New build issue

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 14:10

Hi, I have just upgraded my PC and can't load windows xp, it will copy all the files across ok, restart and begin then install and then just switch off, this just repeats over and over again.

Spec is;

Gigabyte DS3R mobo
Intel Q6600
2GB ram (4x512MB)
XFX 8800GTS 320MB
Seagate 500GB HD
NEC IDE DVD-RW

I have tried subsituting the HD, PSU, Mobo, Ram, XP discs.
CPU will prime ok if I use it on ultimate boot cd, also I can't boot from a linux boot disc.

Any suggestions?

Admiral Huddy · 11 Oct 2007 at 15:22

Once the install has finished, it will reboot.. If you have still got the XP disk in the drive it will think it's doing the install again.. Take the disk out AFTER the install.

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 15:39

Thanks, but that's not the problem, the computer reboots after copying all the files from the CD to the HD, reboots, and boots the HD and starts the installation but then reboots whilst installing.

Admiral Huddy · 11 Oct 2007 at 15:42

Sounds like you might need to check the voltages.. Have you got all the connections from the PSU secure? What PSU are you using?

mejinks · 11 Oct 2007 at 15:48

what memory are you using? Sounds like you might need to up the voltage a tad.

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:04

PSU is all plugged in correctly, and I have tried another PSU to no avail.
I have also tried underclocking the FSB and overvolting the memory, but no difference.

Admiral Huddy · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:18

Could be faulty HD.. See if Seagate provide a disk diagnotic tool. Failing that, get into the system using a boot disk and run CHKDSK /f

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:20

Have tried a Maxtor HD, and a Linux boot disk, same problem.

Admiral Huddy · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:26

Must be a problem with the mobo then .. It can't be anything else really. Make sure you have replaced the cables fro the mobo to the HDDs just to make sure it's not them.

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:32

I have RMA'd the mobo, and the replacement does the same thing!

Admiral Huddy · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:50

Doesn't leave much.. have you run memtest on the memory? 'm clutching now... Take out of the machine anything you can get away with ..

Have you tried a dif CD/DVD drive..

I still can't help thinking PSU.. It just seems that as soon as there is a load and it can't handle it.. but you've said you swapped it. ???

What PSUs have you used?

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 16:57

It's doing my head in, built a few PCs before, never had any trouble like this.

I've tried different DVD drives, IDE and SATA ones.
PC has only bare essentials connected, CPU, 1 x 512 Ram, 1 x HD, 1 x DVD, no usb devices connected.

I have tried a Hiper 530W PSU and a 700W PSU.
No matter what I do, same problem persists.

davidwilson666 · 11 Oct 2007 at 19:27

Has anyone got any other suggestions?

hohum · 11 Oct 2007 at 23:55

Set your hard drive to use legacy IDE mode in BIOS options (sata port 0-3 native mode = disabled), not native IDE (although in my experience with a Vista install it'll refuse to install when set to native anyway, claiming it would be unbootable). Also, if the DS3R has an option for HPET support, try disabling it (high precision event timer is not supported in XP).

mejinks · 12 Oct 2007 at 01:20

if you hit f8 on bootup and select to have the bootup logged to bootlog.txt, can you post the results here. It may be something really silly.

davidwilson666 · 14 Oct 2007 at 12:29

I have tried disabling HPET, trying all the combinations of IDE/SATA settings, and made no difference.

If I select "enable bootlogging", no bootlog file is saved.

I have tried to run Whax on the system, but I get a message halfway through loading "livecd data canot be found"

davidwilson666 · 14 Oct 2007 at 17:40

I tried loading knoppix and it crashes when trying to autodetect hardware.

My PC can load Bart PE/UBCD4win ok, but crashes if I run wincpuid, also CPU-Z only says I have 1 core.