Athlon X2 and A8V Deluxe BIOS version

[scalez]

Hi all, I'm brand new here (first post). I've been lurking a few weeks to research my DAW build. I settled on the following build:

Asus A8V Deluxe (refurbished from newegg)
Athlon 64 X2 4400+
2x1GB Kingston ValueRAM (dual channel DDR 400 PC3200)
Matrox P650
(the rest is probably irrelevant to my question.)

All the parts just arrived yesterday and I haven't had time to build it yet, but I was checking online for the right BIOS config and bumped into some info about BIOS version. Apparently BIOS version 1013 to 1015 or greater (depending on which exact X2 model) is required for X2 processor support on this Asus board.

Does this mean I won't be able to boot up my machine if the refurbished board happens to have an older version? Or will I at least be able to get as far as the BIOS so I can update it? Also, Asus highly advises against flashing the bios unless you really know what you're doing. Is it possible I could damage my CPU or mobo doing this?

Thanks in advance!

[itsplayed]

Hey scalez, Look on the board itself to see what Bios version came installed on the E-Prom. This should be stamped next to the where the model numer is stamped. Keep your fingers crossed that it says Rev.2. If it does you should have no problems. I would also assume that the MoBo has been reflashed to a more recent Bios since the board was refurbed. Of course the opposite could also be true.
If it shows it to be an older revision, I would simply build normally.... all except for the ram....here just install 1 stick into the second blue Dimm Slot(B2). Start the system to see if she boots up, a screen will appear upon bootup that displays the Bios version. If it's older than 1013 reflash via floppy. I can guide you through a reflash if you discover that one is needed.

[scalez]

nice. rev 2.00 so i'm ready to go. i might still need help on flashing the bios, but i'm hoping i won't have to.

THANKS, its!

[Bops2000]

you should be happy with that setup.
You may find that you will have to uninstall re-install
matrox drivers if you are using dual LCD monitor setup.
(that was just my issue)

[scalez]

so far, not too happy.

Can't boot up to anything. I thought it might be the matrox p650 video card's problem because my monitor wasn't receiving any signal. so to test, i popped that video card in my old machine. big mistake. couldn't boot that up either and now i can't boot it up at all even after swapping its old card back in. I think i fried the motherboard with the matrox (it's an older asus mobo from circa 2001 with a p4 1.6GHz). I had to drag out my wife's ancient laptop just to get online to post and search for info.

So, now with my existing DAW out of commission, I need to get the new one up and running AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE as I have a recording session scheduled for tomorrow night and I have a different day job all day tomorrow. At least all my Cubase sessions are all stored on an external firewire drive.

My entire config is as follows: Antec Sonatta II, Asus A8V Deluxe (version 2.00 stamped on the mobo, X2 4400+, P650, 2x1GB Kingston ValueRAM DDR400 PC3200 dual-channel, Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM IDE (no sata drives in my config quite yet), Sony DVDRW, samsung floppy...

And here's what I'm seeing.

I followed every instruction very carefully for both the mobo, and the chassis/power supply and when all the hardware was in place and wired up, I turn it on and after a faint little "bzzp!" from the power supply, nothing. No fan, no LED's no hard disk noise. Turn off the rear power switch, turn it back on. press the front power button, "bzzp!" and nothing.

So i unplug it, wait a minute, ground myself, and just to see what will happen, i unplug the 4-pin 12V power supply-to-mobo connection, leaving the bigger 20-pin cable in place. I close it back up and turn it on... Fan comes on! Drives make noise and light up! Then they stop making noise. And they stay lit up (the DVDRW and floppy are both lit up indefinitely). The monitor stays in power-save mode (meaning it receives no signal).

So...

I'm basically &*^%ed.

All I hope is that I didn't fry the P650 in the process of frying my old mobo, so I can at least get this new box up and running without dropping another $150. And that I can figure this out and get Windows and Cubase up and running by midnight PST... I mean PDT. Great day to lose an hour. Thank you Uncle Sam.

[scalez]

so far, not too happy.

Can't boot up to anything. I thought it might be the matrox p650 video card's problem because my monitor wasn't receiving any signal. so to test, i popped that video card in my old machine. big mistake. couldn't boot that up either and now i can't boot it up at all even after swapping its old card back in. I think i fried the motherboard with the matrox (it's an older asus mobo from circa 2001 with a p4 1.6GHz).

