Windows install on SATA drive

[mlk3454]

Hello everyone. This is my 7th pc build but first one with a SATA drive. The mobo is a MSI neo4 board, x2 3800, 2 gig patriot ram, nec dvdr and lite-on cdr opticals, 160 gig WD Sata II drive, etc. On the post screen I can see the nec drive and the HDD. I set boot priority to go cd then HDD. If I dont set-up the drive as Raid then I get the boot from cd. However, it loops with boot from cd sitting on the screen and then an erro with defective media. If I setup the drive as raid 0 then I dont even get the boot from cd question, just a defective media error.

What am I doing wrong?!

*edit* Look to the bottom for the audio card question

 

[mlk3454]

I am reading something about hitting f6. I am unsure when to hit this and also would I install the nvidia or the silicon drivers? Thanks!

 

[Brainonska511]

It depends what you are doing. Most motherboards with SATA ports can be set in two ways: RAID Mode (where you need a pre-OS driver for Windows) or IDE controller mode.

If you use the RAID Mode, you will need a floppy (most likely supplied with the mobo) to install the RAID drivers. When you first place the XP Cd into the drive, you'll see a blue screen that says something like "Press F6 now to install (something or other)." At that point, you would hit F6, place your floppy in the drive and then select the appropriate driver from the disc. After the driver is installed, your OS installs like it normally would.

Either way, you still need to install the chipset driver after Windows completes its installation.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: mlk3454
I am reading something about hitting f6. I am unsure when to hit this and also would I install the nvidia or the silicon drivers? Thanks!

peruse your mobo's install cd ..esp. under the manual also..here

 

[mlk3454]

Thanks guys, this is my first opportunity to do this since I last posted. So far so good.

Another random question. I just noticed on the POST that my ram is showing up as single channel and at 333 instead of 400. For those of you familiar with the mobo I have 2 sticks of dual channel 400 patriot ram in both green slots. Any ideas?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: mlk3454
Thanks guys, this is my first opportunity to do this since I last posted. So far so good.

Another random question. I just noticed on the POST that my ram is showing up as single channel and at 333 instead of 400. For those of you familiar with the mobo I have 2 sticks of dual channel 400 patriot ram in both green slots. Any ideas?

It depends on the board but sometimes the same color slots indicated the same Memory Channel. Try putting the memory in the other slot.

As for the 333 instead of 400, putting it on the other channel may fix that. If it doesn't just manually override it instead of using the SPD defaults.

-Kevin

 

[mlk3454]

Thanks for the reply Kevin. When put in the purple slots I get an error and a reboot. How can I manually put these back to 400? Also, can I manually change them back to dual channel?

 

[mlk3454]

Yeah I read the manual and put one in green and purple but I ended up screwing up the bios with my fiddling so I had to clear it and start over. Now it works....

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: mlk3454
Yeah I read the manual and put one in green and purple but I ended up screwing up the bios with my fiddling so I had to clear it and start over. Now it works....

Excellent, did you manage to manually input the Clockspeed you want. If not there should be a setting that says By SPD as the value. Change the to Custom/Expert (Whatever sounds customizable for your particular board) and it will unlock advanced Clocking and Timing Options. Dont worry about everything else, just scroll down to clockspeed and bump it to 200 (Since it is DDR you multiply that Value by 2 to get your actual clockspeed).

-Kevin

 

[mlk3454]

Yup, changed it all in the bios. I was almost going to try to OC a little but was just happy that it was running "normal."

 

[RebateMonger]

I STRONGLY recommend not overclocking ANYTHING until you get your OS installed and stable.

 

[mlk3454]

The OS is installed and everything is running. I doubt I will OC anything anyways, as I just have stock cooling and a couple fans so nothing great.

I did however, also get a sound card (always went with onboard before) and I notice that I get echoes when I play CS:S. Everytime I shoot or use the knife I get an echo of the shot a split second after and it really took away from the game playing. Any ideas?

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: mlk3454
The OS is installed and everything is running. I doubt I will OC anything anyways, as I just have stock cooling and a couple fans so nothing great.

I did however, also get a sound card (always went with onboard before) and I notice that I get echoes when I play CS:S. Everytime I shoot or use the knife I get an echo of the shot a split second after and it really took away from the game playing. Any ideas?

Make sure, if the soundcard has an audio program, that "Reverb" is off.

-Kevin

 

[mlk3454]

I really am a noob. I can't find reverb anywhere. I wonder if creative has a forum there? Anyways, I will have more time to search when I get back from work. Thanks again Kevin.

 

[mlk3454]

I updated the drivers and it seemed to take care of it. In gaming mode the reverb was set at 4 and the update fixed that so the echo is gone. So far so good.