Abit NF7-S drive problems - please help!

[odh]

My working Abit system has reached the stage where I can boot up but not find my 2000 installation. I can see all of my drives but get an unable to find nt\config\system-type message or a disk i/o error in safe mode.

I've ran chkdsk /r on both my OS SATA drive and my IDE drive running through SATA converter. I'm unable to repair my windows installation and unable to complete a fresh installation - reach the stage where installer tries to copy files from cd (or floppy if using via 3rd party SATA) and is unable to complete.

I've tested my IDE drive in a good PC and it works fine. I've tested a good OS IDE drive in my bad PC and can't get it to detect it AT ALL. I haven't tested my OS SATA drive in the good pc because it doesn't have SATA but I suspect it may be ok i.e. if I'm getting drive problems with SATA, IDE and floppy drives but at least 1 of which works ok with other pc...

My current thinking is that it's either the motherboard or the power supply. I've not ran FIXBOOT or FIXMBR on any of the drives and I've not tried using an XP recovery console (drive checking/fixing options look more comprehensive?) - the warning message I get saying non-standard or corrupted drives scared me too much to continue - is this warning because of SATA? Should I carry out one or both of these FIXs?

I've checked and re-checked all connections, the mboard seems fine in all other ways, I'm confused by that one good login I got and I'm not sure whether to just buy a motherboard or continue testing: try different power supply, try SATA drive in good PC, try XP recovery on bad PC, continue checking/fixing drives...

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks

odh

 

[odh]

Thanks for your reply FatRakoon. My description of problem's a little confusing - trying to mix what I've done with what I've concluded in as concise a post as possible. Not very successful

Only using my IDE drive through the SATA converter because it's a legacy drive that I still use and it frees my IDE for my two DVDs to run as Masters - not necessary? I intend to replace it with another matched SATA drive soon anyway.

I've been unable to install 2000 on my IDE drive running on the IDE channel. Installtion fails at the actual copying of files from CD to drive - unable to find/copy file. This happens despite 2000 checking disc etc. Looking at the drive on a good PC I noticed that each of the installation folders and subfolders are there (i.e. 2000, W2K) for each attempt, but no files in any of the folders. 2000 manages to create folders but not to copy files from cd.

So, although I have had problems using the SI floppy to get my SATA drivers loaded - intermittent floppy failures - this may be because of my drive (old drive connected but not installed in case) or age/condition of floppy itself.

I hope this helps clear up any gaps/inaccuracies. Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate the support - got a bid for a replacement NF7-S on the go and not sure whether I've been bit hasty!

odh (he)