Windows Installing Troubles

BFCTom · 8 Jul 2006 at 16:27

I tried to format my PC and reinstall windows and I keep getting a BSOD during the setup. This happens with various versions of Windows (98-XP Pro), I just can't get any to install.

I've even bought a new HDD because I thought that maybe the problem, but the same thing happened.

Any ideas what I could do to get passed this?

I was using an XP and 2000 Bootable CD btw.

Sir Random · 8 Jul 2006 at 17:52

Sounds like a ram problem.

Try running memtest86 from a floppy:
http://www.memtest86.com/

You could try installing with just one stick of ram. If it fails, try the other one (assuming you have 2 sticks)

noxidjkram@hotm · 8 Jul 2006 at 19:55

I'd be checking for PSU faults first.

M

cobxx · 9 Jul 2006 at 00:37

It cold even be some kind of stupid thing like a grounding problem, give your case a good shake and see if anythings loose. Similar thing happened to a mate...turned out his NB heatsink fell off and was shorting his graphics card :eek:

Nutbusta · 9 Jul 2006 at 08:56

cobxx said:
It cold even be some kind of stupid thing like a grounding problem, give your case a good shake and see if anythings loose. Similar thing happened to a mate...turned out his NB heatsink fell off and was shorting his graphics card

Ouch that could have been painful, especially with the price of top **** modern boards :eek:

jellybeard999 · 9 Jul 2006 at 09:27

noxidjkram@hotm said:
I'd be checking for PSU faults first.

M

why ?

BSOD screams memory tbh

Nutbusta · 9 Jul 2006 at 09:38

jellybeard999 said:
why ?

BSOD screams memory tbh

Good point. Winstal isn't the most demanding task as there's no graphics and systyem is mostly waiting for optical drive.

BFCTom · 9 Jul 2006 at 13:32

I tried with 1 stick of RAM and now I can get passed the BSOD but Windows can't detect my Hard Drive

cobxx · 9 Jul 2006 at 13:47

Nutbusta said:
Ouch that could have been painful, especially with the price of top **** modern boards

Somehow nothing was permanantly damaged, god knows how!

Hmm, it could be some problem with the MB if the SATA controller isn't functioning correctly and if you can't use dual channel ram. Try swapping the sticks over to make sure both sticks work on their own.

Seems very odd though that the problems just happened once you reformatted though.

Nutbusta · 9 Jul 2006 at 13:48

In that case mate, I'd try the other.

If your running the defecting stick now then that could be why your hitting barriers even sooner.

masterk · 9 Jul 2006 at 13:56

Do you have the SATA drivers?

BFCTom · 9 Jul 2006 at 14:01

Both sticks of RAM get to the "Windows can't detect any Hard Drive" stage when they are used on their own. Only when they're together do I get a BSOD during the setup.

I didn't think any drivers needed to be loaded for Windows XP setup? Maybe I need to load them from a floppy at the begining? I didn't get a disk with the Hard Drive or anything, where could I get them?

Nutbusta · 9 Jul 2006 at 16:04

Yeah, we're presuming that when you get the BSOD it's before it looks for a HD?

BFCTom · 9 Jul 2006 at 17:43

Right, I think I've sorted it. I'm running XP on it now fine, I had to swap the HDD with a new one and take one of the RAM sticks out.

The RAM is definitly the main problem, it's totally nackered. If I put it in now Windows will report kernal errors and stuff

Anyway, looks like I've sorted it for now. Thanks for the help guys