XP Install Problems

[dahr85]

Hello all,

I'm trying to build a new computer and I'm coming across some problems installing Windows XP Pro right from the start. First of all, here is my hardware:

Abit KD7 RAID Mobo
AMD Athlon XP 1800+ CPU
GeForce2 MX400 64MB AGP Video Card
Nanya 256MB PC2100 DDR
Maxtor 5400 RPM 40 GB Hard Drive

Now to the problem. Whenever I power up my computer, I enter the BIOS by hitting the DEL key. The first setting I come across is the one to set the processor speed. My processor speed isn't even an option in the BIOS, so I just set it to the lowest one on there (1500(333)). The BIOS is recognizing my hardrive and CD-ROM drive just fine. I also chose my "First Boot Device" as CD-Rom because I want to install from the XP cd. The problem comes when I save my settings to the CMOS. Normally, it should save the settings and then say "Press any key to boot from Cd-Rom" correct? Instead, when I save the changes, the computer screen goes black and the monitor turns off or goes into standby mode (green light on monitor changes to yellow light). If I turn the computer off and reboot, it does nothing, doesn't even attempt to boot from the cd.

I've also tried clearing the CMOS several times and this didn't seem to fix the problem. I've also measured the voltage on my CMOS battery and it measured a perfect 3 VDC.

One time I tried booting up and I hit the F8 key and it told me "Press F1 to continue". When I did this, it told me that "NTLDR is missing." Other times when booting up, I get the error message, "CPU is unworkable or has been changed.

The hard drive has been formatted (NTFS) in another computer and the memory has worked in another computer, so I'm fairly confident they aren't the problems. I've never used a RAID motherboard before. Is there something I should know about these? Am I doing something wrong? Does anyone have any suggestions or similar problems? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks.

Darren

[LooseChippings]

Download a copy of the motherboard manual from Here

Your Bus and multiplyer settings for the processor should be 133 bus @ 13.5 multiplyer.

On all the recent Bioses I have come accross when you 'Save Settings & Exit' the system reboots automatically.

I think once you have set your CPU up everthing will work OK

[dahr85]

Thanks for the help. Last night I took everything out of the motherboard and reinserted it, but I paid special attention to the processor. I cleaned the old heatsink compound off and applied a new coat. This time I made sure the heatsink was sitting properly on the CPU. When I rebooted, everything worked fine. So, I guess it was the CPU all along that was causing my problems. Thanks for all the help. Good luck.

Darren