P5W DH won't let me install windows. HELP PLEASE. UPDATE : PROBLEM SOLVED!

[BigDisk]

EDIT : Problem solved. Changing the PSU was the solution (see page 2). It seems like this still killed my video card though
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Original Post:


I've been trying to install windows for the last 12 hours.

I've never seen such BS.

I've tried everything I can think of.

Everytime, it locks with 34 minutes remaining during the "Installing devices" step.

It's not my CD-RW, not my IDE cable. I've changed them.
My rails seem fine on my PSU. The CPU is running stock, BIOS is stock (I've tried 3 different one) except for the SATA settings.

I've tried on RAID 0 with ICH7, RAID 0 with EZ-Backup Raid, single SATA drive. Nothing seems to make it.


Once I first set up this machine, I *did* a successful windows install. But everything was sluggish (boot up took like 1-2 minutes everytime). I had like 20 IEEE 1934 un-installable devices in Device Manager (see picture) plus I was getting file corruption on big files downloads.

This install was done using RAID 0 on the ICH7, with the ich7 drivers installed from the asus cd on a floppy with the freedos installer.

I *just* tried again with the ICH7 RAID and it still got stuck at 34 minutes remaining.

I did tried my original windows XP cd. Windows XP with SP1 slipstreamed, windows XP with sp2 slipstreamed.. all the same result.

I did try with a single SATA disk and it didn't work either. I tried setting the IDE Controller as sata+pata native as suggested in another thread and it did not work either.

I tried running my RAM at 2.1 volts instead of AUTO. No go.

I *DID* get it working once with the EZ-Backup raid (windows XP with sp1 slipstreamed). But as soon as installed SP2, it wouldn't boot in windows. It would just stall after like 40 'loading lines'.

I've tried to re-install windows iwth the exact same BIOS settings and everything, ez-backup and all, but with the SP2 slipstreamed CD and it got stuck at 34 minutes remaining.

I'm about to ing throw that pc out the window. I really doN't know what to do.

I'm new to this intel stuff, but it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth as it is. I really don't know what to do now. This even has me fight with my girlfriend

Anyone can help? Really.... That sucks!!!!

[pcdoc1]

I don't own the board but I'd disable the 1394 in the bios...

[ted3]

Yeah, thats worth trying; disable the 1394 controller in Bios before install. I would also try with an SP2-integrated WinXP setup CD, was what i had to do with Bad Axe, i thought that was required for all 975X-based boards but could be SP1 is enough.

[BigDisk]

Yeah, thats worth trying; disable the 1394 controller in Bios before install. I would also try with an SP2-integrated WinXP setup CD, was what i had to do with Bad Axe, i thought that was required for all 975X-based boards but could be SP1 is enough.

Done and done.

Didn't work.

No matter if the IEEE1394 is ENABLED or DISABLED in BIOS, my device manager would always look like that.

And on a fresh windows install neither with or without IEEE1394 would let me go pass 34 minutes remaining

[Plaicd]

What are you using for disk/raid drivers during the install?
If you use a usb mouse or other usb stuff try plugging it into a different usb port.

[AndrewZorn]

i have to wonder if the computer is just acting really weird, or the board is...

i know its not really a solution, but how about downloading and burning a small free linux ISO and seeing if that boots? itd be using the same DEVICES and using the same hardware, so if that worked, id be worried about the integrity of the windows disc.

[Eastcoasthandle]

I had a similar problem with my first P5WD2-E Premium that it would not recognize any PCI devices. But I got the same thing as you posted in your OP with the multi unknown texax instrument devices.

[BigDisk]

I had a similar problem with my first P5WD2-E Premium that it would not recognize any PCI devices. But I got the same thing as you posted in your OP with the multi unknown texax instrument devices.

And how did you fix it ? RMA ?


I really don't feel like having to send back this board and loosing like a week.

AndrewZorn, most of the hardware is brand new.

And the fact that I could somehow get windows to install twice, but couldn't the 30 other times make me wonder if it would have something to do with anything else than the board.

I did a couple of 3dM2k1, Sp1, sp2004, Quake 4, 3dmark2003 and it 'seemed' fine except the fact that it took 1-2 minutes to boot, had 20- IEEE1394 uninstallable devices in device manager and corrupted my big downloads.

here's my compare with 3dmark2003
http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=4908356


so with that exact same hardware that DID work, now I can't install windows at all, 24 hours later

[BigDisk]

It just locked again at 34 min remaining.

