OS Won't Install

[PieOPah]

Recently I bought a new motherboard (ECS KV2 Extreme), a new processor (AMD 64 3000+) and a 512Mb stick of RAM.

After installing everything, I attempted to install XP. On the initial boot, when I finally got to the choice of 'repair' or 'setup', I pressed enter to setup and was asked to wait. I waited and nothing appeared to happen.

I have done a variety of tests, including trying a repair, trying to install win 2k and trying to install NT4. I have also tried different IDE slots for the HDD and DVD ROM (swapping them round) and have tried alternative HDD's. All give me the same problem.

The closest amount of success was when I tried NT4. This allowed me to format the HDD and copied across the setup files. However, the problem began there after the reboot. Once the checkdisk had run my system rebooted itself.

I have called the shop where I bought the motherboard and they have suggested that there is some virus protection or something similar on BIOS. I have checked and cannot find any BIOS protection that would stop anything being written to it.

It was suggested that the reason that NT4 got as far as it did was due to it writing to the HDD rather than to BIOS.

Does anybody know what BIOS changes I would need to make to resolve this problem?

I am getting desperate so all help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[paparazi]

Memory faults are common on new builds and your fault profile follows typical bad memory symptoms.
Also is this a new or used hard drive? (second most likely culprit)
Have you tried a differant rom drive? is your Windows disk marked?
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[garebo]

There is a virus protection in the bios, its either enabled or disabled, so you have to make sure its disabled.
If you look around thoroughly you will find it.
Before that though i sugggest you go to the setting that allows you to load the basic setup. It may say something like minimum or basic, or default settings, thats the one, save that one but go back and find the one that mentions the virus protection and disable that and then save and exit.
In the end, even if you have to go into the bios twice to do it, make sure you have set the bios to "default, minimum" and also the virus protection to "disabled"
These 2 settings are there for sure, you just have to keep looking but they are there.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[garebo]

Also make sure the "legacy" setting is enabled if you are using any ps2 items like keyboard and mouse, and make sure usb is enabled if using any usb keyboard or mouse.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[PieOPah]

Hi, thanks for the tips, will have a look into this when I get home.

The HDD I am using is from my exisiting setup which was working perfectly before connecting it the current motherboard.

The RAM is brand new (possibly faulty, but I don't believe this is the issue).

I have searched through my BIOS and have double checked the manual which has all the BIOS menu pages, but I am unable to find anything that relates to Virus Protection

It has been suggested that I attempt to FDisk my HDD and reattempt the install. Will also be trying that (after I have hunted down this Bios Virus Protection again!)

Will let you know how things go!

Thanks

 

[PieOPah]

Oh and I am using a USB keyboard/Mouse and these are working with no problems, so the USB settings must be enabled....

 

[garebo]

If the usb items are working then you are right about the settings.
However, your statement suggests you havent seen that setting in the bios either.
So can i suggest you go slow, take your time, and go thru each and every main setting listed in your bios, one at a time? That way you will find the virus setting and you will at least see the usb setting, even though it seems to be set to on as usb is working.
Maybe you can tell us what bios you are using and which version. One of us will be running the exact same one and if you still have probs finding the right setting then we can direct you better.


Good advice + great people = tek-tips

 

[mikeguava]

Not sure about the features on the motherboard - does it have an onboard IDE Raid controler or any other special IDE controlers? If so and it is enabled you might not be able to install an OS without having the driver installed first ( and an array defined). If so disable the raid function to IDE and you should be fine.

Mike

 

[traycee]

Don't be to sure that it isn't one of the memory sticks. I had the exact same problem, new everything including the memory. And it was quality memory. Turned out one of the sticks was faulty. I'd say it would be worth trying with just one stick of memory at a time and see if Windows XP will load. If it doesn't with the first stick. Then try the same with the second stick. Oh, by the way. I rma'd the memory, twin sticks, so both had to go back and unbelievable as it was to me...the second package contained a faulty stick,too. Third time was a charm though. Ironic, since I've almost never run into a bad stick before and then I get two in a row.

 

[PieOPah]

Okay, the current situation is now this -

I have deleted all partitions on my HDD using FDisk and then I formatted the drive. Once this was done I attempted to reinstall both win 2k and XP. This has resulted in the same problem (this was advised to me by the helpdesk of the place I bought the hardware from).

Looking through the BIOS yet again, I finally managed to notice something regarding Virus Protection.

Advanced BIOS Features (Description - Virus Protection, Boot Devices.......)

With this, I was hopefull in finding something, but am still at a loss

The options are -

************************************************************
ATA 66/100 IDE Cable Msg. [Enabled]
> Hard Disk Boot Priority [Press Enter] (Sub Menu)
Quick Power On Self Test [Enabled]
First Boot Device [Floppy]
Second Boot Device [Hard Disk]
Third Boot Device [CDROM]
Boot Other Device [Enabled]
Swap Floppy Drive [Disabled]
Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disbaled]
Boot Up NumLock Status [On]
Typematice Rate Setting [Disabled]
X Typematic Rate (Chars/Sec0 6
X Typematic Delay (Msec) 250
Security Option [Setup]
APIC Mode [Enabled]
HDD S.M.A.R.T. Capability [Disabled]
Video BIOS Shadow [Enabled]
Smaill Logo(EPA) Show [Disbaled]
************************************************************

Security Option is only for setting the password protection requirement if installed.

There is nothing here that I can see that has anything to do with Virus Protection

In light of this, I have removed everything from my case and reassembled my original motherboard and setup. I am using the same stick of RAM as I was with my new motherboard.

I have successfully been able to install XP using my old motherboard. This would indicate the following -

There is no problem with the HDD
There is no problem with the RAM
There is potentially a setting that needs to be changed on the new motherboard
There is potentially a problem with the new motherboard
There is potentially a problem with the new processor

The biggest somebody else had asked me what version of BIOS I am running. Unfortunately, this screen flicks past me so quickly, I can barely register an image (I get a flash of blue in the image but not enough to make out anything of what it actually is). Most of the time this flicks past so quickly that I don't even get a chance to see anything.

So, my computer is currently running XP with my old mother board installed however, I would still like to get the new motherboard working.

Thanks for the advise so far....

 

[PieOPah]

Oh, those BIOS settings are all default, not what I have set them to!

 

[PieOPah]

Checked through the manual. I don't know versions or anything, but my current BIOS is Phoenix - Award BIOS.

Hope this helps.....

 

[paul172]

Goto the motherboard manufacturers website, they should have BIOS updates for your board there.