So, now with my existing DAW out of commission, I need to get the new one up and running AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE as I have a recording session scheduled for tomorrow night and I have a different day job all day tomorrow. At least all my Cubase sessions are all stored on an external firewire drive.

My entire config is as follows: Antec Sonatta II, Asus A8V Deluxe (version 2.00 stamped on the mobo, X2 4400+, P650, 2x1GB Kingston ValueRAM DDR400 PC3200 dual-channel, Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM IDE (no sata drives in my config quite yet), Sony DVDRW, samsung floppy...

And here's what I'm seeing.

I followed every instruction very carefully for both the mobo, and the chassis/power supply and when all the hardware was in place and wired up, I turn it on and after a faint little "bzzp!" from the power supply, nothing. No fan, no LED's no hard disk noise. Turn off the rear power switch, turn it back on. press the front power button, "bzzp!" and nothing.

So i unplug it, wait a minute, ground myself, and just to see what will happen, i unplug the 4-pin 12V power supply-to-mobo connection, leaving the bigger 20-pin cable in place. I close it back up and turn it on... Fan comes on! Drives make noise and light up! Then they stop making noise. And they stay lit up (the DVDRW and floppy are both lit up indefinitely). The monitor stays in power-save mode (meaning it receives no signal).

So...

I'm basically &*^%ed.

All I hope is that I didn't fry the P650 in the process of frying my old mobo, so I can at least get this new box up and running without dropping another $150. And that I can figure this out and get Windows and Cubase up and running by midnight PST... I mean PDT. Great day to lose an hour. Thank you Uncle Sam.

[scalez]

correction... the dvdrw doesn't stay lit, but the floppy does. with or without a disk in it.

[scalez]

i've got a real good hunch now. The 4-pin ATX 12V connector... I didn't plug it in right. I know it, because there doesn't appear to be one way that's better than the others.

The mobo's 4-pin port has the two ground pins on the top, so if I can just figure out which of the chassis' wires are ground, i'm set. the four wires are black, red, orange and yellow.

Any Sonatta II owners got a clue which two are ground?

[itsplayed]

Sorry to hear about your troubles scalez............................................ ....
Black certainly is Common or ground and red is certainly hot....is that enough to go on to make the connection?

[scalez]

In theory that is enough, since the black shares a side with the red and one with the orange. So one would think to put the black and orange side oriented upward, but I get the same "bzzzp" followed by nothing. Is my new mobo dead? I 'll feel like a big turd if I just fried two mobos in one day.

[itsplayed]

It's quite possible that the supply is bad, it has been known to happen. Do you have another to test with?

[scalez]

Do you have another to test with?

no, I'll just have to take it to the shop tomorrow or whenever I get the chance. Luckily my recording session for tomorrow was just cancelled so i'm off the hook for at least another two days, but I still need this up asap. I'll figure it out.

[itsplayed]

I'm sure you will and if I had to guess, I'd say that the yellow was the other ground. What was the model number on that value ram you purchased? I would also try going with one dimm initially then adding the other after the Windows install. Are you using a PCI soundcard as well? or any PCI cards?

[scalez]

I'm sure you will and if I had to guess, I'd say that the yellow was the other ground. What was the model number on that value ram you purchased? I would also try going with one dimm initially then adding the other after the Windows install. Are you using a PCI soundcard as well? or any PCI cards?

The model number is KVR400AK2/2GR

I get the same problem with one stick in the B2 slot as with both sticks in both blue slots. Frankly, I'm not really seeing as far ahead as a windows install at this point in time.

That wouldn't make sense for black and yellow to be the grounds since they are kitty corner to each other on the 4 pin power plug and the grounds are next to each other according to the A8V Dlx manual. Besides, I've tried all four possible orientations and they all exhibit the same behavior. The only thing that seems to help a little bit is not plugging in the four-pin piece, and all that gets to happen is the fans turn on. Yippie!

I have no pci cards installed. Just the on-board stuff, the front-panel 1394 and USB and the stuff I already mentioned.

Thanks a lot for your help. I get the feeling this is going to be something I have to take this into the shop for, but not before I talk to newegg and antec and asus, because I don't want to take it to a shop unless I really have to.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I also tried the older AGP graphics card from my old machine in the new machine. Same behavior.

Don't these companies test their sh** before they sell it?

