win xp won't install/boot

[HuckerJ]

This is my first time putting together a computer and I can boot XP Pro from a CD and install until the very end when it won't restart on its own. I can push the reset button but it still won't restart. I then have to push reset again or on/off. (I don't know if this has anything to do with my problem but I thought it might have to boot a setup file on the first startup after CD installation). When I try to boot up, nothing happens after the BIOS screen stuff. I can press F8 and go to a list of startup options but none of those work. I've installed 98SE and gotten that to boot through to setup, but it always freezes and won't recognize my cd drive in safe mode. I've also tried to install several different brands of linux but that won't even boot from the cd which makes me think this is a hardware problem.

pc info:
1.2ghz AMD
384 ram
BIOS optimized defaults

[noby]

did you put your C: drive as first boot device in the BIOS?

noby

[Confused]

What is the boot order in BIOS. Your HD has to be in the sequence. Generally it will be second boot device.

Chas

[Cricket]

Are you getting the one good POST beep when the system first starts up?

What are your complete system specs? List the brand and model if you know them.

You might want to test the RAM. Do a search for DocMemory or Memtest86.

Are the drives jumpered properly? Hard drive should be set to CS.

Cricket

[HuckerJ]

Boot order:
CD-ROM(it says press any key but I don't)
hard drive 0
floppy

the bios detects the hard drive as primary master and cd rom as secondary master

specs:
ram - 2 new kingston pc133 and 1 something else(i've tried it with just the 2 kingstons)

motherboard - used ECS K7VZA w/ award BIOS

used Nvidia graphics card

80gb hard drive

[Cricket]

Originally posted by HuckerJ Boot order: CD-ROM(it says press any key but I don't)

Why don't you press any key? I think you should.

Originally posted by HuckerJ motherboard - used ECS K7VZA w/ award BIOS

Oh...

Cricket

[glc]

That's correct - you don't press any key on its first reboot after it copies the setup files, it needs to boot from the hard drive at this stage.

Make sure the bios virus protection is turned off, or it won't be able to write the boot sector like it needs to.

[HuckerJ]

anti virus protection is off

if my ram is bad, would the computer even boot from the CD?

how can I find out if there bad?

[casual01]

Sounds like it could be hardware problem to me, also. Try one stick of memory at a time, each seperatley. Also, if you know the maker of your harddrive, go to their site and download their utility to test the harddrive. Each mfg. has one specific to their drives. Have you tried reinstalling Windows a second time yet? If you do, make sure to delete the partition and reformat.

[HuckerJ]

I tried one stick of memory at a time with a new installation but thatdidn't work.
I used memtest-86 and my ram passed all tests

[Cricket]

Where did you get that ECS motherboard from?

What brand and wattage is the power supply?

Cricket

[HuckerJ]

My Uncle, who upgrades computers, gave me the board, so I'm assuming its good. I was just reading other posts saying dont get raidmax but thats what i'm using, a raidmax 420W PSU.

Also a redhat 9 linux installation freezes at: checking hlt instructions...