Problems Installing Windows 7/xp on a new build

[Columns]

So I just received some new computer parts today:

AMD Phenom II x4 960t
8gb patriot pc3 10666 ram
ASUS M5A78L-M LX motherboard

I've installed the new parts but am having a lot of difficulty installing windows. I've tried installing both windows 7 and winxp multiple times with no luck. Both of the CDs have worked in the past, and there aren't any visible scratches or damage to them. Win7 and xp freeze at random points during the installation, usually during the "completing installation" or unpacking files stage.

I've tried the installation with two different DVD drives, with only one ram stick, various bios settings, etc. One thing that I've also noticed is that it will fail to boot unless being powered off completely. For example, after the initial stage of copying/unpacking files the usual reset that windows does to continue with the installation results in only a black screen (no beep) ; however, when I power down the computer completely then start it up, the installation Is able to continue but only to eventually freeze.

One install did actually work, however after installing a few drivers it started freezing while windows was starting up. It would start in safe mode and I did a system restore but it continued to freeze. I figured at that point I had nothing to lose and began trying another reinstall - and now it won't work at all.

This seems like bad hardware to me, however I would really like to troubleshoot this issue before I resort to sending these parts back.

 

[robustus64]

Sometimes bad ram will cause that.. take out one stytick then the other and retry
....

 

[robustus64]

Or could be ram settings in bios aswell make sure u set the ram correctly in bios.

 

[price_th]

Any one of those three can cause that kind of problem. I've seen flaky CPU's cause that problem when I tried to upgrade to a better but used CPU. Had to put the old one back. RAM typically causes BSOD at some random memory location. The whole reboot issue sound like a MOBO issue to me. Good luck, hope this helps.

 

[Columns]

I've tested it using both sticks of ram (one at a time) with no luck - so unless I was sent two bad sticks I assume the ram isn't the problem. I'm really curious as to how I would test to see if the CPU is the problem (I don't have any spare socket am3/2 CPUs). I was just looking at tiger directs return policy for CPUs and it looks like if you send them a non-malfunctioning CPU they basically charge you 25% of the retail value + shipping both ways; I would really like to avoid this if possible.

Could the problem with booting have to do with wiring something like the front panel wrong? Ive built all of the pcs I've ever owned but admittedly it's been some time since Ive actually put one together.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi Columns


see if the BIOS has a setting to turn off level 3 or Level 2 CPU cache

A long time ago I bought a OEM AMD Althon XP cpu which had been zapped by static and the level 2 cache was damaged

I had the choice of complete instability and being unable to install Windows or a very slow but stable system.

The seller accepted responsibility as he had walked across his store room before putting the oem cpu into a antistatic container

regards

Mike Barnes

 

[Columns]

Oh I forgot to add I manually set the memory timings to 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5volts per the manufacturers specifications. I will try the cache thing, as i'm mostly trying to rule out the CPU as the cause of the malfunction.

I just spoke to the tiger direct returns department and the rep strongly suggested that my problem is with the hdd. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Columns]

Definitely not my hard drive, just did a clean install with no issues using my old motherboard/proc/ram. This is really quite infuriating.

Exchanging the mobo and ram, hopefully it's not the processor.