[itsplayed]

Just so that your aware, that ram is not the recommended ram for the ASUS A8V Deluxe. Whether or not this matters is something you'll need to check with Kingston. Okay, so my guess on the yellow being common was not a good one, but it's quite possible that this is a ram issue.

[scalez]

I didn't have the power supply plugged in right. Antec support let me know there's another four-pin plug that goes into the four pin receptor on the mobo.. so i'm as far as the boot screen and the bios now. version 1017 so i'm cool there. won't have to flash or anything. but i can't get it to boot off the floppy drive, though it is set as the first boot drive. can't boot off the optical drive either. but at least i'm out of the frying pan...

[itsplayed]

Scalez, glad to hear it was something stupid and that your ram is fine. Go into the Bios and on the main screen, make sure it sees the floppy drive. Under 'Legacy Diskette A' it should read [1.44m, 3.5in.]. Then go to the 'I/O Device Configuration' and under 'Floppy Disk Access Control' it says [R/W]. In the 'Boot" section make sure it says 'Boot up Floppy Seek' [Enabled]. When rebooting the computer look to see if the floppy drive LED is active.

[scalez]

Scalez, glad to hear it was something stupid and that your ram is fine.
So am i!

Go into the Bios and on the main screen, make sure it sees the floppy drive. Under 'Legacy Diskette A' it should read [1.44m, 3.5in.]..

Yeah, that's set.


Then go to the 'I/O Device Configuration'

Here's where I get stuck. This bios setup utility doesn't have anything like "I/O Device Configuration". I wish the motherboard came with instructions for this part of the setup. I mean, it seems kind of important, right?

and under 'Floppy Disk Access Control' it says [R/W]. In the 'Boot" section make sure it says 'Boot up Floppy Seek' [Enabled]. When rebooting the computer look to see if the floppy drive LED is active.

The floppy LED is active. It just doesn't boot. When I do try to boot with a floppy, I see the same thing as when there's no floppy inserted:

"Reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key"

Following that messages instructions causes that message to appear again. Thanks a lot for your help, itsplayed. Do they pay you? If not (and even if so), you're some kind of geeky saint or something, seriously.

[itsplayed]

Thanks a lot for your help, itsplayed. Do they pay you? If not (and even if so), you're some kind of geeky saint or something, seriously.

Your welcome scalez and I guess your gonna' hafta' color me a 'geeky saint', either that or ugly....it's your call! :D :D

Anyway, the I/O device configuration can be found on the 'advanced' menu of the Bios, here you'll set the floppy disk access control to (R/W). Then in the Boot menu make sure that the 'boot up floppy seek' is enabled.

[scalez]

Your welcome scalez and I guess your gonna' hafta' color me a 'geeky saint', either that or ugly....it's your call! :D :D

They should pay you... but in that case they'd be charging me, so...

Anyway, the I/O device configuration can be found on the 'advanced' menu of the Bios, here you'll set the floppy disk access control to (R/W). Then in the Boot menu make sure that the 'boot up floppy seek' is enabled.

Those settings are simply not where you say they are on my BIOS. I will tell you every menu and setting in my advanced menu and its submenus later this evening. My Boot menus are as follows:

>Boot Device Priority
1st Boot Device [1st Floppy Device]
2nd Boot Device [SM-Sony DVD RW DW-]
3rd Boot Device [PM-WDC WD800JB-22J]

>Boot Settings Configuration
Quick Boot [Enabled]
Full Screen Logo [Enabled]
AddOn ROM Display Mode [Force BIOS]
Bootup Num-Lock [ON]
PS/2 Mouse Support [Auto]
Wait For 'F1' If Error [Enabled]
Hit 'DEL' Message Display [Enabled]
Interrupt 19 Capture [Disabled]

>Security
Supervisor Password :Not Installed
User Password :Not Installed
Change Supervisor Password
Change User Password
Clear User Password
Boot Sector Virus Protection [Disabled]

[scalez]

I cracked it open to check I set up the floppy drive right. I actually had the ribbon cable on wrong (i had the twisted side in the mobo instead of in the drive). So now that I've got that straightened out, I've still got the same problem. Can't boot.

Seriously... Why don't these companies make their sh^t work? I mean isn't the whole point of a computer supposed to be that it's useful? Maybe there's some philosophical argument to the contrary but it's just my personal opinion that a computer is more useful WITH an operating system than it is without.

