Help Installing XP Pro

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Psyc

n00b
Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
32
I've tried several times to install XP Pro on my new machine that I built.
At first everything seemed to go smoothly, but then I got a BSOD.
So I manually rebooted and tried the installation again; another BSOD.
I did it one more time and it got to the Setup is starting windows message. So I figured it take a while and walked away. I come back a few minutes later and the screen is red.



I retried a few more times and again red screen. It would freeze when it would get to the red screen of course so I'd try again by manually rebooting.

I started thinking maybe it was the hard drive having problems. So I went to the Western Digital site and downloaded some drivers and put them on a floppy. I tried the F6 during the installation to manually install the drivers and it seemed to work but then when it gets to the Setup is starting windows I get a BSOD.



Am I supposed to format my new SATA WD HDD? If so, how? I bought it OEM from Newegg so I definately didn't get any software with it.

Edit:
Here are my specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans Socket AM2 Processor
MSI K9N SLI Platinum Socket AM2 nForce 590 ATX Motherboard
Diablo Silver Chrome UL ATX 450 watt PSU
XFX Geforce 7600GT 256MB PCI Express x16
Western Digital Caviar SE 160GB WD1600JS 7200 RPM SATA HDD
OCZ Platinum 1GB DDR2 800

 
Seems like memory:
stpvq5.jpg
 
Ahh, ok. Could it be that I have to have 2 modules in? I was kinda trying to avoid buying 2 sticks. My paypal balance is dry.

If it's faulty ram, then I guess I'm going to have to RMA it.

I'll post back later with the results.
 












So, does this mean it's FUBARed or do I need to buy another one to pair it up with?
 
Psyc said:
So, does this mean it's FUBARed or do I need to buy another one to pair it up with?
Click to expand...

I would first try re-installing the memory, and make sure it is in a slot that your MOBO manual says to use for one stick.
 
Try taking the memory out and reinstalling it first. You don't have to have 2 sticks to run. Do you have it in the correct slot for a single stick?
If it's bad you don't want to get more to use with it, you want to get memory to replace it. ;)
 
Well, the reason I was thinking I needed 2 sticks was because the manual only shows me the rules for ram for 2 sticks.

I checked the manual again and I realized that the first stick is supposed to go in the 3rd slot. Seemed kinda weird to me. I had it in the 1st slot.

I just tried the installation again and it's partitioning my drive. I hope this is a sign that the installation will go through smoothly.
 
Argh!
It gets to the Setup is copying files stage and I get a bunch of BSODs.
It also tells me that it can't copy some files. I press enter to retry and some install but I have to skip others. I checked the ram again with memtest and it's doing fine.

I keep getting
STOP: 0x0000008E
STOP:0x00000050
STOP: 0x000000D1

Now what? :(
 
That is definitely bad RAM.

Did you use proper ESD handling? Did you lay this stick of RAM on the carpet or on your bed?
 
No, no, no. It came straight out of the package and into the mobo and there is no carpet around me. I'm sitting in an all wood floor store and everything is on a work bench. No static around.

If it's bad, why is it not showing any errors in memtest? Should I just send it back to newegg for a replacement?
 
Psyc said:
If it's bad, why is it not showing any errors in memtest? Should I just send it back to newegg for a replacement?
Click to expand...

it is showing errors in memtest.... your screen shots are proof... one of them says you have 13357 errors
 
That was before I moved it to the right slot. Once I moved it to the correct one, the tests showed no errors.

I just googled up "problems with OCZ DDR2" and found these threads:
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?p=178735
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22133

I also read this in one of the Newegg reviews:
"Sending it back to Newegg tomorrow. Purchased it with a brand new system, and no matter what I did, I couldn't get Win XP to install. Ran Memtest86 and came back with errors. First experience I've had with recieveing bad hardware from Newegg. Hopefully the next stick I get works better."

So, I guess I'm not the only one with this problem.

The threads above suggest upgrading the bios on my mobo. I downloaded the necessary drivers, but how do I go about upgrading the bios?
 
Psyc said:
The threads above suggest upgrading the bios on my mobo. I downloaded the necessary drivers, but how do I go about upgrading the bios?
Click to expand...

The information you are looking for is in the MSI motherboard manual (RAM placment and BIOS upgrade). Typically a BIOS update would utilize a floppy disk, optical media or USB drive (limited to the latest mobos). A couple of motherboard manufacturers offer BIOS update via ethernet (LIVE update); again this would be in the manual.

Good luck.
 
I just read the whole manual and the only method of upgrading the BIOS is by the Live Method you described.

I can't really do it that way if I can't install XP in the first place. :(
 
I decided to further read the bleedingedge forums. Someone suggested to someone else to up the some voltage settings. So I did and now I'm in the GUI part of the installation.

FINALLY!
 
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