Strange problem with BIOS, XP wont install, Linux & 2000 will
 

re asrock k7s41

OK, just to have it straight i don't use Windoze, i fix it. I use Slackware..

So this guy has this machine which had XP on it (i never saw it working but he swears it did for a week) suddenly it stopped and wont boot. Ok i say; ill have a look.. its got a asrock k7s41 chipset/mobo

I checked everything, IDE cables, 3 hard drives, DVD burner, RAM, by a process of elimination, i eliminated every bit of hardware in there apart from the ones i couldn't change. ie. the BIOS and the MOBO.

After a few hours of fiddling, the XP installation procedure still just loads all the drivers, gets to the point where you press enter to install and then powers off..

mmm. i think.. lets install Linux.. ;) so first i use the HELIX boot CD observe the CPU temps etc, then suse 9.2.. all fine.. then i installed slackware (by now the machine is at my friends house and we are both looking at it). All fine..

So then i try Windows 2k prof, and 2k Server. Both fine.

XP still doesn't work.and i tried different CD's and i know the one I use works

It seems the BIOS (or some piece of hardware) wont let XP load for some reason. I tried a 98 bootdisk and starting the XP install from there.. it copies the files then powers off.. and again im back to blue screen hit enter to install. If im really quick i can hit enter to start and then F9 or some such but it just powers off in roughly the same time..

So we're tearing our hair out by now. I read on the mobo's web site (asrock) that to get XP to load properly you have to have the CDROM and Primary Master on the same IDE channel.. sounds strange but ok.. but after trying all the combo's of these (CD as Primary HD as Secondary, vice versa etc etc on both channels) nothing. The BIOS is up to date.

I don't suppose anyone here has had this problem but if you have, or have any advice id love to hear it.. usually between all the people i know there isn't a network or computer we can't fix so this one just seems really weird. Especially as all the other O/S's ive tried work fine. Its not vital that i get it sorted, i just can't sleep tonight because its bothering me.

Thanks for putting up with this im aware it may look and sound like a bit of a rant..!

Cheers

CT

Wxp load
 

If W2000 and Linux will load, this indicates CDROM , HD, cables are OK and BIOS is set properly. Make sure the Plug n Play option is set correctly in BIOS.

Several mainboard techs have indicated that whether by design or by accident, Wxp is V_E_R_Y finicky about RAM. Specifically when preparing to copy files, it is very memory intensive. That may be why install fails at this point. I usually fixed my non loading Wxp problems by:

1. Use a known, good SLOWER cdrom (24x)
2. Change brands of RAM

good luck

How stable is the machine when you've installed the OS(win2k, linux)?
Can you run 3D applications?
What does Memtest86+ say?
Have you tried with another power supply?

Make sure that the PnP OS option in the BIOS is set to no.

Try dumping the XP CD to a partition on the hdd, boot from a floppy, and install from the partition.

Also, you might want to check this page, if you haven't already. There is a BIOS update, 1.20, that addresses this problem: "3. If non-UDMA CD-ROM is connected with HDD on same IDE channel, Windows XP can be installed correctly."

also writing the boot sector full of 0:s might help. i couldn´t install xp because there was something weird in the boot sector.
nowadays i couldn´t install xp no matter what :)

Hi, Did anything come of the OP question.

I have the same motheboard and exactly the same problem.

WIn Me works fine, yet try and install XP and it turns the machine off.

I've tried everything - different PSU, different memory, disabling all the external cards and on and on.

Nothing will let me install XP on this damn machine.

The CPU is not overheating, and I am now at a complete loss what to do.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Adam.