So, like I said, those options don't appear in my bios. Here's what I've got under Advanced:

>CPU Configuration
>HyperTransport(HT) Configuration
HT Frequency [1000 MHz]
HT DATA Width(Upstream) [16 BIT]
HT DATA Width(Downstream) [16 BIT]
>Memory Configuration
>Memory Configuration
Memclock Mode [Auto]
HardWare Memory Hold [Disabled]
Bank Interleaving [Auto]
Burst Length [4 Beats]
MCT Timing Mode [Auto]
TWCL [Auto]
TWR [Auto]
AsyncLat [Auto]
Read Preamble Setting [Auto]
2T Command [Auto]
>ECC Configuration
Master ECC Enable [Disabled]
>AMD Cool & Quiet Configuration
Cool N'Quiet [Disabled]
>Chipset
>AGP Bridge Configuration
Primary Graphics Adapter [AGP]
Search for MDA Resources [Yes]
VLink 8X Supported [Enabled]
AGP Mode [AGP 8X]
AGP Fast Write [Enabled]
Graphics Aperture Size [64MB]
AGP 3.0 Calibration cycle [Disabled]
DBI Output for AGP Trans [Disabled]
>SouthBridge Configuration
MPS Revision [1.4]
PCI Delay Transaction [Disabled]
>USB Configuration
Module Version -2.24.0-7.4
USB Devices Enabled : None
USB 1.1 Ports Configuration [USB 8 Ports]
USB 2.0 Controller [Enabled]
Legacy USB Support [Auto]
USB 2.0 Controller Mode [FullSpeed]
>Onboard Deviced Configuration
OnBoard AC'97 Audio [Enabled]
OnChip SATA BOOTROM [Enabled]
OnBoard Promise Controller [Enabled]
Operating Mode [RAID Mode]
Onboard LAN [Enabled]
OnBoard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
OnBoard IEEE 1394 [Enabled]
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4]
Serial Port2 Address [2F8/IRQ3]
Parallel Port Address [Disabled]
OnBoard Game/MIDI Port [Disabled]
>PCIPnP
Plug And Play O/S [No]
PCI Latency Timer [64]
Allocate IRQ to PCI VGA [Yes]
Palette Snooping [Disabled]
IRQ3 [PCI Device]
IRQ4 [PCI Device]
IRQ5 [PCI Device]
IRQ7 [PCI Device]
IRQ9 [PCI Device]
IRQ10 [PCI Device]
IRQ11 [PCI Device]
IRQ14 [PCI Device]
IRQ15 [PCI Device]
>System Frequency/Voltage Configuration
AI Overclocking [Auto]
>Speech Configuration
Speech Post Reporter [Enabled]
Report IDE Error [Disabled]
Report System Checking [Disabled]
Report System Booting [Disabled]
>Instant Music Configuration
Instant Music [Disabled]

[itsplayed]

Yes, the ones that say
'Onboard AC'97 Audio'......... Disable
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4].......Disable
Serial Port2 Address [2F8/IRQ3].......Disable
Then on the Boot menu, Disable the 'Quick Boot' and make sure your first boot device is set to 1st Floppy Drive then put the Floppy into the drive and Exit saving changes.

Before doing this...tell me are you installing WindowsXP? If so, there's no need to boot from floppy. So, set the first boot device to the CD Rom and put the WinXP CD into tray then exit saving changes. On the boot up screen you have to hit any key to boot from the CD....the screen will tell you when...at the bottom.

[scalez]

Yes, the ones that say
'Onboard AC'97 Audio'......... Disable
Serial Port1 Address [3F8/IRQ4].......Disable
Serial Port2 Address [2F8/IRQ3].......Disable
Then on the Boot menu, Disable the 'Quick Boot' and make sure your first boot device is set to 1st Floppy Drive then put the Floppy into the drive and Exit saving changes..

OK, did that and it was still exhibiting the same behavior. So I decided to mess around with the floppy data cable some more. It turned out it was on upside down on the motherboard connector, and every time i tried to boot it was damaging whatever floppy disk was in the drive. It took me a while to figure that out. Maybe floppy data cables should be made so that you can't plug them in wrong. Or maybe I'm just unrealistic for thinking design is important.

