New XP Media Center Install issue

[dcousino]

I'm trying to install Windows XP Media Center. Everything starts well but, when it tells me that setup is starting windows, it locks up. Any ideas?

DFI Lanparty nF4 SLI-DR
Athalon X2 3800
Corsair Mem 2 gig
Western Digital 250Gig SATA HD
SLI 6800 GT (2)

[Ob1]

i had that happen once when doing a repair for a clients pc. turned out that the processor was overheating. if i removed the side panel then everything worked fine, but as soon as i put the cover back on, the system would lock up during normal use or when i was doing the repair.

[glc]

DFI motherboards are incredibly picky when it comes to ram and bios settings. They are not boards for beginners.

Is your power supply SLI-certified?

Have you tried installing Windows with only one video card and all other cards removed and peripherals disconnected?

[dcousino]

Ob1 - I tried it with the case open and the processor cold. Still hung up.

glc - the power supply is not sli-certified according to Antec and Newegg. Since it is not, will I be able to use it with only one video card?

Thanks to all.

[Ob1]

dcousino

did you try G advice of stripping everything off of the pc except the bare essentials?

remove the video card and use onboard video if you have it
leave one stick of ram in it
use only one hard drive
remove any network, modem, or other PCI cards until you can get the system fulling installed.

[glc]

Which exact Antec PSU is it? Which exact Corsair ram?

[dcousino]

It's an antec smartpower 2.0 500 watt
the memory is CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory x2

Thanks.

[dcousino]

Sorry, I also tried stripping everything out except one video card and two sticks of ram. I'll have to try it with one when I get back home.

[glc]

That PSU is fine for one video card but marginal for SLI. Why did you buy a DFI board and value select ram?

[dcousino]

Thanks. I had the ram, bought the board after. Will new ram fix the issue or is this just pick on the newbie day?

[glc]

It's not pick on the newbie day at all, it's just you didn't do adequate research. I apologize if I've offended you, it's not my intention. DFI boards are famous for being fussy with ram. I have no idea if new ram will fix it though. I would never recommend a DFI board to a newbie, I don't even like using them because they are so quirky and I've been building for over 10 years.

If you want to get good answers on what works and what doesn't, take a trip over here:

http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/index.php

[dcousino]

I wasn't offended. It was a joke. Thanks for the link. I also found out on another forum that I needed to load the SATA disk before I can load windows. Thanks. Now I just need a floppy drive!!