Re: Crosshair MB problem installing XP 64 Pro

Jim wrote:
Just a little more info. I am using the most current bios 0502. I am not OC'ing at this time. I have run memtest 86+ for about 48 hours with no errors. I am running the memory at 2.2v and everything else is auto. This is the first computer that I am using raid on so I am hoping the I am doing that correctly. In bios I set the sata 1 through 4 to raid and set the sata 2 to raid mode. In the raid setup I used mirroring/striping 128 and set it to be the boot disk. I am guessing that is correct. I have tried installing XP with 2 sticks of ram and 1 stick of ram. I have tried 5,5,5,18 4,4,4,12 and 3,6,6, auto sets it to 14 if I remember right. My reader is a plextor dvd burner PX755SA SATA in the sata 6 position with 5 empty. Cant think of anything else atm.

Again TIA

One thing I'd suggest at this point, is to get *some* OS to work. You
really want to see the hardware working, to help differentiate a
problem with hardware, from some software issue.

I've used a Knoppix or a Ubuntu Linux distro CD, as a boot option.
Those distributions can boot without any HDD connected. So you don't
need to install them, and can just run a Linux environment from a
CD. (They use a RAM Disk for their storage. And if you have
enough RAM, with Knoppix you can actually load the whole CD into
RAM, and pop the CD out of the drive, for complete silence.)

What I cannot tell you, is what kind of support would exist for a
8800GTX. Presumably the vanilla VESA modes would be supported, so
the screen wouldn't be blank. I don't know if your collection of
hardware would throw those OSes for a loop or not.

The fact that you've run memtest86+, means the video card displayed
something, and you managed to boot from a floppy or from a CD. The
floppy interface is on the Super I/O, which means reaching down through
the two chips of the chipset, to get to the Super I/O. Which means
memtest86+ has proved a fair bit of the major hardware paths, by
running for you.

Which leaves the storage subsystem, either the SATA DVD is not behaving,
or the RAID is putting a spanner in the works. You have a PRI_IDE and
I'd be tempted to connect an old CD and give that a try (and disconnect
the SATA DVD as well).

You could try simplifying the RAID setup - delete the 0+1 array,
disconnect three drives, and attempt an install to a single disk,
with the Nvidia interfaces set to non-RAID mode. Or even disconnect
the RAID altogether, and find a friendlier hard drive to get you
started.

You could also have a look on the forums here, for something
matching your problem description:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20070223095505787&board_id=1&model=Crosshair&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

For RAM timing 3,6,6 is too aggressive for most RAM at DDR2-800.
Something like the JEDEC 5,5,5 would be more relaxed, where the
first 5 is the CAS. And that last large number, is hardly critical
at all. You can check some of the Anandtech reviews of motherboards
using DDR2 RAM, where they vary that last large number, and for
a range of numbers, the memory bandwidth remains the same. At
this point, there is no reason to start cranking down the numbers.
You want to get something working first.

Also, you say "XP keeps hanging up". Does it hang up at a particular
time point, or just after a certain message appears on the screen ?
There are some famous hang points, and perhaps if you describe the
nature of the hang, someone will remember what hardware fault that
equates to. It could just be a problem trying to read the DVD drive.

Paul



Jim wrote:

I am trying to install XP 64 Pro on a new system that I just put together but XP keeps hanging up on the install.

Crosshair MB
Amd 5200+ 64x2
4 WD caviar RE WD3200YS SATA 320 gig in a 0+1 raid
2 1 gig patriot DDR2 800 PC2 6400
EVGA 8800 GTX superclocked
Thermaltake 850W
swiftech watercooling

I have read that quiet and cool has to be enabled. I have also read that the memory should be set to 3,6,6. I have tried many different bios setting but have had no luck. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Would I be better off sticking with XP 64 pro or would I be better off with a Vista 64 of some kind.

TIA
.

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