prepare to be stumped!!!

[PLow]

Ok, I am building a new PC:
Thinderbird 1.1
Abit KT7A
256Mb Micron
40Gb Maxtor Hard drive
Pioneer 16X DVD
Geforce 2
Heres the problem: Everything boots, detects fine and temp in A-OK (46*C). But I cant get Windows installed! I have 98 and ME, neither will install. Sometimes I get to scan disk and it crashes...Putting little smily faces, and other characters in random places. Sometimes, windows says it detects errors on the drive, even after a fresh fdisk and format. I ran the Maxtor PowerMax Diagnostic and the drive checked out ok! I tried swapping RAM..thats not the problem. I tried swapping out with a Western D. 13Gb...Mobo didnt even recognize it! AHHH, someone help before I jump out my window!!! Do I have a bad Mobo, Processor, bios, weasel pin, troposcan, or hard drive ( the HD is an RMA'ed pert because the first one was bad, not passing any of the diagnostic tools, however, this one passes them all!) Thanks for all the help in advance, it is REALLY appreciated!

 

[DarkMajiq]

If it won't recognize that WD 13GB drive, maybe there's a problem with the motherboard.

 

[enginjon]

yeah if that 13 GB drive works in another copmuter, you may have a bad IDE controller. Try installing the drive into the secondary controller, and see if that works. Then if it works in one controller and not the other, RMA the board

 

[osage]

or try a different IDE cable, I about went crazy a while back cause a IDE cable went to hell for no reason. Thought the HDD had crapped out.

 

[enginjon]

very good idea, hadn't thought to mention that, definetely try a different IDE cable. first on the same IDE channel (if it works yah!) if not try the different cble in the secondary channel.

 

[PLow]

Thanks guys. I tried all that before..but didnt work. I appreciate your help...any other suggestions????

 

[CichliSuite]

That random character thing with obscure rror displays sounds like a heat problem. I'v ehad that happen as well. Those sort of compeltely off -the-wall and inconsistent errors usually mean the chip is not stable.

 

[SilverBack]

Your HD has a boot sector virus. See if you can run a virus scanner on the drive, either by using another system or from a bootable cd.

 

[Mage]

Why would it be a boot sector virus if he tried 2 different hds? Do you mean to say he has boot sector virii on both?

I think the motherboard's screwy. I've heard plenty of people complain about Abit boards either doing crack-addled crazy stuff like this or working beautifully.

 

[stuartb]

Yeah I too think heat can do those sorta random things to a PC...possibly

 

[smp]

I don't know.. he said it was 46 right.. and he was able to run maxblast and stuff without a hitch.. My bet is on your mobo.. if he can do stuff like format, maxblast and so on.. it would appear that the chip is doing it's job.. and mine is running at a cool 59 C, without any stability loss.. so it's not heat.. I would say mobo.. hdd can be ruled out too (unless you got TWO bad ones, in which case you are super unlucky, go away ) .. hope you figure it out.. it still might be something else.. put it on ata66.. but you said you tried the secondary ports eh.. I don't know.

 

[Durron]

LOL

Sorry i just couldn't help Silverback's response. Sounds so much like when customers come to me and say that "such and such tech support said I had a virus"

Okay i'm done now, I suggest the IDE Cable also, otherwise most like motherboard problem

 

[Mandlf]

This may sound odd, but you may also want to try setting your memory slower. I has similar problems installing Windows (98SE and 2000.) Tried from HD and from CD. Swapped everything 1 at a time. Turned out my CAS 2 PC133 set to fastest settings was the culprit. I tuned it down and installed fine. Once Win 98 was installed I put everything back to fastest settings and it's very stable.

 

[mrchan]

in dos try typing 'setup /i' or 'setup /is' one of those is supposed to tell ME to ignore the sandisk, forget which. it worked for one of my old drives that was going bad.

 

[PLow]

Thanks guys! But I tried everything..but nothing worked. I tihk I have a bum mobo. If anyone can think of anything else, Im listening! Thanks again!

 

[jj1492]

Did you reset the Master Boot Record? Instead of typing fdisk to run the partition utility, type fdisk /mbr.

 

[PLow]

OK, out of a last ditch effort, I ripped out MY hard drive and plugged it in. What we should have seen is windows boot and notice new hardware, and start searching for drivers. Well it got to the windows bootup screen and froze (WinMe). I'm starting to think I got a bad mobo with a bad IDE controller, or faulty connection somewhere on the mobo. What do you think?

 

[huesmann]

I had the same experience as Mandlf.

 

[006agent]

pull everything from the board but ram, hdd, and vid card. now boot.

if it boots that far you don't have a prob.

put your cdrom on ide2 make it master
put your hdd on ide1 make it slave.

now boot with the win98 cd in your cdrom.

(make sure your cdrom is set as boot device 1st)

if it doesn't boot from there it is a heat issue. reseat your heatsink. (if you post 46c at startup, you are prob hitting 55-60 after your boot) use thermal radioshack crap if need be.)

 

[Pyro]

try and see if linux boots up.