With a brand-new self-assembled system I would start with the bare essentials:
- motherboard, keyboard, mouse
- 1 1GB memory module
- 1 hard disk (500 GB)
- 1 DVD-ROM
- 1 monitor on the mobo's built-in (VGA or DVI) port (if available)
Important:
- 1 floppy drive, internal or external on USB (adjust the BIOS setup to boot
from diskette)
- 1 diskette, bootable into DOS (Win 9x) with FDISK.EXE on it
OR
- 1 CD, bootable into DOS (Win 9x) with FDISK.EXE on it
Procedure:
- boot into DOS
- run FDISK.EXE and remove all partitions (WARNING! ALL existing data will
be erased)
(do NOT make new partitions, Vista will do that for you)
- remove ALL bootable media
- install Vista from its bootable DVD
If succesful
1. shut down AND POWER DOWN the computer (remove power cord)
2. install 1 single additional memory module
3. boot the computer
If succesful
1. shut down AND POWER DOWN the computer (remove power cord)
2. install a third memory module
3. start the computer
If succesfull
- repeat the previously described steps 1-3 for all remaining hardware
components, BUT ONLY ONE SINGLE COMPONENT AT A TIME.
If succesfull, from this point onward, you can shrink Vista's root partition
and organize the disks' unallocated space in however many partitions you like.
I hope this helps.
Good luck.
--
E Pericoloso Sporgersi
"It is dangerous to lean out!" [of Windows]
XP or Vista? A polyglot''''''''''''''''s efficient solution: Vista for my
portable and XP for my desktop!
"SDC" wrote:
Quote:
> (UPDATED INFORMATION AT BOTTOM OF POST!)
>
> Forgive me, I am completely new to Vista. This is my first install and my
> first look the the OS. The disc I am using is directly from Microsoft - it
> is not a pirated, downloaded or otherwise shady copy. It is the 32 bit
> edition.
>
> I have just built a computer - Gigabyte GA-X38-DS4 775 with a 2.44ghz quad
> core, 4 gb of RAM (DDR2 PC2-8500), Creative X-Fi Fatality sound card, GeForce
> 8600 (512mb) video, WD 1.0 Terabyte HD, WD 500gb HD, Asus DVD-ROM,
> WriteMaster DVD Multi Drive. You get the picture. All HD and optical drives
> are SATA.
>
> Anyway, upon attempting to install Vista on a clean hard drive (everything
> is brand new out of the box), I either get to a point where there is an error
> stating that the boot manager is missing or corrupt, or I can actually get to
> the Windows Vista screen to install and get to the point where it is
> expanding the files -- when this error occurs:
>
> Windows cannot access the required file D:/Sources/Install.wim. Make sure
> all files required for installation are available and restart the
> application. Error code 0x800701E7
>
> I have looked for the SATA drivers on the mobo disk and the only ones I have
> found pertain to RAID, which I am not running. I want to use the 500gb drive
> as the primary (windows and applications) and the terabyte drive as a data
> drive.
>
> What am I doing wrong? I don't see any place to format the drive like you
> could in WinXP.
>
> I have tried going to the computer repair module, then to the command prompt
> and trying bcdedit as instructed in another forum. That only caused another
> error: "The boot configuration data store could not be opened. The system
> cannot find the file specified".
>
> Now, I have restarted the computer again and attempted to install Vista.
> Instead of going to the Vista installation screen, I get a black screen with
> an error message that goes something like this: "Windows failed to start. A
> recent hardware or sofware change might be the cause. To fix the problem: 1)
> Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer. 2) Choose
> your language settings, and then click "next." 3) Click "Repair your
> computer." If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator
> or computer manufacturer for assistance.
> File: \windows\system32\drivers\nvstor.sys
> Status: 0xc0000221
> Info: Windows failed to load because a critical system driver is missing, or
> corrupt.
>
> I have been through this same continuous loop about 10 times...a couple of
> times the installation looks like it's going to work until I get to the
> Expanding Files part of the vista install....then I get a BSOD about 12% of
> the way through the expansion. The BSOD says IRQ_LESS_THAN_OR_EQUAL_TO. The
> only option I have at this point is restarting the computer -- AGAIN.
>
> I have tried using the other optical drive and there is no difference. The
> installation disc is clean and free of scratches.
>
> I am at my wit's end! Installing an OS should not be this difficult...but
> apparently I am either missing something or I have a flaky Vista disk.
>
> Please advise!
>
> Thanks.
>