Big problem with my first build!

[NinjaBachelorParty]

So, ive put together my first build, and have unfortunately found that both my Optical drive and HDD are DOA. I found this out whilst installing XP, it told me that there may be a problem with the HDD. So i have taken out my hard disc (SATA), and my DVD drive (IDE), and temporarily connected an IDE hard disc and CD drive.

However, i have a problem, after the bios screen goes and the various system checks take place, i get an error message saying: 'NTLDR is missing, press Ctrl, Alt + Delete to restart', and i have no idea what this means or how to rectify it. I am pretty sure that the CD and hard drive im using for now work fine, so it cant be anything to do with that. Can anyone help me out?

For the record, im using this mobo:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MB-061-GI

Cheers.

[Cricket]

Please post the complete parts list for this computer. List the parts by brand and model including the power supply.

Are you using a burned copy of Windows?

Cricket

[glc]

The P965 chipset uses a 3rd party IDE controller - booting from an IDE CD drive is hit or miss. See my sticky thread. I'd recommend you get ahold of a SATA optical drive to install XP with. If you are installing Windows to an IDE hard drive, you need the JMB drivers on a floppy disk - press F6 when prompted to install them.

[NinjaBachelorParty]

Glc, could you recommend a SATA optical drive for me? Are they much more expensive than IDE ones?

[glc]

Looks like SATA opticals in the UK are few and far between. SATA DVD burners aren't that expensive - looks like around 25 quid. I looked at overclockers, ebuyer, and dabs - I saw a couple NEC's and Samsungs, all OEM, no software. Found a retail box Lite-On at dabs, but it's beige. Black is listed , but not in stock.

I think a decent IDE burner should work as long as the firmware gets along with the JMB controller, but I would not use an IDE hard drive.

[NinjaBachelorParty]

Got it sorted! Turns out my HDD wasnt DOA, i managed to get the mobo to recognise my old CD optical drive, and installed Windows. Just had to restart a couple of times until it recognised it hehe. Now all i have to do is return my DVD drive (which is most definately dead), and get myself a SATA drive. Thanks for the help.