Loading Windows hangs at driver.cab

[at2wooden]

Hi,

I am using spare (antique) parts to build this starter computer.
Please don’t flame me J

The MSI 845 PrO4 motherboard uses my PC133 memory, IDE HD, and 478pin P4. Cool.
At least it would be if I could load an OS.

I tried two different 2000 pro CDs that are known good.
(POST is very slow)

The APIC default was enabled. I disabled it. ICPA was enabled by default.

Loading hangs at can't copy driver.cab. Tried getting it with SP3, but that didn't work.
When I tried to omit the file, it wouldn't download any other files and I had to quit install.
It also wanted autofmt.exe, but moved on without it.
(I searched Microsoft for this but, all I found was a a frontpage DL autofmt.exe. Doesn't sound right.)

Where can I find driver.cab?
Trying another windows 2000 pro CD didn't help either.

HELP!!

MSI 845 Pro4 / Corsair 2X 512MB PC133
SL5VH P4 1.6GHZ / 400 FSB / 478 pin / 256KB L2
WD 80GB HD

[faulkner132]

Is it possible the CD drive is bad? Can you try another one?

[Cricket]

Did you try a different CD-ROM drive yet?

Cricket

[at2wooden]

Hmmmmmmmmmm...ok.
I'll try another drive and let you know.
Thanks to both of you

[at2wooden]

Well I replaced CD-Rom with a new DVD-RW and got as far as 70% of DL before it wouldn't go on.

Skipped
autofrmt.exe
driver.cab
layout.inf
msvcp50.dll
ntdos.sys (bet I need this one)
ntsdexts.dll
tshoot_w.chq
udfs.sys
ufat.dll
typelib.dll
and then wouldn't go on.

I tried XP, but it didn't finish either. Trying again with different type format.

[Cricket]

Try installing the OS with just 1 stick of RAM installed.

And try changing out the data cables.

Is this computer overclocked?

Cricket

[at2wooden]

Not overclocked.
This is an inital build at mostly default settings.
Will reset default bios settings again to be sure. (APIC enabled)
Will switch cables (all new) and RAM 1 stick only.
(Curently reads memory fine in POST)
MB has 3 SDRAM slots. I am only using 2 @ 2 X 512MB.
Manual says it supports up to 3GB.
Doesn't say anything about configuration in slots.

[faulkner132]

Additionally, try the CD plugged into a different IDE slot on the mother board.

[at2wooden]

Cricket, I enabled APIC again.
Changed the IDE cables with known good.
Pulled 1 stick leaving 512mb in first slot.
Same result.
Guess that leaves MB, CPU or PS, altho MB seems like the most likely source of the problem.

Faulkner, when you say try the CD plugged into a different IDE slot on the mother board what do you mean?

I currently have been using the main (blue) motherboard IDE connector only for the HD, and the other IDE motherboard connector for the CD-ROM.

[Cricket]

Did you try swapping in the other stick of RAM?

Cricket

[at2wooden]

Ok, here's where I am.

I changed DVD-RW, pulled 1 stick of RAM, changed both IDE cables and tried again.

Same wouldn't load all the files again in 2000.
Tried 98, wouldn't take it at all.

So I tried XP.*
(* Many of the original parts I am using came from my old eMachine T4155. XP started to load, but wouldn't take my license. Could that be because my eMachine XP didn't have SP2 and the one I finally used does? That's going to be another problem down the road I am sure. I really want to load this in my new 2000 program because it is a spanish version that I bought to use in this computer for my grandson in Costa Rica)
Anyway, I got XP loaded using my other license, but will not boot from the hard drive. I tried HDD0 / HDD1 / HDD2 and HDD3 as boot drive in bios.
(First Floppy / second HD / third boot CD-ROM)

Nah, I'm not getting frustrated. Am checking with the MSI forum to see if my RAM is compatible.
Have reset the CMOS, set to failsafe defaults, and am reloading 2000.

MSI 845 Pro4 / Corsair 2X 512MB PC133
SL5VH P4 1.6GHZ / 400 FSB / 478 pin / 256KB L2
WD 80GB HD

[at2wooden]

Un******believable!!

I got 2000 loaded !!!

After I reset CMOS, I changed the slots that the RAM was in from 1, or 1 & 2, to 1 & 3. ZAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
POST flew by........
Ah but the story doesn't end there.

Turns out the HARD DRIVE AND THE MAIN IDE CABLE (new) WERE BAD.

All I had for a spare HD was an old 10GB drive, but it's partitioned into a 2GB and an 8GB space. Kinda small, but ok for a starter I suppose.

How do I get rid of the partition so I can have a 10GB drive?
(I formated both partitons, they were FAT, and now windows reads both partitons as OS and tries to start with the wrong partition)

If it's a hassle, I guess I'll break down and buy another bigger HD and load 2000 again.

Thanks for all you help guys!!

Looks like you'll be hearing from me in another post soon......while I was messing with this one, my personal new built rig went belly up........nothing but black screen.

Boy this is fun!!!!!

MSI 845 Pro4 / Corsair 2X 512MB PC133
SL5VH P4 1.6GHZ / 400 FSB / 478 pin / 256KB L2
WD 80GB HD

[Cricket]

If you get rid of the two partitions you're going to have to reinstall Win2000...again...

But if you don't mind, you can either use Delpart to get rid of the partitions or use Darik's Boot and Nuke or KillDisk to zero-fill/wipe the drive. Or you could buy Partition Magic to remove the 8GB partition and expand the 2GB partition.

Cricket

[at2wooden]

Thanks guys, you've been a light at the end of the tunnel for me.
You make the fun/torture of building more fun than torture.
Mega-kudos to you both!!

Reinstalling windows is no problem now that I know what I know.

I'll check out those programs and also keep an eye out for a 40GB HD.
Finding the smaller ones is getting hard to do these days.

I'll be back!!