New Hardware Trouble: C2D, SATA, and DC Ram

[XTREEMMMAK]

Ok,
I've been working all night on this update for my old system and I still cant get it to work . What I'm doing is upgrading from a system that previously had a 2.4gHZ P4, 1.5GB of Ram, 2 ATA harddrives, Windows XP Pro installed to a 2.4gHz Dual Core 2, 4GB of Dual Channel Ram, the same 2 ATA hard drives plus another 320gb SATA harddrive, and I still want to keep Windows XP Pro because my devices dont have 64bit drivers yet.

Ok so I bought everything and I put everything together and I thought it was just normal routine. I turn the system on and first I notice I cant get past the initial BIOS boot up screen. So I figured out that is was the SATA drive doing this (I still dont know why...maybe because I need specific MoBo drivers installed first?). So after I did that, it proceeded past the BIOS boot screen and commenced booting windows. Problem is, it never got to the logo and just cycled back to the BIOS boot screen again! So now I was in a loop! So I thought maybe it could be some settings on the board like mabe a wrong case connector or something. Nope. Pretty much I got everything right. Just in case though, I unplugged all the things I added to the board except the PCI periferals and just tryed booting from the bootable source with nothing else on the IDE channels. Same thing happened. So then I though mabe it could be the ram. So I took out 3 of 4 and just ran 1gb of ram. Same thing happened. So then I put them all back in. NOW A NEW PROBLEM CAME UP that I wasn't ready to deal with tonight. The moment I put back all four DIMMS, the PC speaker would let out this long tone indicating that it cant find any Ram!!! So I took out 1 DIMM and it said it was ok. Now I'm thinking that the MOBO is defective but mabe not which leads me to my question.

Can you run Windows XP Pro or Media Center using the Intel Core 2 Duo Chip? I know it's specifically a 64bit chip but from almost everyone that I've talked to, they said that you shouldn't have a problem. Though you're not using the chip to it's fullest ability, it still will be treaty fast. But I'm wondering that if because of this chip I'm not able to boot into Windows properly...I meen I've vaugly seen some systems built with this processor and Windows XP installed but I haven't made an in depth search. By the way, to validate if it was just my harddrive going bad or something else, I used a drive in my other computer with another Windows XP installation. Same thing happened. PLEASE HELP GUYS! Let me know what I can do! I need the power but if my only solution is to get Vista then that's not going to work for me!

[glc]

Please post complete system details (brands and models), including brand and model of the power supply.

[XTREEEMMAK]

Computer: Custom
Motherboard:
*JetWay 775GT1-LOGE LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
(I should add that I never shop by this brand but I was feeling curious. Plus I've never heard of them. Never will shop by them again).

Processor:
*Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775

Harddrives:
*HITACHI ATA 250GB HDD on IDE Channel 1 Master
*HITACHI ATA 250GB HDD on IDE Channel 1 Slave
*HITACHI SATA2 350GB HDD on SATA Channel 1

Ram:
*2GB Crossair DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Ram
*2GB Crossair DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Ram

Graphics Card:
*DIAMOND X550PCIE256SB Radeon X550 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card

That's everything that I can think of.

BTW Update. I'm ready to say that this damn board is defective. Every time I plug in the SATA drive, it locks up at boot. To get around this, I had to pass the drive as a RAID device in the bios. Also, DIMM slot 4 for some reason every time I remove the ram to change something, the board for like 10min cant find any of the ram while inserted untill I remove it from DIMM 4.

I managed to find an old 5400rpm hard drive that I could use as a test dummy. A friend told me that the problem may be because I need to do a new install of windows. I didn't want to loose any important data so I used this drive. Surprisingly, I was able to install and get into Windows XP. However I did have to disable the L3 cache in the Bios. Also I then realized that the drive was set to slave, and this was the only drive on the cable. I set it to master and now it says there's something wrong with the cable connection. I put the drive with one of the other drives as a slave, same thing. I put the drive as single and it worked. So I thought mabe if I can get to the Windows XP install with both drives in, I may be able to reformat the partition in the dummy drive so it my cooperate with the other drive (then I was thinking what ?!? lol). Didn't work.

Last I tried to install the OS on the SATA drive which if you remember I had to change to function as a RAID drive. So the Windows XP installer was unable to see the drive.

I've never had this much trouble installing a PC before so I'm guessing with all these irregularities, there is something wrong with this MOBO. Any more help before I use the money from my paycheck tomorrow for a new motherboard?

[glc]

Anyone who sells you a Jetway board with a straight face should be shot. Those are made by PC Chips, the lowest of the low. I also do not recommend a Nvidia SLI board for an Intel build. Stick with an Intel chipset.

We have an issue here - it looks like you need two IDE channels. With your 4 sticks of ram, this is going to make it even more difficult. Here is the only board for $100 or less I'd trust that meets this criteria:

ASUS P5LD2 R2.0 LGA 775 Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131048

It must be the 2.0 version to support Core 2 Duo. I'd prefer an Asus P5W DH board, but that's $225.

Please tell us the power supply details - this is quite important.

IDE drives on 80 wire Ultra ATA cables should be jumpered Cable Select, not master/slave.

Windows will have to be reinstalled, procedures for a repair reinstall are our Tips and Tricks forum. I'd personally install it on the SATA - and XP has native driver support for the SATA on that board if you set SATA to emulate IDE in the bios, no F6 required. Leave the IDE drives disconnected till Windows is installed along with all drivers - 2 of the 3 IDE ports are 3rd party and need drivers. You will want your opticals on the native controller.

[XTREEEMMAK]

I knew I never should have gone with this off brand! I'm mainly an ASUS, MSI, or Gigabyte guy anyway. Anything else I'm a bit weary of.

Considering that I need the board now, I cant afford to wait for the order to come in more than likely this monday (if I order now). So I checked out CompUSA (worst prices) and found this which seems to look alot better than what I have. Not as much ram support on the upgrade side, but still very sufficient: Gigabyte GA-965P-S3

Then I'll just get the CompUSA IDE to SATA converter for the other drives.
*Power Supply
MEGA at 450W out

[glc]

Is it a true 24 pin unit or are you using a converter? How many +12v rails and what are the amp ratings on them? Can you look for the 6 digit E number on it? It is very small and should be near the UL symbol, which looks like a backwards LR.

That Gigabyte is a decent board. You may want to get a converter for one of your optical drives too - that JMicron IDE controller has a rough time booting with some drives. Intel totally removed native IDE support in the 965 series chipsets. Too bad you have to go to CompRipoff - that board is $108 at Newegg.

[FLG]

Im not sure where you are located, but im in NY. With standard overnight the board is still about 25$ cheaper from newegg then at comp (dont forget to add in tax to the comp price). Id call up Newegg and ask a sales rep if you would have it by this week (you should) and if anything have them rush your order for another 2$ (i think).

[doubledragon5]

Well not to hijack this thread,(sorry in advance) but Compripoff is closing most of its store across the country something like 138 and will only have around 100 remaining...