Can't get new build PC to do anything!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Andy
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A

Andy

Hi folks...

I got a huge problem!

I'm trying to get a new build PC to take an OS, but I can't.

The new stuff is an ABIT NF7-S Motherboard, an AMD2600+ processor,
2x512mb DDR3200 memory chips, Maxtor 120gb 133 Hard drive and a 128MB
GForce 4 video card.

All are brand new.

I can get the PC to boot up using a floppy, I can get through the 4
Win2000 setup disks and on to an NTFS format. But that's about it. I
can't get the OS to copy anything past about 60-90%, keeps telling me
that it can't find files. It eventually crashes with a BSOD before the
file copy has completed.

Maxtor's disk drive utilities cannot see the drive when it's installed
on the new PC, but they can see it and check it when I try it on
another PC.

The memory seems to be okay, but I can't verify it either way. Same
goes for the chip.

This is the second Motherboard (same make and model) same problem with
both boards.

The shop I bought all the stuff in want £35 per item (5 items) to test
for faults, so I'm kinda stuck!

Can anyone suggest anything I could try?

Many Thanks
 
Andy said:
Hi folks...

I got a huge problem!

I'm trying to get a new build PC to take an OS, but I can't.

The new stuff is an ABIT NF7-S Motherboard, an AMD2600+ processor,
2x512mb DDR3200 memory chips, Maxtor 120gb 133 Hard drive and a 128MB
GForce 4 video card.

All are brand new.

I can get the PC to boot up using a floppy, I can get through the 4
Win2000 setup disks and on to an NTFS format. But that's about it. I
can't get the OS to copy anything past about 60-90%, keeps telling me
that it can't find files. It eventually crashes with a BSOD before the
file copy has completed.

Maxtor's disk drive utilities cannot see the drive when it's installed
on the new PC, but they can see it and check it when I try it on
another PC.

The memory seems to be okay, but I can't verify it either way. Same
goes for the chip.

This is the second Motherboard (same make and model) same problem with
both boards.

The shop I bought all the stuff in want £35 per item (5 items) to test
for faults, so I'm kinda stuck!

Can anyone suggest anything I could try?

Many Thanks
Click to expand...

Clear CMOS and set bios to optimal settings. Check your cables and jumper
settings. Try with one 512 DDR. If you have memtest86 on a floppy let it
run for a few hours.
 
In
Andy said:
I can get the PC to boot up using a floppy, I can get through the 4
Win2000 setup disks and on to an NTFS format. But that's about it. I
can't get the OS to copy anything past about 60-90%, keeps telling me
that it can't find files. It eventually crashes with a BSOD before the
file copy has completed.
Click to expand...

And the BSOD says what .... ?
 
And the BSOD says what .... ?

The BSOD's are usually different, but NTOS Kernel messages are most
prevelant.
Clear CMOS and set bios to optimal settings. Check your cables and
Click to expand...
jumper settings.

Tried, got the same fault as before.
If you have memtest86 on a floppy let it run for a few hours.
Click to expand...

Can't get Memtest to run, gets to about 57% then the PC hangs, have to
power it off to get it to reset. Tried the test on 4 different DDR
Modules with roughly the same result.
Is the OS CD clean? Wouldn't hurt to check.
Click to expand...

I've tried with 7 different CDs and 4 different OSs (98, 2000, XP and
Linux)

I'm thinking either the mother board is faulty or I have a BIOS
setting wrong, But I can't see which one?

I'd be grateful for 1any other advice.
 
Andy said:
Hi folks...

I got a huge problem!

I'm trying to get a new build PC to take an OS, but I can't.

The new stuff is an ABIT NF7-S Motherboard, an AMD2600+ processor,
2x512mb DDR3200 memory chips, Maxtor 120gb 133 Hard drive and a 128MB
GForce 4 video card.

All are brand new.

I can get the PC to boot up using a floppy, I can get through the 4
Win2000 setup disks and on to an NTFS format. But that's about it. I
can't get the OS to copy anything past about 60-90%, keeps telling me
that it can't find files. It eventually crashes with a BSOD before the
file copy has completed.

Maxtor's disk drive utilities cannot see the drive when it's installed
on the new PC, but they can see it and check it when I try it on
another PC.
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound good.
The memory seems to be okay, but I can't verify it either way. Same
goes for the chip.

This is the second Motherboard (same make and model) same problem with
both boards.

The shop I bought all the stuff in want £35 per item (5 items) to test
for faults, so I'm kinda stuck!

Can anyone suggest anything I could try?

Many Thanks
Click to expand...

Could be some problem with the drive. It could be defective or just
fixably messed up. Things to try: re-partition the drive and reformat it
too (use recent Partition Magic or the recovery console utilities on the
Win2000 CD itself), then reinstall from CD or copy the installation files
to the HD and install from there. You could also install some other OS
first to see how that goes. Have you successfully installed from this CD
before?

See,

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=235478

for help with reformatting and partitioning from the installation CD.
Don't use large partitions for now. NTFS OK. Later try FAT32.

Alternatively you could try a different drive altogether to assist in your
process of elimination. Maybe a 20GB drive. Are you sure the BIOS can deal
with your large HD?

Patrick
 
Andy said:
Hi folks...

I got a huge problem!

I'm trying to get a new build PC to take an OS, but I can't.

The new stuff is an ABIT NF7-S Motherboard, an AMD2600+ processor,
2x512mb DDR3200 memory chips, Maxtor 120gb 133 Hard drive and a 128MB
GForce 4 video card.


Maxtor's disk drive utilities cannot see the drive when it's installed
on the new PC, but they can see it and check it when I try it on
another PC.
Click to expand...

& the reason is
" PowerMax v4.06 will not detect Ultra ATA hard disks connected to
motherboards with embedded NVIDIA chipsets (SATA drives are supported). A
new version to address this issue is currently in development and is slated
for release soon."

Which connection are you trying to use IDE or SATA with Serillel connector ?
Which Maxtor drive series e.g. Plus 8 or 9?
HDD is jumpered correctly?
I have read lately of quite a few Maxtors developing bad sectors but
presumably these would have showed up when you checked it with Maxtor's
utilities on another PC?

Which DDR 3200 memory in particular?

Might be worth upping your Vcore slightly if you have an NF7-S V2.0 as these
tend to undervolt slightly (I have one).

Worth visiting http://forum.abit-usa.com/ for the nVidia chipset board.
Also www.nForcershq.com forums.
 
Maxtor emailed a replacement driver for the Maxtor diagnostic disk when I
reported that it could not recognize a 40 gb Maxtor on a A7N266-VM board.
Try the help section of their website.
 
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