Problems installing an OS

[p/tBuilder]

Having some probs instaling an OS with my new systems build...

I've done this in list format rather than endless paragraphs to keep this simple.

1. Using onboard VGA I booted OK and went into the BIOS and selected the DVD as the first boot device; hard drive as second boot device.

2. I then powered-down and installed graphics card.

3. Connected monitor to graphics card VGA port and booted OK, then put brand new Windows-7 DVD into DVD drive.

4. Windows-7 started setup procedure - language; kboard setup, etc - but then minor artifacts showing on the display and the OS then just hangs.

5. Thinking that something in the BIOS was not seeing the gfx-card, I then powered-down and reconnected the display to the onboard VGA port.

6. Powered-up again, but nothing showing on the display at all - just blank.

7. Powered-down again, reconnected monitor to gfx-card and everything was OK with the monitor.

8. Attempted to install Win-7 again, but same result as for '4'.

9. Powred-down, then tried to see if Win-XP would work, and low and behold Win-XP started installing OK. I had got to the drive partitioning stage.

10. However, I had selected the 'long install' and it was taking for ever; I mean really slow, so I quit the instalation so as to use the 'quick install'.

Problem I now have is, that I get this message after bootup - 'Error loading operating system...', and then the system just idles/hangs.

This now happens all the time, i.e, I am no longer getting the prompt asking me to select the boot device/drive.

What do I do here. I'm in a real fix Obviously something is now preventing me from loading or installing any OS via the DVD drive.

 

[p/tBuilder]

Thanks everyone for all your help. Just to recap, and so forth...

With just the onboard VGA and no gfx-card installed, booting up and getting the 'select drive to boot from' message was OK, there were no display problems at all.
Booting up and going into the BIOS via 'delete' was OK, again, no display problems of any kind. When in the BIOS I selected the DVD drive as the first boot device and the HDD as the second boot device, then exited BIOS and again no display problems at all.

Powered-down, then installed gfx-card and then connected monitor to card. Powered up and then attempted to install Windows-7 after 'select drive to boot from' message. There were no display problems initially for the first few minutes or so, but display artifacts did start to show when Windows-7 was in the first 'loading files' stages after selecting the language and kboard steps. Then Windows-7 just stalled; nothing happenning. I then powered down after removing the DVD and tried the onboard VGA but nothing was showing at all even though this was OK before installing the gfx-card...

So I then powered up again and tried using Win-XP, and this was working! I had got as far as the partioning stage. Problem was I had selected the 'long install' option which was taking for ever (really slow), so I quit and powered down again before powering up so as to use the 'quick install' option - and that's when I started to get the 'Error loading operating system' message. There were no display problems at all.

I can't connect the new HDD to my old system because my old system does not recognise SATA drives, so this won't work. There must be something in the bIOS I can select, but what?

 

[p/tBuilder]

Try get a Linux boot disc, and format the HDD. Then try and install again; also, try and install with just your on-board VGA port, then once the OS is installed, put the graphics card back in and then install the drivers.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/

EDIT: If you can, on boot, try and force it to boot from the DVD Drive. I'm not sure if all motherboards have this option, and I think the key for it varies.

You mean a linux boot DVD/CD ROM? I could, but I know nothing about Linux. But I will try with just the onboard VGA and the gfx-card removed, that might work...

 

[p/tBuilder]

....It sounds like when you cancelled the install you corrupted it and it's still trying to load in the half installed version.

Did you try installing windows with the GPU not connected at all?

Yep, I think that's exactly what happened, but is there a way of cancelling the half installed OS through the BIOS? I can't think of anything...

 

[p/tBuilder]

I've had this problem with a failing or failing HDDs.

If you can, download the HDD diagnostics tool from the manufacturers website. This is normally an ISO to create bootable disk. Change the BIOS to boot from the optical device as Tingle suggests above. Run a full diagnostic scan.. If it shows any problems, then that's your problem otherwise the problem lays elsewhere.

Next check your is your PSU is functioning as expected. Use my guide here:
http://www.huddysworld.co.uk/index....rking&catid=40:techie-talk-hardware&Itemid=72

If your PSU is ok, then check your RAM modules by using MEMTEST86+.

Check the manufacturers website for recommended voltage and timings etc.
Try running your system with one stick of RAM at a time and try that stick in different slots. If the RAM stick fails in all slots, then its almost certainly a RAM problem. If the working RAM stick works in one slot but not another, then this is looking at a memory controller problem. This could be CPU or Motherboard depending on the platform.

There was an earlier memory problem with just the onboard VGA two days ago... Basically, I tried swapping the two modules around but still display artifacts. Then I tried just one module and everthing was fine for ten minutes or more. Then I tried just the other module on its own, but again I had display problems, but with the other good module I had no further display problems of any kind untill I tried installing Windows-7 via the gfx-card... The memory mfr G.Skill has agreed to replace the faulty RAM

 

[p/tBuilder]

What is the spec of this pc?

Why not install W7 using onboard gpu and the one stick of working ram, then try troubleshooting the gfx card.

Spec is Asus AMD Socket AM3 DDR3 m'board; AMD Athlon II x2 CPU; 4GB DDR G.Skill RAM (the one good stick); WD 500GB cav-blue HDD.

OK, I uninstalled the gfx-card and then with the onboard VGA managed to start Win-7 which was initially OK but then display artifacts resulted and the system froze. Tried again, but same result even though generally when booting up, going into BIOS I have no problems with the onboard VGA, so very confused...

