Problems during/after computer completion.

[EonBlueapocalypse]

I just recently finished building my own computer, a first, by myself. I feel I have done well, with only a few problems.

While building, I needed to connect an audio cable from my dvd-rom to my hard drive. Neither the mobo, hard drive, nor dvd-rom came with this cable, and I wasn't sure if I needed it or not.
A friend said that it is only meant for getting music files onto your computer, which I would like to do, but nevertheless, I want the cable. I just don't know WHAT the exact name of the cable is, so I don't know how to find it. (newegg.com)

Also, I had made an iso file of Win XP boot cd... it formatted my hd, installed, and said it was successful.

But now, when my comp boots up, it says:

A disk read error occured.
Press ctrl+alt+del to restart.

I tried re-installation, and it was a no go. I'm just going to go buy windows XP w/ vista upgrade, because I don't want to screw my comp up. But I am not sure if I have or not.

And lastly, I am not sure if I need to set up my Masters/Slaves or if they are set up already.

It says my HD is Chan 1 Master, and my DVD is channel 4 Master. Do I need to arrange it differently, is that the problem? Or is that ok?

Please help! Very appreciated!!!

[flanzig1]

There is no such cable that goes from optical drive to a hard drive. The audio cable from an CD/DVD drive is needed if you are using an add-on sound card. On-board sound is through the data cable.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by EonBlueapocalypse While building, I needed to connect an audio cable from my dvd-rom to my hard drive.

What?!? You don't connect the DVD-ROM drive to your hard drive with an audio cable. Where did you get that idea? The audio cable would be connected between the optical drive and the sound card or the on-board sound connection.

Originally Posted by EonBlueapocalypse Neither the mobo, hard drive, nor dvd-rom came with this cable, and I wasn't sure if I needed it or not.

You don't need it. With WinXP the audio signal is handled by the IDE cable. Read this.

Originally Posted by EonBlueapocalypse A friend said that it is only meant for getting music files onto your computer, which I would like to do, but nevertheless, I want the cable. I just don't know WHAT the exact name of the cable is, so I don't know how to find it. (newegg.com)

It's called a CD-ROM audio cable, but like I said you don't need it.

Originally Posted by EonBlueapocalypse Also, I had made an iso file of Win XP boot cd... it formatted my hd, installed, and said it was successful. But now, when my comp boots up, it says: A disk read error occured. Press ctrl+alt+del to restart. I tried re-installation, and it was a no go. I'm just going to go buy windows XP w/ vista upgrade, because I don't want to screw my comp up. But I am not sure if I have or not.

That usually happens with a burned copy of a Windows installation CD. You have to buy your own Windows installation CD. This forum has a Zero Tolerance on Piracy policy.

Originally Posted by EonBlueapocalypse And lastly, I am not sure if I need to set up my Masters/Slaves or if they are set up already. It says my HD is Chan 1 Master, and my DVD is channel 4 Master. Do I need to arrange it differently, is that the problem? Or is that ok?

It's okay.

Cricket

[EonBlueapocalypse]

Ok. Now, my stress level is extremely high, resulting with me smashing a whole in my wall .

With windows, I proceeded for installation. I booted from the Cd-rom, and installation formated my C partition, and installed the files. It rebooted.

After rebooting, it rebooted. And rebooted. And rebooted.
50 times.

So, I tried to go back in installation. I read my motherboard manual. It mentioned putting in my SATA drivers during the OS installation. By doing this, it told me to insert the drivers cd into a different computer along with a blank floppy, and copy the files onto the floppy from the DOS menu. I did that. It never said WHICH files (drivers) to copy, so I tried 3 floppies. One, with the same driver file that the example showed. No go. The next, with one that looked like the controller. No go. THAN, I put ALL on there. SUCCESS.

During installation, all the drive files were taken in, and it than proceeded with windows installation.

KEEP IN MIND, It had already been installed. This was my 3rd try or so, so that problem might be in that sold part, with it installing too much. But everytime, it told me it was deleting / remaking the windows installation files.

So. I commenced with it that last time. It finished, and told me to reboot.

It reboots.

It goes back to the setup menu. I scream. I read my mobo manual again, and it mentions to boot from hard drive. No go. I read a guide online. It says to remove the setup disk, and reboot the computer. It should go to the next phase of windows installation, with which I would use my activation key and finish installing windows.

Cd goes out of the drive.

Reboot.

10 intense seconds of my computer loading.

Than, BOOM. The ever so diabolical message appears.

THE SAME MESSAGE AS BEFORE.

A disk error occured.
Press ctril+alt+delete to restart.

Thats what I see EVERYTIME I boot my brand new, 1700 dollar computer that I made. My pride and joy doesn't work, and I'm really tense right now. I have ran out of ideas.

PLEASE help me.

[DarkPacMan77]

instead of your computer being 1700 dollars, if you REALLY don't want issues, use a REAL copy of windows xp home (valued $90 at Newegg.com). Many colleges get cheap xp discs ($10).

Other than that, I will not comment on helping you figure out the problems with a pirated copy of windows. I will not help b/c of my personal beliefs, but instead will not help b/c of the forum policy.

the best I can tell you is that there is a "how to build a pc" article on this website that you can use and start over from scratch (you will most likely finish the build).

[EonBlueapocalypse]

it isnt a pirated version
i got a normal version of xp pro
with an activation code thats authentic
the problem is is that it wont go to the authentication process