This is driving me crazy !!!!!!!!!!

I just tried with a single HDD with the ich7 ACHI from the asus cd.

[Eastcoasthandle]

Let me ask you something...are you OC'ing while trying to install XP?
And yes, I had to rma it back to ZZF.

[BigDisk]

No OC.

I tried with the default bios settings, and others.

I tried flashing the BIOS to 901, and 1101.

I tried resetting the CMOS...

I just removed the Vid card and the motherboard battery. I'm going to try again, probably to see it lock at 34 minutes left again.

[Eastcoasthandle]

I know you may not want to hear this but if it does it again, you are going to have to send it back to the place you purchased it from. Call Asus, setup a trouble ticket and relay that to the people you bought it from. This makes the transition much easier.

[Mule]

Had a problem with very sluggish performance usinmg the EZ Raid ports in RAID0. It appears that deleting an existing partition in Disk management doen't actually delete correctly. One of the drives had previously been formatted (ie. had an active partition with no data on it).

Ran both drives in single SATA mode and deleted all partition information, then reconnected to EZ RAID. All fixed.

[Lestat]

ok first disable EVERYTHING in the bios that you are not using.
stop trying to use raid, i know you said you did a single drive once but lets stick with the most simple install possible.

you need windows XP SP2 to install windows on this board properly if memory serves me correctly. so.. let start with one of the best programs to come along in a long time.
I would like to have you go grab nLite and install it on the pc your on right now.
www.nliteos.com

install it and start going thru it.
if you know anyting about windows and windows programs and cofiguration this program wont take you anytime at all to use.
and in no time you will have a slipstreamed XP SP2 WITH intel drivers, network drivers, nvidia drivers(although i dont recommend installing video drivers or sound drivers since there are control panel applications that must be installed with them and the slipstream wont install them)

you can also install full update packs clear up to May of this year and RyanVM might have one for june. meaning all windows update fixes since the release of XP SP2.
There are also other programs you can install called Add-ons (go figure lol) right from the nlite website.

now this sounds like alot of work but its not really. its actually a simple process. and you can strip out all of the other garbage in windows that you dont need.

the program is very straight forward with no hidden b.s. in it that is going to screw you up.
it asks you something and you either do it or skip it. its that simple.

if you do not want to do that, you can beat your head against the keyboard some more and be frustrated but i have nothing but troubles installing windows on this new hardware UNLESS i have an XP w/ SP2 already in it or unless i use the nlite slipstream program and slipstream it with SP2 and the intel drivers and sata drivers and other stuff.
you can also install the ICH7/8 Sata Raid drivers so that you no longer need to hit F6 during boot up. It will install the drivers for you.

again this seems like alot of work but truly it isnt.

and lastly wtf are you using ACHI for ? do you know what it even is ?
i going to go out on a limb and so no otherwise you'd realise that it isnt anything and just causes more issues.
you also must install the F6 drivers when using ACHI
just let the SATA be legacy and you will be fine.

i never had any issues when i had my P5W DH but i went thru and made a custom nlite install.

i would siggest you take some time and do the same. it's soooo worth every minute it takes.

[BigDisk]

I thought ACHI was to be used to enable NCQ and other features on sata-II drives.

And yeah, when trying to install XP with achi I did hit F6 and add the driver from my floppy.

Also, my latest install with CMOS cleared/battery removed/BIOS to defaults/single SATA drive/XP with SP2 slipstreamed just bombed again.

But thanks for the NLITE tips, lestat, I'm going to try this.

I hope this works

[BigDisk]

BTW, my HDDs are Samsung SP2004C 200gigs, SATA-II, NCQ.

They worked fine for a year on my old athlon box.
I don't think there could be a compatibility issue now could it?


I'm going to do the nLite thing.. But why would I absolutly need to do that while people just install XP with SP2 and get it to work without all that hassle??!

[Ace-a-Rue]

I thought ACHI was to be used to enable NCQ and other features on sata-II drives.

And yeah, when trying to install XP with achi I did hit F6 and add the driver from my floppy.

what is ACHI?

[Ace-a-Rue]

BTW, my HDDs are Samsung SP2004C 200gigs, SATA-II, NCQ.

They worked fine for a year on my old athlon box.
I don't think there could be a compatibility issue now could it?

do you have any other drives to use other than the samsung..an IDE would do.