So now I'm able to boot off a floppy, but it doesn't recognize the HDD or the DVDRW. I tried all drive letters A-Z. A and B are good for accessing the floppy. C-Z are "invalid drive specification".

Before doing this...tell me are you installing WindowsXP? If so, there's no need to boot from floppy. So, set the first boot device to the CD Rom and put the WinXP CD into tray then exit saving changes. On the boot up screen you have to hit any key to boot from the CD....the screen will tell you when...at the bottom.

Yes I am installing XP. There may be no need to boot from a floppy but I'm glad I figured out how to hook it up right. It still can't boot of CD though. In the past, I've installed winxp by booting to DOS with a floppy and navigating to setup.exe and launching from DOS. It's worked for me before so that's what I figured I'd try first. If I'm able to do it your way though, that's great too, but neither one is happening just yet.

Can I reiterate once again how effing lame this is? Why do they do this to us? One reason, anyone?

[itsplayed]

It's not seeing the hard drive? Is this a PATA drive or SATA? If it's a PATA drive, is the jumper set to master? Is the drive connected to the Primary IDE port? Is the DVD-RW the only optical device installed? Is this set to master and connected to the Secondary IDE port? If all this is so...did you set these devices to 'Auto' detect within the BIOS? Are you using an XP setup Floppy Boot Disk?

[scalez]

It's not seeing the hard drive? Is this a PATA drive or SATA?
PATA

If it's a PATA drive, is the jumper set to master?
It's jumpered to single (6&4) (like in the chart here: http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=84&p_created=1005005461&p_sid=X_DGWh4i&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9NDQmcF9wcm9kcz05MSwwJnBfY2F0cz0xMjMmcF9 wdj0xLjkxOzIudTAmcF9jdj0xLjEyMzsyLnUwJnBfc2VhcmNoX 3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfZm5sJnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2V hcmNoX3RleHQ9anVtcGVyIHNldHRpbmdz&p_li=&p_topview=1 )

I'll try other settings though.

Is the drive connected to the Primary IDE port?
Yes. And it appears as Primary Master in the BIOS Setup screen
Is the DVD-RW the only optical device installed?

Yes

Is this set to master and connected to the Secondary IDE port?

Yes, and it appears as secondary master in bios setup.

If all this is so...did you set these devices to 'Auto' detect within the BIOS?

Everything under Primary IDE Master is set to [Auto], except 32Bit Data Transfer is [Disabled].

All three settings under Secondary IDE Master are [Auto]

Are you using an XP setup Floppy Boot Disk?

Nope. I was just searching for how to make one. I'll let you know how that goes.

Maybe I have to check my data cables on these drives as well. I think they're idiot proof unlike the floppy cable, but it's worth checking.

[itsplayed]

I would not install XP using a startup disk from a different version of Windows, especially Windows '98 or ME.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310994

[itsplayed]

Booting from the CD is the correct way to install XP...it's not just my way. This will also give you the ability to choose the NTFS file system format....booting from a floppy will not(AFAIK). Also be prepared to have a lot of floppies handy, as I believe the XP floppy start-up disk procedure, requires 6 in total.....wouldn't even go there!

[scalez]

Your way, my way, the way... all equally useless as long as the hdd isn't recognized. I'm trying everything I can think of......

Hey, it's been a couple years since I installed XP... what's the conventional wisdom as far as which service pack to use for DAW's? SP1, SP1a, or SP2?

Thanks again! i know my frustration might be the dominant tone in my posts... just know none of it is directed at you since you've been such a big help. Got nothin but love fa ya!

scalez

[itsplayed]

It's jumpered to single (6&4) (like in the chart here: http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc....i=&p_topview=1 )

This may be your issue(6&4 are wrong...sorry I overlooked this earlier), How many pins does your drive have?

[scalez]

This may be your issue(6&4 are wrong...sorry I overlooked this earlier), How many pins does your drive have?

10. I'm trying with no jumper in. If that doesn't work, i'll try as master. i've been getting some lousy information off supposedly helpful web pages. I'm learning you just have to try and fail and try something else. And this isn't even the first time i've built a machine. the first time everything just came together and worked!

[itsplayed]

If the jumper setting doesn't change anything, then I have one last suggestion. Use the utility disk for your hard drive to perform a low level format, then try to install XP with the CD.

