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- Feb 24, 2005
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I am in the process of trying to build a new computer, but I cannot install the OS because of an NTLDR error. I've spend hrs last night trying to figure it out, but no luck, so I am trying here.
The Parts:
Abit IP35 Pro Mobo
Q6600 (Slacr)
G-Skill DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - (x4) 2-GIG sticks (only one installed at the moment until OS is installed, going Vista64 Ultimate when up and running).
EVGA 768 GeForce 8800GTX
PC Power PCU - 610w.
(x2) SATA HDDs (seagate), one 120 GIG (an old one of of mine, wiped and formatted), one brand new, 500 GIG.
(x2) SATA Samsung DVD Burners.
OK, so here's my frustrating mis-adventure in building my PC:
So, I assembled the PC, using only 1 stick of RAM. When I hit the power button, It went made it up to the BIOS interface (so it made it through POST?, the last code on the POST display was "FF". I set up the bios to boot from DVD first, just so I could get the OS up and running. Save the settings, restart, get to the ugly monster truck BIOS screen (tab or del), hit tab:
Boot from disc:
Hit any key to boot from disc: (hit hit hit)
....
NTLDR missing. Hit CTRL, ALT, DEL to restart.
That is the jist of my problem, although I have performed the following variations to try and get around it:
1) Tried another stick of RAM, NTLDR.
2) Disconnected one HDD, and one DVD Burner. NTLDR
3) Tried all of the other remaining combinations of the SATA HDD & DVD Burner. NTLDR.
4) Tried my known working copy of XP (as I was originally trying to install vista). NTLDR.
5) Tried the juggling of HDDs and DVD Burners with the XP CD. NTLDR.
6) Disconnected ALL of the SATA devices, and went to my old computer. I pulled the old IDE HDD w/ XP on it, and the IDE DVD Burner. The DVD Burner results in NTLDR. The HDD asks how I want to boot (in safe mode, etc, and for whatever reason, I cannot get my keyboard to move to the safe mode selection - I tried hitting caps lock, num lock, F lock, with and without the PS/2 to USB adapter, nothing would allow the keyboard to work. NOTE: This keyboard came off of the old computer with the IDE DRIVE! So, the IDE HDD would attempt to boot normally, and would crash in a second.
Tonight, I'm going to pull the CPU in case there is something interfering with it, or it didnt set properly. I'm also going to ask our IT guy today if he has a stick of 240 pin DDR2 ram that I can borrow to try and see if I have incompatible RAM (although the stick I had would always pass the ram test). Another friend is running over another PCIe video card, although I severely doubt that is the issue.
Another friend has a known working Q6600, so I can see if he can run that over tomorrow, just to test that is not the problem either.
After that, it leaves something really stupid, user error, and the MoBo itself is just messed up.
Please please please let me know if you have any ideas, as I would love to get this thing up and running ASAP. Thank you.
The Parts:
Abit IP35 Pro Mobo
Q6600 (Slacr)
G-Skill DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - (x4) 2-GIG sticks (only one installed at the moment until OS is installed, going Vista64 Ultimate when up and running).
EVGA 768 GeForce 8800GTX
PC Power PCU - 610w.
(x2) SATA HDDs (seagate), one 120 GIG (an old one of of mine, wiped and formatted), one brand new, 500 GIG.
(x2) SATA Samsung DVD Burners.
OK, so here's my frustrating mis-adventure in building my PC:
So, I assembled the PC, using only 1 stick of RAM. When I hit the power button, It went made it up to the BIOS interface (so it made it through POST?, the last code on the POST display was "FF". I set up the bios to boot from DVD first, just so I could get the OS up and running. Save the settings, restart, get to the ugly monster truck BIOS screen (tab or del), hit tab:
Boot from disc:
Hit any key to boot from disc: (hit hit hit)
....
NTLDR missing. Hit CTRL, ALT, DEL to restart.
That is the jist of my problem, although I have performed the following variations to try and get around it:
1) Tried another stick of RAM, NTLDR.
2) Disconnected one HDD, and one DVD Burner. NTLDR
3) Tried all of the other remaining combinations of the SATA HDD & DVD Burner. NTLDR.
4) Tried my known working copy of XP (as I was originally trying to install vista). NTLDR.
5) Tried the juggling of HDDs and DVD Burners with the XP CD. NTLDR.
6) Disconnected ALL of the SATA devices, and went to my old computer. I pulled the old IDE HDD w/ XP on it, and the IDE DVD Burner. The DVD Burner results in NTLDR. The HDD asks how I want to boot (in safe mode, etc, and for whatever reason, I cannot get my keyboard to move to the safe mode selection - I tried hitting caps lock, num lock, F lock, with and without the PS/2 to USB adapter, nothing would allow the keyboard to work. NOTE: This keyboard came off of the old computer with the IDE DRIVE! So, the IDE HDD would attempt to boot normally, and would crash in a second.
Tonight, I'm going to pull the CPU in case there is something interfering with it, or it didnt set properly. I'm also going to ask our IT guy today if he has a stick of 240 pin DDR2 ram that I can borrow to try and see if I have incompatible RAM (although the stick I had would always pass the ram test). Another friend is running over another PCIe video card, although I severely doubt that is the issue.
Another friend has a known working Q6600, so I can see if he can run that over tomorrow, just to test that is not the problem either.
After that, it leaves something really stupid, user error, and the MoBo itself is just messed up.
Please please please let me know if you have any ideas, as I would love to get this thing up and running ASAP. Thank you.