a8v Deluxe: windows won't install ? why?

[idiotprogrammer]

I have an AMD machine I've been using for Fedora 4 with no problem. I'm
using the original bios that came with the a8x deluxe.

I recently installed new RAM two weeks ago. Before I had 2 512 sticks,
and after that I added 2 1024mb sticks (3 gigs total). Worked fine in
linux.

Before I had raid set up through the via controller. Now a strange
thing occurred: the windows installation program doesn't run!

It gives me a prompt to press any key to boot from CD. I do that, and
then it says searching for hardware, and then it blacks out.

This is really wierd. The only thing I've tried so far has been:
1)using a different CD
2)removing the via RAID (which I was planning to do anyway).

No change. Later tonight, I'll try to remove individual bits of
hardware, but are there any obvious mobo issues I'm overlooking (bios
settings, etc?). Or is this simply a case of Windows not liking some of
my hardware? Anybody want to take a guess which thing Windows doesn't
like? (remember, things worked fine in Fedora LInux).

Robert Nagle
houston, texas
http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ CPU-ADA3500AWBOX 1 286.00
2.2GHz Microprocessor,
Socket 939, L2 512K,
ADA3500AWBOX. Retail Box
Asus A8V Deluxe Socket MB-A8V-Deluxe 1 132.00
939 ATX Motherboard,
AGP8x, 1394 & USB2.0, 8ch
Audio & GB LAN, S /
PDIF-out
OCZ 1GB (512MB X 2) DIM-OCZ4001024PDC-K 1 183.99
OCZ4001024PDC-K DDR
PC3200 400MHz Premier
Dual Channel
Xion Mid-Tower ATX Case CS-Xion 1 69.99
*Choose Color = Blue
w/ Side Window, LED
Lights & 450W PS, Color:
Blue, Silver, Black
Zalman CPU Cooler, COOL-CNPS7700-CU 1 42.99
CNPS7700-Cu, Pure Copper,
Support Socket Intel
Pentium4 775/ 478, AMD
754/ 939/ 940. Retail box
Asus V9520Magic/T/128 VD-V9520Magic-T128 1 65.99
Video Card, GeForce
FX5200, 128MB DDR, AGP8X,
TV-Out, Retail box.
Western Digital Caviar SE HD-WD1600JD 2 102.00
Serial ATA 160GB Hard
Drives (WD1600JD), 8MB,
7,200RPM, OEM

Plextor SATA PX-712SA DVD DVR-PX-712SA 1 114.99
Dual Burner, 8MB Buffers,
OEM

[idiotprogrammer]

boot order: cd is first.

[idiotprogrammer]

Ok, I've switched out the memory several times. It's not the memory.
Most likely the issue has to do with SATA drivers.

Two questions:
1)is there a way the Windows install CD can access the SATA drivers
(Via or Promise) if the system does not have a floppy?

2)Why the heck wouldn't Windows have these drivers on their install CD
to begin with?
3)Are these potential problems?
a)that I have a Linux OS previously installed?
b)that I previously set up RAID 0 or RAID 1 using the VIA RAID
interface (which I since deleted)

[Custom Computers]

Two questions, humm I see three.

First question, using the standard Windows XP disk the answer is NO you
must have a floppy drive to install these third party drivers. You can
however if your skilled, take your Windows XP disk and slipstream the
needed drivers into it and burn a new Windows instal disk with the
drivers right on it.

Second Question, because there working with limited space and there are
just too many drivers out on the market. Plus the fact that some of
these drivers weren't even out when Windows XP was last updated.

Third Question, It could be. I've always heard that you must have
Windows on first for a dual boot system. I had one a while back and
thats how I did it. XP on first then Red Hat.

[idiotprogrammer]

XP didn't prompt me for these drivers. It just hung.

Shouldn't they have given me a prompt to insert drivers into my
(still-not-added) floppy drive?

Or does Windows install CD just check the floppy drive for hd drivers?

[KC Computers]

> XP didn't prompt me for these drivers. It just hung.
> Shouldn't they have given me a prompt to insert drivers into my
> (still-not-added) floppy drive?
> Or does Windows install CD just check the floppy drive for hd drivers?

Windows should have prompted you soon after booting to press the
F6 key for loading extra drivers.

---
Kevin Chalker, Owner (KC COMPUTERS)
E-mail: k...@kc-computers.com Web: www.kc-computers.com
Internet dealer since 1991!!! See WWW.RESELLERRATINGS.COM!!!

[idiotprogrammer]

this leads me to wonder whether a BIOS upgrade might be the answer. (I
haven't done that yet).

[Custom Computers]

If you already had Linux installed on the primary hard drive. I believe
your going to need to remove it and delete the partitions its placed on
the drive. It could be XP can't detect a hard drive do to this
installation taking all the space on the drive.

[Homer J. Simpson]

"idiotprogrammer" <idiotpr...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1135305819....@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

I have one of these motherboards.

During the Windows XP install you need the SATA driver to be either on
diskette or slipstreamed into the Windows XP installation CD, otherwise the
SATA drive will not be seen.

I would look at the memory settings in BIOS. Use manual memory timings and
OCZ's recommended voltage.

[idiotprogrammer]

Update:
installed floppy, upgraded bios. Moved to promise controller though
I'm not sure I want RAID. Windows install looks like it's going to run
ok.

Am still doing research about whether I need promise raid array.