HTPC will not install OS

[maukaguy]

Hey guys, and gals I would love your help with this, I've put together a build for a HTPC for my wife's school. The parts list is at the bottom of the post. I have built a handful of systems before, and just finished new gaming rigs for my wife and I this fall and winter. I Put every thing together and it posted first power up, bios reads the CPU, Mem, CD, and HDD and the picture looks fine, so I'm not worried about the VGA. When I try to install the OS(Vista 64 Home Premium) it loads the data, and then when I tell it to install I get the screen saying that windows has shut down due to a hardware issue, and to remove any new components and check memory. So I disconnect all the cables, power and sata, reinstall the VGA, and Mem so every thing but the CPU has been reinstalled and I double check the cables. Try it again and I get the same thing. I then used the memory test on the OS disk and the memory checked out fine, I even tried it with some spare DDR2 800 from another computer that runs fine.

So I think I have narrowed it down to the HDD, the reasons I think this are as follows.

1. I am assuming the CPU/MB works fine. The MB posts and reads all the components. I was a little worried about the board working with the CPU but it reads it fine, posts, and gave me no trouble when i ran the memory test/loaded install software in to memory and in the reviews on newegg some one else used the same MB and a quad core Phenom. I could be wrong on this though, I have not used AMD since an old gaming rig with an AMD 64 3200.

2. I believe the Memory is fine as it passed a memory test and I receive the same problem when I use mem from an older build that has given me no problems.

3. The blu-ray combi drive works fine as it reads and loads the install CD. I have switched both the cd and HDD to diffrent sata ports and the CD reads fine no matter what.

4. I believe the problem is the HDD because, I think I have seen all the other components workings fine in other tasks out side of the actual install.

MB posts fine/CPU shows up fine and ran the memory test fine/Mem ran the test and the problem remains even with new DDR2 800 memory/CD drive reads the OS disk fine and works in every sata port on the MB/the VGA card gives a fine picture with no distortion or artifacts.

The problem starts at the point where I believe the OS install program would actually need to read not just the HDD but the actual platters in side it, I never get to the screen where i can choose to partition/format/install on the HDD.


Please tell me what you think, as this in not just a build for myself or my family but my wife's workplace I feel responsible to get it fixed for them ASAP. Thanks very much


Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500AAJS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113

OCZ Vista Upgrade 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2VU8004GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227195

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

LG Black Blu-ray/HD DVD-ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model GGC-H20L - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136133

BIOSTAR A770 A2+ AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138106

APEVIA Black / Blue SECC Steel / Aluminum X-MASTER-BL/500 ATX Media Center / HTPC Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144232

AMD Phenom 9850 BLACK EDITION 2.5GHz Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HD985ZXAGHBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103249

ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2 Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121287

 

[Wolfshadw]

Is it an actual Microsoft OS disk or a burned ISO? I ask because I ran into very similar issues with a Technet download and burn of Vista. I had to reburn a new disk at 1x speeds to get a reliable boot disk.

-Wolf queries

 

[knotknut]

Install the HDD in another PC or external enclosure and format.

Go to WD Website and download the Diagnostic Software for your HDD
http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3273&p_created=1233172981&p_sid=Q_eqbytj&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MjYsMjYmcF9wcm9kcz0wJnBfY2F0cz0wJnBfcHY9JnBfY3Y9JnBfc2VhcmNoX3R5cGU9YW5zd2Vycy5zZWFyY2hfbmwmcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1XRERJQUc*&p_li=&p_topview=1#SATA2

 

[maukaguy]

Yes it is a legit version of Vista.

I'll try formatting on my home pc, thanks I will post results.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It wasn't a question of legitimacy, but whether it was an actual Microsoft CD/DVD or an ISO you burned yourself (like my Microsoft Technet ISO burn issue).

Please let us know the results.

-Wolf sends

 

[maukaguy]

No offense taken at all Wolf. Well the HDD checks out fine when I run the Diagnostic Software, so I guess its not that...../cry I'm going to try installing with a different Vista 64 home premium disc. Thanks again for the help, let me know if you guys can think of any thing else.

 

[maukaguy]

ah heck, same result with a different Vista disk. Any other ideas?

 

[Outlander_04]

tryn a different power connector to the hard drive , try a different sata cable

and then try another hard drive .

If all that fails then I think you have a faulty motherboard

 

[cabugi]

I'm having a similar problem to this where I narrowed it down to the harddrive and I've actually replaced it 4 times. It has yet to work for me I've even sent the mobo back for repairs. Nothing has worked including trying linux on it as well. When I install the os regardless of what type it is it just crashed or dumps corrupt files all over the harddrive. However it seems to load a boot disk fine.

 

[rwpritchett]

Maybe there's a BIOS update for your board? I've seen some really screwy hardware issues get solved by updating the BIOS. I'm not familiar with Biostar, but hopefully it will let you flash the BIOS without the OS installed.

 

[kubes]

First i'd start with trying a different cable. Next i'd update my bios. If both those fail can you try installing a different os (windows xp if you have a disk avialbable).

Also if you have another computer try adding that hard drive to it and see if you can write to it. (that or try the software reccomended above).

 

[maukaguy]

I have swapped cables, and i'm going to pull an old FDD to try to update the bios. With the WD Diagnostic Software I was able to write to the drive, and do a slow erase. hopefully the bios update will work, thanks again every one for the posts.

 

[maukaguy]

Woot, praise be Chuck Norris and all that jazz. Updated the Bios and it worked fine. Thanks again every one for your posts.