[scalez]

master, cable select, single drive, no jumper... all yield about the same result. bios sees the HD. DOS doesn't.

using winxp floppies does suck ass. It can't find my DVDRW either. when it says "Insert the CD labeled Windows XP Home... Press Enter When Ready", i insert the disk and press enter... which does nothing. it still can't see the drive.


Seriously... why is this so f*&^ing hard?! It would be nice if the user manuals actually explained how to do this. I mean it's kind of what they're for. I didn't spend $1100+ just to look at a pretty box.

[itsplayed]

Can you get yourself to the A: prompt? Also is this a new drive or an exiting one?

[scalez]

Yeah when i boot to dos i get an a: prompt. can't get a prompt on any other drive though.

Everything in the box is brand new except the mobo is refurb.

[itsplayed]

When you get to the A: prompt, can you switch drive designations?

[scalez]

i don't know what "switch drive designations" means, but if i type in b: i get the floppy, same as with a:

c: gets me nothing
d: gets me nothing
.
.
.
z: gets me nothing

[itsplayed]

Did your hard drive come with a utility disk?

[itsplayed]

....Also, if you have quick boot enabled in the Bios, disable it.

[itsplayed]

....Also, if you have quick boot enabled in the Bios, disable it.

[itsplayed]

I'm not sure if this will solve your issue, but you could try clearing the CMOS, Boot directly into the BIOS, reset all BIOS settings, select the CD-Rom as your first boot device, place the WinXP disk in tray, then exit saving changes. As it reboots, look to see if it gives you the 'strike any key to boot from CD' message.

[scalez]

Did your hard drive come with a utility disk?

No but I might be able to find one online. Is that a floppy or a CD? because a cd is not going to help me right now.

....Also, if you have quick boot enabled in the Bios, disable it.

Yeah that's disabled. It was enabled at first, but I disabled it, which didn't seem to make any difference in my case.

I'm not sure if this will solve your issue, but you could try clearing the CMOS, Boot directly into the BIOS, reset all BIOS settings, select the CD-Rom as your first boot device, place the WinXP disk in tray, then exit saving changes. As it reboots, look to see if it gives you the 'strike any key to boot from CD' message.

i don't know from cmos. i'll have to read up on what that even means.

I've been thinking and maybe its a good thing that computers aren't easy to build. Here's why. God designed man and man designed computers. If man had done a better job at designing computers than god had at designing man then man would be superior to god, which would negate several of the world's major religions. People would lose faith all over the world, and losing faith would mean losing inspiration, which means music would start to suck a whole lot, and there would be no reason to have computers to record and create music with.

[itsplayed]

Scalez, At the A: prompt, did you enter the command Setup.exe? I'm assuming you did try to...but had to ask.

[itsplayed]

Scalez, I was thinking that this may be an MBR related issue. When trying to start Windows with your start-up disk that is not for XP. The System could not find the OS related to the MBR. Have you tried to install the OS that is related to the start-up disk? Windows '98 or whatever start-up disk you were using, just to see if that OS would install.

[scalez]

I was hoping I wouldn't have to, but it looks like I have to look into that CMOS stuff.

I tried the utility disk off WD's website. It worked and I got the drive formatted, but booting to DOS it still doesn't recognize a drive there. Also booting with a 98 boot disk, no hard drive there.

The DVDRW drive is recognized in the 98 boot but not the DOS boot. However when I try to run setup off the xp CD, I get "this program can not be run in DOS". And still, using the XP install floppies I made runs and loads all the floppies before it says "Insert the CD labeled Windows XP Home... Press Enter When Ready", i insert the disk and press enter. It obviously can't tell a that disk is there either, or doesn't want to run setup for the same reason the 98 boot doesn't.

Is there someone I can shoot?

Scalez, I was thinking that this may be an MBR related issue. When trying to start Windows with your start-up disk that is not for XP. The System could not find the OS related to the MBR. Have you tried to install the OS that is related to the start-up disk? Windows '98 or whatever start-up disk you were using, just to see if that OS would install.

No, I don't have a 98 install disk. I'll try it if I can get one from someone. For now I'll try the CMOS thing... as soon as I figure out what one is.

[itsplayed]

Use the WD Utility disk to perform a full low level format(write Zeros), then try again to load XP using the CD only.

[Bops2000]

i vaguely remember i used the windows 2000 setup disks when i first set my system up, i did it a few times. I wasn't using sata drives then, I might have formatted a harddrive on another machine first.
You guys probably covered that, as i was to lazy to thum through the whole post.
Also, I kinda remember, I deleted the drivers on Matrox card, if not just pulled the card out untiI I got OS running.. just ideas......

