New pc, Struggling to install windows.

Ok after deciding my old pc was knackered i went out and brought a new one with the following specs:

Asus A8N32-SLi Deluxe
AMD Athlon 64x2 3800+
GeForce 6800 XT
2x 120gb Maxtor 7200rpm SATA 150
1gb Corsair XMS Pro PC3200 (2x512mb)
450watt thermaltake PSU
Audidgy 2 pro

Ok now the hardwares out the way, i'll get on to the problem, when i stick the Windows install CD into the drive, it will successfully boot and move to the copying files screen. However after running the first two commands (Press f6 for 3rd party drivers) and the f4 that does something else, it pauses, it never gets to the first file to load, the grey bar at the bottom of the screen, where it lists the current file being copied, just stays empty.

I've tried making a slipstream disc using nLite, however i've had no success from it. If anybody has any ideas as to the cause of this i'd be very interested to hear it.

Cheers,

Dezzy.

 

I've never needed to use it in the past and dont actually know what it does either, was just using it as a reference. It just lists those two options at the bottom of the screen before it starts to load the needed files to install XP. The problem is those files arnt being loaded, it just sits there blank, where it should be saying what its loading.

 

Its not the f4 part thats the problem, again that is just a reference. It does nothing unless you press the key it just asks you to press it if you need to do something.

The problem is that after it says you 'can' use both of these two options, its supposed to start loading the files from the CD (drivers, cab files etc etc), it lists those files at the bottom of the screen, however i just get a blank box (it doesnt display the first file it says its going to load)

Again the f6 / f4 thing is purley reference, i've not pressed either of these buttons (i dont need too)

 

With SATA hard drives you are going to need to press F6 during the load screen to install the drivers so the windows installer can see them.

 

As slk230mb just told you - you'll need to load the manufacturer's drivers from a floppy and you are going to need to hit that F6 key when prompted. On your ASUS CD, you will find utilities to make the necessary floppies from the CD. It would be adviseable for you to spend some time reading the MoBo manual to familiarize yourself with what is going to be needed. You are probably going to need both NVidia controller drivers and SIL controller drivers.

 

Yes!

If this does not work, try to change the BIOS setting.
Some PC need to turn off the SATA switch in BIOS.

 

Gentlemen:

I believe the thread was about installing windows - would the introduction of all these memory variables (can't remember) be considered off topic?

OK, under the assumption that it is all inter-related, we'll probably get an arguement here but that board (actually speaking from its cousin's perspective - A8N SLI Premium) will require NVidia and SLI drivers whether its going to be run in RAID or JBOD. And, there are BIOS settings for each controller re: RAID or no RAID.



edit: there's a little reading material here re: same board and somewhere in this thread is a discussion about those same drivers. LarryB maintained he didn't need to install drivers from a floppy but he ran into some problems by not doing so.

 

Ok i dont need to press f6 because i have a slipstreamed XP disc (have also tested a basic one) with all my drivers built in, it loads everything for me, Sata, chipset, network card etc etc. Thats not the problem, allow me to explain exactly what its doing.

Boots from CD;

"Windows in inspecting your current hardware setup "

<next screen>

Blue screen with windows setup in the top left,

It then displays the following two 'options'

Press F6 to load 3rd party drivers
Press F2 to automated system recovery



It then goes blank in the grey status bar along the bottom. Normally at this point it would start loading the drivers / cab files from the disc, however it just hangs, and it hangs permanantly.


Hopefully that should clear up the problem, i've tried everything i know, even changed a few of the asus mobo settings that i've been advised may cause the problem, no change. I've tested different configurations of HDD's (raid and individually) i've tested different xp install discs, streamlined + otherwise. I've also tested 3 different IDE cd-rom drives.

I'm totally lost on this one, i can't figure out whats going on.

any help would be awesome,

Cheers,

Dezzy

 

Good Luck then .......... it sounds like you have it all figured out.

 

Is making smart comments something you do often without reading the follow up paragraphs, i'm not totally new to computers i know how the setup program works, i also know that me not being able to press F6, because it doesnt actually do anything (mainly because the 3rd party drivers doesnt get triggered until later in the installation) is not the cause of my problem. If that was all it was i'm fairly sure pretty much anybody would have figured it out by pressing that button.

Now i'll explain what actually happens when you press F6.

It loads the initial files and gets about 1/3 of the way through the copying (the bit that my computer is currently failing to do) before it asks you to enter your disk, again IT DOES NOTHING.

If your interested in reading the problem and maybe posting something that could contribute i'll be more than happy to accept any advice, if you want to post stuff that has no meaning and would be better served on a counter-strike forum then please, dont post.

 

Rockster you crack me up!

I'm not even supposed to be opening new posts. But I just had to on this one.

This thread is funny funnie funy!

Mr. Dezzy

You best pay attention to what they are saying here.

A slipstream does not magically install these type of drivers.

And they didn't put the F6 there for fun.

This is the web site for your Motherboard.
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

It has a
Silicon Image 3132 SATA controller

F6 txtmode drivers here, the center one close to bottom
http://tastycomputers.com/support/download/silimg3132_sataraid.htm

Untill you do this and hit the F6 you will get nowhere!

Now if you don't believe this, forget it.

I am outta here!!!! Have fun everyone!

Mike

 

Well, I'm a little baffled - I've got thick skin so you can throw the barbs for whatever its worth. At the beginning of this thread you list two Maxtor Serial ATA drives as your hard drives. You list the same at the beginning of your thread over at the ASUS site. Yet your last post on the ASUS site includes the following:

So which is it?

 

Try changing the setting in CMOS from SATA mode RAID to SATA mode IDE and boot to XP install.

 

Here's what that board is working with:

NVIDIA® nForce4 SLI supports:
- 2 x Ultra DMA 133/100/66/33 connectors
for up to four IDE devices
- 4 x Serial ATA devices (3 Gb/s)
- NVRAID for RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, and
JBOD configuration that spans across Serial ATA
drives
Silicon Image® 3132 SATA controller supports:
- 1 x Internal Serial ATA device (3 Gb/s)
- 1 x External Serial ATA device (3 Gb/s)
(for SATA On-The-Go)
- RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations

More Background:
There were also memory problems reported on the ASUS site and at last post, one stick had been removed. Problem also encountered with BIOS flash but that has apparently been rectified _ not stated whether new or old that was recovered - current BIOS not identified.

I still think this leaves one with a question re: HDD's - SATA or PATA?