating problem(turns out 2 of the pins didn't go in and the fan was coming a little loose), and allowed windows setup to actually start.

Problem is, 6% into the HDD formatting process, computer goes beeeeeep beep beep beep(video error in bios) and shut itself down. Now, every time I start the computer, I get an OS won't load error, even when I try Ubuntu.

There's no mention of an OS loading error in the online manual, what should I do?

Also, I set my RAM back into DIMM 1+3.

 

["God's Beard!"]

anybody know what I should do to get the OS won't load error to go away? Should I put my HDD into an external and try to reformat it on another computer? I need help...:-(

 

[water_wendi]

anybody know what I should do to get the OS won't load error to go away? Should I put my HDD into an external and try to reformat it on another computer? I need help...:-(

This is going to come across as a total dickhead comment, but take it to a shop to have it built there. If you can't DIY it, don't try it.

And lol at all the cursing of so-called Windows problems when its really hardware/setup issues.

 

[bee]

put 1st boot device back to dvd, press a key to boot from it and try again?

 

["God's Beard!"]

This is going to come across as a total dickhead comment, but take it to a shop to have it built there. If you can't DIY it, don't try it.

And lol at all the cursing of so-called Windows problems when its really hardware/setup issues.

This is only the second computer I've ever build, I'm trying to learn :-(

put 1st boot device back to dvd, press a key to boot from it and try again?

will try.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Looks like my computer is working now, thanks for all the help, you guys saved my life.

I'm installing the drivers now, quick question: it says the drivers for my 9600GT aren't authorised by windows, should I continue installing? I got the same message on my old computer when I installed my 8800GT. That computer died a few months later.

 

[water_wendi]

This is only the second computer I've ever build, I'm trying to learn :-(


will try.

Like i said, its going to sound like a dick thing to say.. and it was. i see so many people bring their computers to my shop and the stories are all the variation of "I/friend/family/computer guru tried to fix my computer and now its worse". The thing is, building computers is really easy.. its just the troubleshooting can difficult.. usually because of the lack of spare parts to swap out things and diag.

Anyways, im glad you got it up and running.

I'm installing the drivers now, quick question: it says the drivers for my 9600GT aren't authorised by windows, should I continue installing? I got the same message on my old computer when I installed my 8800GT. That computer died a few months later.

Usually it is fine to continue. Question though.. are you installing the latest forceware drivers from nvidias site? If not, downloading and installing that would be my recommendation.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Like i said, its going to sound like a dick thing to say.. and it was. i see so many people bring their computers to my shop and the stories are all the variation of "I/friend/family/computer guru tried to fix my computer and now its worse". The thing is, building computers is really easy.. its just the troubleshooting can difficult.. usually because of the lack of spare parts to swap out things and diag.

Anyways, im glad you got it up and running.

No I wouldn't call you a dick, what you said was pretty true. At the same time, I'm no computer guru, but building things is way more fun than just buying them.

edit:cool, I'll start with nVidia's site.

 

[aznpxdd]

Looks like my computer is working now, thanks for all the help, you guys saved my life.

I'm installing the drivers now, quick question: it says the drivers for my 9600GT aren't authorised by windows, should I continue installing? I got the same message on my old computer when I installed my 8800GT. That computer died a few months later.

Ignore the warning and install the [correct] drivers.

Oh...and that seems more like a small downgrade than upgrade from 8800GT to 9600GT.

 

["God's Beard!"]

Ignore the warning and install the [correct] drivers.

Oh...and that seems more like a small downgrade than upgrade from 8800GT to 9600GT.

an upgrade of cash in my pocket.