[Bops2000]

.....

Everything in the box is brand new except the mobo is refurb.

Probably the Mobo that I sent sent back 3 months ago!.. bad tease

Last resort, here is what I did. I sent the mobo, and the processor back to manufacturers, as I figured that if mobo dropped, processor dropped.
I tried power supplies, memory configs, harddrives, frustrating as hell.
There is no reason that stuff shouldn't work.
I'd say bite the time frame bullet send the stuff back (call them as you need a rwa no), and see whats up.

..........Well, it turned out that my mobo dropped out of the blue, processor was ok. In the meantime, I bought the same items again as a backup, why ?, because I can Write it off,

[itsplayed]

If all else fails, try running your optical drive as a slave to the hard drive on the Primary IDE port......this may actually work for you and is an easy looksee. Remember to reset the drive in Bios and exit saving changes with the XP disk in the tray.....then look out for the prompt to strike a key to begin the boot from CD sequence.

[scalez]

Use the WD Utility disk to perform a full low level format(write Zeros), then try again to load XP using the CD only.

The utility I'm using is called "Data Lifeguard Tools" and it doesn't have a "write zeroes" option. It has options to format NTFS, FAT32 or FAT16. I chose NTFS.

Trying to boot from CD goes through the normal hardware load screens and then stops with a message:

NTLDR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

This isn't the same as what was happening before the hd was formatted.

[itsplayed]

The Data Lifeguard Tools utility disk does have a low level reformat option...I've used it myself on many occasion. Your getting closer, perform the low level format, then use the Utility disk to setup the drive, reboot into Bios, in main menu re-auto detect the drive, make sure the boot order is CD first, place Win XP CD in tray exit while saving settings, try to install Windows now.

[scalez]

The Data Lifeguard Tools utility disk does have a low level reformat option...

Really? I'm not seeing anything like that. Do you know what it's called and where to find it? I've been through every menu in this data lifeguard program at least 5 times looking specifically for what you're talking about.

[itsplayed]

The utility is called 'Write Zeros to Drive'.

[scalez]

Windows XP is installed! Want to know how I did it? I used a different XP disk. That's it. It booted from CD and installed just like you would expect. Glad I didn't go sending hardware back to manufacturers or anything.

This whole process was made much more stressful because of the fact that my mostly un-backed-up audio drive (a LaCie D2 250GB with about 110GB full of audio) stopped working. I almost sent it to a data recovery shop where I would have dropped probably close to $1000. Luckily i was smart enough to call LaCie support first. They gave me permission to take the drive out of the enclosure (would you believe Lacie drives are nothing more than Western Digital ATA100 Caviar SE's repackaged with firewire and USB ports?). All my data is safe and sound and all it cost me was a 6-pack of newcastle to get inside a friend's computer to recover it.

Right now I'm looking into getting a nice SATA drive to be my main audio drive. Any suggestions?

Thanks again itsplayed for your advice. This war isn't over yet but the major battles have been won.

[charliephogg]

reading this thread has truly scared me

I can now admit this and exhale because of the "happy ending"


glad it's worked out:p

[itsplayed]

Yes, I'm also glad to see you worked it out and I'm not entirely surprised by the fix. Although I have never had this install issue myself, I do recall another thread I read a while back, where in someone else who had this same issue found the same fix. I'm very curious as to why the original Win XP cd would not take. I still believe this is due to improper installation procedures, but cannot verify. Scalez, is there any discernable difference between each of the XP CD's? ie. is one an OEM version and the other retail? I'll certainly put this in my files under possible installation fixes, but would like to know for certain the cause to the original dilemma.

[scalez]

The CD that wouldn't work was a copy of the one that did. I had made a copy of it because the original disc (an OEM copy) is very scratched and I wanted a backup. The reason it wouldn't work was not clear to me until this morning

The problem is, when I copied the disc I didn't just copy the disc, I copied the files on the disc to hard drive and burned a CD with those files, so it didn't have the bootable file system like the original. That's why I got accustomed to not being able to boot from the CD.

Computers are madness.

[itsplayed]

Thanks for clearing that up, I can now rest my brain from trying to understand why XP wouldn't install from CD.