Computer works, XP doesn't...

[tacojoethethird]

I just built my own computer and the computer itself works, but as soon as I try to install Windows XP x64 (SP2) I encounter lots of problems.

First it wouldn't install because there was a device error. Fixed that. Then it said a file was missing from the brand new unused hard drive. Fixed that. Then it said there was a corrupt file on the install disc. Got a new one.

It then took 15 hours for XP to install. And guess what, once I rebooted, XP didn't work.

I have gotten to the point where XP installs in about 6 hours, and then works afterward, but takes 5 minutes just to get to the loading screen. Once logged-in, it takes at least a minute to open any window, the start menu, anything.

Here are all my components:

Nzxt Zero Case
XFX Nvidia nForce 780i SLI Intel Motherboard
XFX GeForce 8800GTS 512 MB 256-bit GDDR3 Video Card
OCZ 700W Power Supply
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0 GHz
OCZ Reaper DDR2 1066 RAM (2 x 2GB)
Western Digital 7200RPM SATA HD ( 2 )
ASUS DVD plus/minus R DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA ( 2 )
Thermaltake 110mm CPU Cooler
Logitech MX518 Mouse
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard
Samsung 19" widescreen LCD monitor

I tired to install XP x64 on one of the HD's formatting into NTFS

CPU caching is on. Do I need to do more to set up the SATA HD's (more than enable SATA in bios? ... I'm not using any jumpers and x64 should have all the drives needed, right?)

Honestly, any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Taco

-Let me know if you need any more info.

[Nacelle]

If you want 64bit, use Vista. XP64 is a POS.

[joz]

bad hardrive or motherboard or SATA (ide?) connector.

[Methious]

I'd be looking at the memory, how it's set in bios, what the timings are, the voltage it's set at and testing it with memtest86.

Wrong timings, undervolted or bad memory can easily cause those errors.

[Kougar]

What Methious said. You can test it by burning Memtest86+ (http://www.memtest.org/) to a disc, then booting to it. It honestly sounds like the hardware is very unstable.

[tacojoethethird]

I'd be looking at the memory, how it's set in bios, what the timings are, the voltage it's set at and testing it with memtest86.

Wrong timings, undervolted or bad memory can easily cause those errors.

I ran memtest86 and everything was fine. I ran it with each stick individually and with them both. I'll double check the bios settings, timings and voltages and see what happens.

[Kougar]

Is this an actual Microsoft disc, or one that was burned?

There are issues with XP SP2 installing from some SATA drives, you may be experiencing this but I'm really not sure. If you have Vista I would strongly suggest trying that and doing a clean install. If Vista starts giving you the same problems (Not very likely), then I'd replace the SATA cable, use a different SATA port, or even use a different DVD drive.

[tacojoethethird]

Is this an actual Microsoft disc, or one that was burned?

There are issues with XP SP2 installing from some SATA drives, you may be experiencing this but I'm really not sure. If you have Vista I would strongly suggest trying that and doing a clean install. If Vista starts giving you the same problems (Not very likely), then I'd replace the SATA cable, use a different SATA port, or even use a different DVD drive.

Originally it was the actual Microsoft disc. Luckily I made a copy of it cause it got a nasty scratch on it from an old cd-drive that i had to use to (attempt) install. The scratch went through the data. So the last couple tries have been burned discs, but there has been no (noticeable) difference.

I did have to use another burned disc when I tried to slipstream drivers. That didn't really work.

I guess I'm going to go to Vista x64 see as more people (actually everyone) is in favor of that.

[Kougar]

Originally it was the actual Microsoft disc. Luckily I made a copy of it cause it got a nasty scratch on it from an old cd-drive that i had to use to (attempt) install. The scratch went through the data. So the last couple tries have been burned discs, but there has been no (noticeable) difference.

I did have to use another burned disc when I tried to slipstream drivers. That didn't really work.

I guess I'm going to go to Vista x64 see as more people (actually everyone) is in favor of that.

To be honest, I expect you would run into more incompatible programs using XP 64 than you would using Vista 64, which is another reason for why I recommended trying it. :)

XP 64 is just an extremely niche OS that I believe <5% of XP users use, and not all applications are specifically developed for it because programs can't simply be ported over from XP 32bit. Not to mention it has been replaced by Vista 64bit more than a year ago, so there is no upgrade path to justify the added work to port or develop future apps for XP 64.

[nes]

I'm agreeing with Joz on this one-- check your SATA connections with your HDDs.

[tacojoethethird]

To be honest, I expect you would run into more incompatible programs using XP 64 than you would using Vista 64, which is another reason for why I recommended trying it. :)

XP 64 is just an extremely niche OS that I believe <5% of XP users use, and not all applications are specifically developed for it because programs can't simply be ported over from XP 32bit. Not to mention it has been replaced by Vista 64bit more than a year ago, so there is no upgrade path to justify the added work to port or develop future apps for XP 64.

That makes sense. I'm getting Vista x64 tomorrow and then I'll see what happens. If it works, great, if not I'll be starting a new thread with "Vista" instead of "XP", lol.

Thanks for all your help.