[BigDisk]

what is ACHI?

http://www.intel.com/technology/serialata/ahci.htm


I have an IDE drive but it's nearly dead. It's a WD800JD, one of the first 8MB cache HDDs.

BUT...


Yesterday I tried something as last resort before going to bed. I unpluged my mouse and disabled EVERYTHING in bios as lestat suggested (Firewire, USB, JMicron, everything).

Then I told the install to do a single 200GB partition covering the whole disk and do a full format of it, and went to be.

I just got up and the install *DID* get through with my Windows XP SP2 CD.
I mean, I was prompted with the select Regional Parameters thingy, that comes right after the 34 minute elapsed mark.


So, I'm finishing Windows XP setup(3 minutes left), but I have to go to work.
I'll install all updates left tonight when I get back and see if this thing works as it's supposed to.

Kind of sucks having only 1 big 200 gig partition, but if it's fine I'm not going to bother.

Should I enabled things from BIOS one at a time and see where it bombs BEFORE or AFTER installing all my drivers and stuff? (say with a PS2 mouse).

[BigDisk]

Well it seems like it hangs on the first reboot.

Windows XP logo and the bar moving but nothing happening an HDD activity null.......... damnit!

[kiwi]

Try using linux LiveCD (or installing linux). They are excellent for testing etc

[BigDisk]

Do you think this could be something else than the motherboard acting up on me?

I never had a blue screen on this PC, only stalls/freezes while loading XP/installing.

This leads me to beleive it would be the motherboard. The RAM or Video Card would bluescreen, no?

Thinking about it.. The Videocard acted weird once giving me a nv4_disp.dll bluescreen at the end of Aquamark once, that first time I actually was able to get an XP install working (with the firewire device not working in the device manager like in the OP).

I'm not sure if I have a PCI card at home.. I think I gave it away. You think this is worth a try before RMAing the mobo?

[BigDisk]

Just received this PM from Carcamel :

Hello i read your problems wiht your P5W i have the same problem.

The problem is the Antec Neo HE 100% sure take

I installed a 350 watt Smartpower and my problems are gone, now i have some contact with antec to solve the problem.

So try another PSU and you see...

I can not post in the forum i dont no why so i do it this way.

Jou can always contact me @: [removed]

Holy !
Could that be it?
I'm going to try with an old, crappy 300w PSU I have.

[BigDisk]

Hi, still me documenting my own problem (I'd be glad if this can help someone else!)

I would like to give credits to Carcamel for this:

http://www.antec.com/ec/support_rodu...ber=1&FAQno=22
and this :
http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=27863

It seems like my issue would be PSU related!

From the silent PC review forum thread :

Posted by gche on page 6

I bought the P150 case from Anitec in Vancouver on April 7 (the last one they had in stock). I knew of the incompatibility issue but I decided to try my luck anyway. So I put the computer together with an Asus P5WD2 Premium motherboard, it boots up fine, so I start installing Windows. Then it would freeze during installation, after a few tries I finally got Windows installed but then the comp would freeze on startup. I didn't think it was the power supply at first, but I switched the power supply to a SmartPower 350 from another computer and now it works flawlessly.

I'll send it back to Antec and see if it gets better. I'm not thrilled at the thought of having to buy another power supply.

Motherboard: Asus P5WD2 Premium
BIOS: 0606
Rev: don't know

S/N: S05110049026

Posted by GR8BALD1 on page 6:

PSU: Antec NEO HE550 S/N: S05100024376

At first I thought I was going to be plagued by the same problems the ASUS owners were having, being that ASRock is a division of ASUS. And upon initial installation I was proven right. But then someone was kind enough to remind me that in order for this PSU to start correctly (at least in my case) was that +12v had to be drawn from all 3 rails...he posted the solution, I followed it to the letter and GUESS WHAT..... it worked!!!
Now, I don't know if it will work for other setups, and I'm sure many have tried many different ones, but for those that want just one more setup to eliminate any doubts that you might not have tried everything I give you the following setup. Looking at the plug end of the PSU, from left to right..

Plug 1 (No) Plug 2 (Yes) Plug 3 (No) Plug 4 (No) Plug 5 (Yes).

This configuration worked for me....hope it works for others as well.
[...]

I'm definatly thinking the PSU is the culprit. I'll make sure to try another one once I get back from work.

[Ldawg]

let us know and then be sure to post it in the p5w dh problems/fixes thread...