Problems formatting HDD w/ SN95G5

[MicroEngineer]

Well just got a new Shuttle SN95G5 and it is giving me some fits. First here's the system configuration:

AMD64 3200+
Dual DDR 2x512 Corsair PC3200XLPT
XFX 6600GT 128mb
NEC ND-3500A

Now the trouble comes when trying to format the hard disks with a new WinXP pro install. I've tried BOTH SATA and UltraATA HDD's (74GB Raptor, 200GB Seagate) and with both drives the system hangs at 0% of the partition format when installing on the brand new drives. I know that both drives work (tested in other PC's) and I've exhausted just about all the BIOS settings possible. Tried the SATA on the raid controller, used the floppy to install the RAID/Storage drivers etc. and I am at a loss.

The darn thing just will NOT format the HDD's no matter what I try.

Anybody have any insight?

Thanks in advance

 

[jbass]

sounds like an RMA to me.. mine worked with both a 30gig WD and 200gig maxtor first time.

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: MicroEngineer
Well just got a new Shuttle SN95G5 and it is giving me some fits. First here's the system configuration:

AMD64 3200+
Dual DDR 2x512 Corsair PC3200XLPT
XFX 6600GT 128mb
NEC ND-3500A

Now the trouble comes when trying to format the hard disks with a new WinXP pro install. I've tried BOTH SATA and UltraATA HDD's (74GB Raptor, 200GB Seagate) and with both drives the system hangs at 0% of the partition format when installing on the brand new drives. I know that both drives work (tested in other PC's) and I've exhausted just about all the BIOS settings possible. Tried the SATA on the raid controller, used the floppy to install the RAID/Storage drivers etc. and I am at a loss.

The darn thing just will NOT format the HDD's no matter what I try.

Anybody have any insight?

Thanks in advance

i'm assuming you are the dude who wrote the last review on newegg for the sn95g5? lol.

 

[MicroEngineer]

yup

 

[Ripvanwinkle]

Well dude Im right now at 98% formatted, long, with almost same parts and Im
installing 64 beta 1218 from scratch. --Its done now and humping in the OS.


AMD64 3000+
Dual DDR 2x512 OCZ PC3200EL
XFX 6600GT 128mb
NEC ND-3500A

 

[superspacey]

actually, did you change your voltages?

which bios are you using? goto www.sfftech.com

there is lots of info about it on their forums. but to sum it up, the bios undervolts. you need to set everything higher to achieve stability.

cpu: 1.55v (really 1.5v)
ram: 2.7 or 2.8v
agp: 1.6v (i got away without it - others did it anyway)
chipset: 1.7v

you'll find that without enough voltage weird stuff like this happens. i couldn't get xp to install either until i did this. also flash your bios asap. you have a winchester right? i think i flashed to the 'M' bios in DOS before i installed XP.

 

[superspacey]

also.... did you copy my setup or what? j/k

 

[MicroEngineer]

Originally posted by: superspacey
also.... did you copy my setup or what? j/k

Just about....

I did flash to the M bios, first thing I did when things weren't happy. I played w/ it some more lastnight and was able to get WinXP to format the partition, but got BSD'd. I'll adjust the voltages some more and see how it goes when I get home. Thanks for the help all.