Another Installation Problem

[Zack]

I install Winme on a celeron 677 system with 64 Mb SDRAM... The installation when smoothly until 1st reboot.... the system should continue installation but instead went shutdown... complete with 'it is now safe to turn of your computer' message. I change the SDRAM to another 128 Mb SDRAM with the same result... anyone got any idea where it when wrong? mobo maybe?

TQ

[edrod13]

I never seen that during the installation of Win Me you got "It is now safe to turn off your pc." Did you get this message after the first reboot of the installation? I have installed Win ME several times and the first reboot is similar to Win2k where the setup files are installed to the hard drive and then it reboots to start the actuall installation. Could you give some more info regarding when exactly you get the message.

Edrod13

[Cricket]

Post the system specs...we need to know what you're working with.

What have you tried to fix the problem?

Is the system overclocked at all? If it is, set the CPU speed back to stock speed.

Set the BIOS to default settings.

Try another set of IDE cables.

Cricket

[Zack]

Yes... it shutdown after the first boot... it suppose to start actual installation like edrod mention... instead... it goes shutdown. The system also gave BSOD error message during certain program installation. Because of failing to install OS using this system, I install Winme using my other good system and later transfer the harddrive to this trouble system... it reinstall it self all those controlle because this two is difference system and mainboard... but it went OK... still there is this BSOD when certain software is install, it is a friend system with blown power supply.

Cricket, this system never Overclock.... i wrongly type the Mhz... it is Celeron 667.... Asus CUSC Mobo.... 64 Apacer SDRAM.... new Maxtor HDrive... CDROM etc

Any idea where it went wrong?

[edrod13]

I would format the drive and redo it using your friends motherboard since you might have to load chipset drivers and what not unless you are familliar with the ENUM registry trick. Also make sure that when you do the install you only start with the video card and then once the OS is up you can install any other pci card. This will make sure that you do not have an IRQ conflict causing the install to fail. I would also try to use a stick of RAM that you know for sure works. Like Cricket mentioned can you give us the specs for the pc. HTH

Edrod13

[Cricket]

Blown power supply? That's the kind of information you should include in your first post. What brand was it? I hope it wasn't a DEER.

There's a chance something in the system got damaged when the power supply went. Check the motherboard carefully for any signs of electrical damage. Check the RAM slots...in fact, carefully inspect everything in the system.

Cricket

[Zack]

Thank U Cricket for your infomation... about the blown power supply... i like u... first thought that the blown power supply got to do with unstable system... then i found out from the owner that the system behave like that right from beginning... and he didn't bother to return it from where he bought it... he did mention that the trouble is only happen sometime and did not interfere much with his work... that is mostly typing and nothing heavy... so that it... what do you thing.... something got to do with mobo? maybe the SDRAM? one of those system which u can't be sure what went wrong....

[Zack]

ohhh the power supply... it is BESTEC.... small power supply for a very small casing... from my xperience... this power unit is xpensive.... :-)

[GaryRouth]

I'm curious to hear what errors you saw when trying the WinMe install in your first try (in "the troubled system")

Might test the hardware, too: memory & drives.

Like edrod13, I think installing into a completely different machine as a first step is only going to complicate your troubleshooting. Try to keep the "other good machine" out of the picture, and instead concentrate on finding what isn't working with the "troubled" one. First things first.

And don't forget to reset the Bios Settings before you reformat/reinstall (usually a good idea when you've had power problems).
. . . Gary

[post again if you need more specifics on any of this]

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Zack i found out from the owner that the system behave like that right from beginning... and he didn't bother to return it from where he bought it... he did mention that the trouble is only happen sometime and did not interfere much with his work... that is mostly typing and nothing heavy... so that it... what do you thing.... something got to do with mobo? maybe the SDRAM?

Oh, the system has always been like that? Then I would try swapping in different sticks of RAM to test with.

Cricket

[reboot]

I doubt if the hardware is faulty, it's more likely a BIOS setup problem.
Just resetting the BIOS (by shorting the two contacts with a screwdriver) will not necessarily turn off all the things you need to successfully install a hard drive and OS.

[Zack]

Thank U.... I will try resetting the BIOS and reinstall.... I hope it will get better.... I let u guys know... Thanks again.

[reboot]

Another hint. If the BIOS has any Anti-Virus setting, aka "Trend Chip-Away", please make sure you DISable it before trying to install ANY program that needs to write the MBR. OS installs in particular.