Win 2k text mode setup fails to copy files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark G
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark G

Hi

I've just built a new system; Abit IS7-E, P4 2.8G, 2 Dimms PC3200 RAM

I tested the build as I made it (PSU, Mobo, CPU, RAM, graphics), and
all was going well. Bit on the noisy side but I'll deal with that
later ... I hope :)

I put a basic hard drive (40GB 100 UDMA IBM noise maker) and CD-ROM
into the box to do a test install of Win 2k. The first phase of the
textual setup works ok, but when it get to the place where it starts
to copy files onto the hard drive the machine locks, and the display
shows just vertical strips of ASCII characters. Sometimes it happens
immediately, and sometimes it gets about 10% of the way through.

I checked the temperature of the system through the Bios and the CPU
is sitting at about 40-43 the system at 31-35, so I don't think its a
heat issue. I've also tried this with 2 seperate drives, so its not a
drive issue either.

For the moment I'm just using an old creative GeForce 256 AGP card.
Gonna try and dig out an old PCI card to see if that is the issue, but
my gut feel is its something worse.

I'm not a complete novice to building PC's, but this is the first P4
box I've put together. Its not overclocked, and I've let the BIOS make
its own choices with regard to timings/voltages etc.

Any thoughts as to where the problem might be, or what my next steps
should be?

Cheers in advance
 
Hi Mark,

Generally speaking we would expect to be able to do a basic install at this
point. I would like to suggest trying a different Operating System or a
different set of media. If this doesn't work, start removing hardware
until you are down to the most basic that you can get to, such as
motherboard, mouse, keyboard, and video.

If you still have failure you may want to try swapping your motherboard to
see if this allows you to do the install.

Thanks,

--
Samantha MacInnes
Support Professional
Microsoft Setup Support
MCSE

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights.
Please reply to the newsgroup so that others may benefit. Thanks!
--------------------
 
Thanks for the response Samantha.

I actually tracked down the issue this morning by running a copy of
PC-Check against the machine.

It seems that the memory does not like being run in dual-channel mode.
When I moved the ram into adjacent slots (to stop dual channel) it
would pass the PC-Check memory tests, and would then install Win 2k
fine.

I'd like to track down what the issue is with the memory, but that is
not really a topic for this forum. I'll move my next questions over to
alt.comp.hardware.

Cheers
Mark
 
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