not booting to windows

**Carter** · 09-16-2004, 10:24 PM

Ok I have just recently put together a computer.

Asus a7v400-mx mobo
512mb (forget name) ddr memory
330 watt psu

now...I can get it to start up and get to the start up page and things but then it just restarts sometimes. Other times if I try to hook up a hdd with windows preinstalled it just gives me a disk boot error. I've tried 4 different hdd. 3 with windows already installed.

Do I have to install windows from a boot disk? I don't understand why it gives me disk read errors on all my hdd.

I have also tried updating the bios but that doesn't seem to work the way its described in the manual. I made a bootable floppy and had everything on it I needed...

**Rundell** · 09-16-2004, 10:29 PM

You may want to first make sure that the BIOS is set right to detect your Hard Drive. The easiest way for you would be to make sure its on auto detect in the BIOS and that you see it listed when the system posts. Also, make sure the jumpers on the hard drive are set right.

You may want to do a fresh install on that system especially if its XP. Sometimes you can have problems putting in a Hard Drive with an OS already installed on it.

**Carter** · 09-16-2004, 10:39 PM

Whats the difference between hhd0 and hdd1 and so on? These are the options in the bios. Also....how would I install windows on it if I cant get it past the big glue asus a7v40-mx screen?

**DarquePervert** · 09-17-2004, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Carter

Whats the difference between hhd0 and hdd1 and so on? These are the options in the bios. Also....how would I install windows on it if I cant get it past the big glue asus a7v40-mx screen?

Helpful bits:
Your motherboard should have a manual that explains all the features of your BIOS.
HDD0 is the master on the primary IDE channel. You can't boot from a drive jumpered as slave. HDD1 is the master ont he secondary IDE channel.

If it's not booting, I'd suggest disabling the motherboard logo so you can see the POST (Power-On Self Test) results. That may give you an indication of what's causing it not to boot.
I've seen computers not boot if you have PS/2 mouse & keyboard plugged into one another's connector. It's goofy, but something to check.

Critical bit:
If you don't understand the concept of HDD0 & HDD1, why are you building your own computer?

**Carter** · 09-17-2004, 09:07 AM

I know a fair bit about computers for my age (18). Plus its tons cheaper to build your own then go out and buy one. Nothing wrong with a 2.5 ghz computer with decent graphics for $440 bucks.I've just never built one.

I did a fresh install of windows to the hdd I'm using on another computer. When I boot it up it gives me "Error loading OS"...And I checked jumpers...its the master and set the first boot drive as hdd0.

**EBFoxbat** · 09-17-2004, 09:27 AM

If Windows XP was installed on a hard drive, and u swap the hard drive to another system, it will never work. It's designed to not work if too much of the system is different.

If you're not even getting the the OS, check your post (like said disable BIOS logo) it sounds like a memory issue.... try running DOS and checking memory.

**Carter** · 09-17-2004, 09:32 AM

Would it work if I made a windows boot disk? and poped it in and set the boot to go from the cdrom?

memory shows up fine in the bios. even though it is 3200 and the board is only suppose to take 2700...

**EBFoxbat** · 09-17-2004, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Carter

even though it is 3200 and the board is only suppose to take 2700...

Though rare, that could be a problem. Good ram can run up to whatever its rating is, cheap ram is design to run at a specific frequency.

Install a non-XP OS then upgrade to XP