I then tried Win-XP using the 'quick' partition setup and install option several times. During these several times a message saying 'xyz process/file could not be copied' was displayed, then instalation process carried on and everything seemed OK, but then everything froze although there were no display artifacts at all.
I tried again, and got as far as the 'installing windows/devices' stage, all was OK, but then system freezes again this time with artifacts. I retried several times but again either freezing up with artifacts or without artifacts, and on one occasion total display artifacts (v.bad ones).
A bit later on, after a mini break, I then managed to boot from the DVD again with Win-XP and this time selected the 'long format' option. This took over an hour during which time there were no display problems at all! Gets to 'copying of files' stage and initially no artifacts again, but then a few minutes later more artifacts and the system freezes.

At this point I called it a day and gave up...

 

[p/tBuilder]

pull the gfx, pull the power cable and pop the mobo battery for a couple of minutes. sounds like a bios throwing a bit of a mental. reconnect it all, don't bother with the onboard at all and try reinstalling

I think the m'board is doing that as well, but never thought of pulling the battery, so I'll try that later and let you know...

 

[p/tBuilder]

Why don't you just install the graphics card in the first place?, you know, get youre pc build set up and ready?.

In the BIOS remember to make sure the correct setting is applied and saved.

If you are going to use the graphics card then disable the onboard vga.

Is your graphics card PCI or PCI-Express?.

Because I haven't yet installed an OS and I need to do that before I can install the m'board drivers, the gfx-card itself and then the gfx-card drivers... There is nothing in the BIOS, at least not obvious, that allows me to disable the onboard VGA so I assume that the m'board switches automatically according to whether a gfx-card is installed or not. The gfx-card is a PCI-E one by MSi, an R5450 1GB DDR3.

I'm sure it's partly a memory issue, which I'm RMA'ing shortly... Aside from the memory, I haven't a clue anymore what's going on

 

[p/tBuilder]

So, have you actually tried to install Windows without using your GFX card, and just using your on-board graphics?

Yes, that's what I've been saying. So anybody got any ideas?

 

[p/tBuilder]

I understand what you're saying i just don't quite understand why you would opt for the onboard vga if you have a much better PCI-E Graphics Card.


What i would do is take everything apart, remove the motherboard battery for a few minutes, place it back in and start a fresh build using the components you have, make sure all parts fit snug and tight into their correct slots, make sure power is sufficient and connected ok. Check bios for correct settings.

I once had windows xp freeze and the installation would go no further, it turned out to be faulty ram/ memory.

Ah, OK... Well I connected to the onboard VGA first, because I wanted to check that the basic system was working OK before installing the OS, m'board drivers, gfx-card and gfx-card drivers. Seemed to make sense to me - and this is how I've done builds before, but never had these problems.

Anyway, I've since been talking to the m'board mfr and they suggest clearing the CMOS by using the jumper which is the same I think as popping the 12V battery.

The PSU is an Antec 650W modular so enough power, and all connections are very snug, etc.

 

[p/tBuilder]

Wonder if it's a power issue?

If every thing is on auto in bios, set correct volts for cpu and ram maually.

Oh and what is the exact spec (model numbers), also what psu are you using?

OK, I'll check the volts in the BIOS for CPU & RAM.

The exact spec is:-

M'board: ASUS M4N68T-M for AMD socket AM3 for Phenom/AthlonII & Sempron. Accepts upto 8GB DDR3 RAM unbuffered.
(supports simultaneous 64-bit and 32-bit)
CPU: Athlon II x2 3.0GHz 2MB cache (can't find voltage figure...)
RAM: G.Skill 2x4GB 1600 O.C DDR3 @ 1.25V
HDD: WDigital 500GB caviar-blue 7500 RPM SATA
ODD: LiteOn DVD-RW SATA
GfX: MSi R5450 1GB DDR3
PSU: Antec 650W hybrid/modular.

The PSU auto switches; 9A @ 115V & 4.5A @ 230V. There's no manual selecter.

 

[p/tBuilder]

What is the volts for the ram actually getting, they may be over powered?

Is it the G.SKILL sniper kit?

If so, manually put them at 1.25V.

Yep it's the sniper kit, so should I clear the CMOS as well as setting them to 1.25V later?

 

[p/tBuilder]

Update on where I am now I disconnected the PC from the power cable, disconnected all cables, etc, etc, from the m'board - checked, and double-checked that there was no 'completed circuit' of any kind.

I then took out the CMOS battery using a plastic implement and then pushed the PSU switch to the ON posiiton to make sure that all current was discharged (then pushed the switch back to OFF) - waited at least another minute or more and then replaced the battery. So, I had now cleared the CMOS... I then reconnected all leads, connectors, etc, making sure that all connections were not lose, etc, before replacing the side panel and reconnecting the power lead.

I then booted up and a 'no kboard' message flashed-up for a split second before the speaker bleeped twice, followed by the message 'NTLDR is missing - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.' This did nothing! So I powered down.

I then realised this was of course because USB was disabled because of the new default BIOS settings, so I connected PS2 adapters to the kboard/mouse and then connected both to the PS2 ports. Powered-up again, and this time it booted OK and there were no display artifacts of any kind (onboard VGA being used).

Then the message 'Enter setup to recover BIOS settings' followed by 'F1 to Run SETUP' and 'F2 to load default values. I selected F1, but again got the message 'NTLDR is missing - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.' Tried this again, but the system hangs, so I pressed the reset switch and it booted again and I started to press the delete key. BIOS comes up OK and again no display artifacts.

My problem is, that this message ''NTLDR is missing - Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart' keeps comming up, and also in the BIOS I can't find anything that tells me what the CPU and RAM voltage is, never mind being able to change it if needed; only overclock voltage figures, but nothing that tells me the basic or 'mean' operating voltage! The boot order is also set to the right order, but I don't really know how to proceed here. Is it the default values I need, or the optimized default values?? What should I be doing now?