HDD problem

[Gametheory]

I'm working on a computer, which my friend purchased and put together.
He's looking to re-install windows .. and after he formatted, this is the error the computer is receiving.

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuarion problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuarion and your hardware reference manuals for additional information."

Here is the computers configuration
Mikeys Comp (https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=4463868&WishListTitle=Mikey)

Just want some general opinions as i get started on this thing, thanks for your help.

[hardc0re]

got this from another forum... hope it helps
1-delete the boot.ini file
2-reboot and boot from win cd
3-go to repair consolle
4-do "bootcfg /add" and not "bootcfg /rebuild"
5-reset the two install to the new boot ini
6-ounce the boo.ini was rebuild enter "fixboot"
7-answer yes to prompt about fixing boot in c:
8-enter exit and reboot
9-select wich install to boot and thats it at least it worked for me

[Gametheory]

I've tried a lot.. and I still can't seem to get anything going here. I'm starting to believe that the HDD may have been destroyed during reformating.

Here is the error I'm getting now, i'm trying to FLASH the mobo -- I was reading on another forum that it could be that it's not detecting the RAID. I can't even flash it, i'm going to try to make another bootable floppy.

Here is the error I'm getting now.

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting PXE ROM.
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

-- i put it other floppy cables and a new RAID cable (if thats what it's called)

:(

[Gametheory]

I tried installing WINDOWS-- hitting F6 when it states right before it wants to insall, if you want to install any third party - or RAID drivers, or something to that nature

I dont have an actual HD-CD or floppy to use at this step...

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n

Going there -- i put "WD2500KS" into its little search thing, have the HDD i own, but I really don't know how to work this -- i dont even know if this will fix it..

i'm going to play around with this as of now, see where it takes me.

EVEN, when i try just putting any floppy in there when it asks for the RAID HDD manufacturs disk -
"Setup could not find a floppy drive on your machine to load OEM drivers from floppy disk" - absolutely amazing, i think im going to have this person purchase another motherboard, even though it seems its an issue with drivers and this stupid RAID.. and bios

Here's the forum im getting some of my ideas from
http://forums.legitreviews.com/about625.html

[unhappy_mage]

I've tried a lot.. and I still can't seem to get anything going here. I'm starting to believe that the HDD may have been destroyed during reformating.
Does it show up in the BIOS when it detects IDE devices?
Here is the error I'm getting now.

PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-MOF: Exiting PXE ROM.
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER
It looks like you have the machine set to boot from network first. Turn that option off and see what happens.

[Gametheory]

Instructions:

1. Power off the system. Insert the SiI 3x12 SATALink controller into an available PCI slot. Connect serial ATA cable(s) between the SiI 3x12 controller and the serial ATA device(s). Power up the system.
2. Put your Windows NT/2000/XP or Windows Server 2003 CD into the CD-ROM/DVD drive, or the NT/2000 boot diskette #1 in the floppy drive if your system cannot boot from the CD.
3. Press F6 for third party SCSI or driver installation at the beginning of text mode installation. Press 's' when setup asks if you want to specify an additional device, and insert the diskette labeled 'Silicon Image SiI 3x12 SATALink Driver Installation Disk' then press 'Enter'. From the menu presented next, select the controller installation process that corresponds to the version of Windows being installed and press 'Enter'.
4. Press 'Enter' again when prompted to continue on with text mode setup.
5. Follow the setup instructions to select your choice for partition and file system.
6. After setup examines your disks, it will copy files from the CD to the hard drive selected above and restart the system. After restart the setup process will resume to finish the installation.
7. Once the operating system installation has completed you can follow the instructions in section 4 to verify controller was installed correctly.

This is for "SIIG Serial ATA Controller Card Driver" under my HDD, for available software to download, not sure how to make this into a bootable disk.

[Gametheory]

Does it show up in the BIOS when it detects IDE devices?

It looks like you have the machine set to boot from network first. Turn that option off and see what happens.

I like your name -- play world of warcraft?-- anyway, it doesn't detect either the FLOPPY, which might be because the thing looks ancient-- nor does it detect the hard-drive -- it only detects the Lite-on cd-ROM i have. I do not have it booting off network, i tried every combination in the world for the boot-up -- that was first thing I did.

[unhappy_mage]

I like your name -- play world of warcraft?--
Nope. The implication is supposed to be referring to "Meddle not in the affairs of wizards, for thou art small and crunchy and good with ketchup." Nobody ever gets it without having it explained :p
anyway, it doesn't detect either the FLOPPY, which might be because the thing looks ancient-- nor does it detect the hard-drive -- it only detects the Lite-on cd-ROM i have. I do not have it booting off network, i tried every combination in the world for the boot-up -- that was first thing I did.
Are you connecting the 2500KS to an onboard controller or an offboard one? You don't have to make the driver into a bootable disk, just extract it to the floppy so there's a .inf file in the root directory.

Do you have another system you could test the drive in to see if it gets detected? That would help narrow down the problem...

[Gametheory]

Well.. i thought I figured out what the problem was. I had another HDD connected w/ the IDE cable, getting the same error. After reading multiple forums, and reading the reviews on Newegg - I thought i had the error pinned. I thought it was a flaw w/ the motherboard, and even though I knew it wasn't BROKEN persay - i was going to just purchase another one.

I decided to get the GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128012).. and to my dismay -- my cousin is telling me he's getting the same HARDWARE ERROR

.. I don't know the extent of it - but now i can only assume it's the CPU.. i don't know.

[Gametheory]

Just tried a new CD-ROM, this thing is almost starting to look like a new computer

Run a system diagnostic utility supplied by your hardware manufacturer. In particular, run a memory check, and check for faulty or mismatched memory. Try changing video adapters.

Disable or remove any newly installed hardware and drivers. Disable or remove any newly installed software.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007F (0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

I dont know if those are Q's or zero's lol...