Vista - 1 week and still no success: Vista x64 install hangs up! cannot install

Hi everyone,

When i try to run setup, it goes to the first graphical screen (with the mouse and the vista blue/green background), and at the first attempt to write to the Hardrive, the system hangs up.....and reboots within a few seconds of that!

My setup consists of:
e8400
Asus P5Q pro (with latest Bios)
4 x 1GB crucial ballistix PC2-6400
2 x 250 SATA WD2500AAKS

so far, here is what I've tried:

a) Removed 2 x 1 GB sticks (from DIMM2 and DIMM4 slots).
b) Forced Bios Timings to memory 4-4-4-12 (as oem says) and 2.0 Vdimm
c) tried a different install disk of Vista x64, and even 32-bit versions
d) removed all drives except one, and tried each one, one by one.

in all 4 cases, it did the same thing.....it hangs up several seconds into the 1st graphical screen (after loading files and the windows scroll bar is finished). Again, it seems like there is an attempt to write to the HD (I see the HD flash for a split sec) and then it hangs!

To try to see if it was a Hardware issue, I tried installing Windows XP Pro, and it installed fine ..........i had to format the drives, but it installed fine.

next, I tried to install vista again, and it still hangs up!

I'm out of ideas at this point. i've been at this for almost a week without success. I'm thinking of trying another motherboard (Gigabyte, etc), but I know this mobo can install x64 vista.

might also, disable all not needed devices in the bios.
including but not limited to serial/parallel, and usb devices.

removing 2 of the memory sticks is a good idea.
as is disabling in the bios one of the 2 hard drives.

some motherboards have problems with all these devices enabled.
as well as memory over 2 gb.





mikeyhsd@xxxxxx



"ssabripo" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:7da60e886726846127e3d9bc85a65272@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Hi everyone,

When i try to run setup, it goes to the first graphical screen (with
the mouse and the vista blue/green background), and at the first attempt
to write to the Hardrive, the system hangs up.....and reboots within a
few seconds of that!

My setup consists of:
e8400
Asus P5Q pro (with latest Bios)
4 x 1GB crucial ballistix PC2-6400
2 x 250 SATA WD2500AAKS

so far, here is what I've tried:

a) Removed 2 x 1 GB sticks (from DIMM2 and DIMM4 slots).
b) Forced Bios Timings to memory 4-4-4-12 (as oem says) and 2.0 Vdimm
c) tried a different install disk of Vista x64, and even 32-bit
versions
d) removed all drives except one, and tried each one, one by one.

in all 4 cases, it did the same thing.....it hangs up several seconds
into the 1st graphical screen (after loading files and the windows
scroll bar is finished). Again, it seems like there is an attempt to
write to the HD (I see the HD flash for a split sec) and then it hangs!

To try to see if it was a Hardware issue, I tried installing Windows XP
Pro, and it installed fine ..........i had to format the drives,
but it installed fine.

next, I tried to install vista again, and it still hangs up!

I'm out of ideas at this point. i've been at this for almost a week
without success. I'm thinking of trying another motherboard (Gigabyte,
etc), but I know this mobo can install x64 vista.


--
ssabripo

>>>>> but I know this mobo can install x64 vista

Maybe a stupid question . Is your MOBO 64 bit enabled at all ???

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"ssabripo" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:7da60e886726846127e3d9bc85a65272@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

How do I check that? I read the Mobo and there is no BIOS setting to "enable" 64bit. But the P5Q pro definitely supports it, according to the Website, and several people who have this mobo and have x64 installed.

is there something particular I have to do?

well....i tried installling Vista Ultimate x86 (32bit) from within XP2, and it started the installation....then it stopped saying it couldn't copy some boot file!

so I tried formatting the drive, and it wouldn't allow me! WTF!

i'm just really dumbfounded at this point

i have to believe it is the mobo incompatibility....I've tried everything! new HD's, new install CDs, new Sata cables, and now, I just tried some new RAM (Corsair XMS2 pc2-6400).

i have to believe it is the mobo somehow

Did you make sure all the connections between your drives are tight, you
may also want to load drivers for all your hardware on install, incase
Vista drivers aren't working well with it. Use a program like DBAN to
get everything off your hard drives to start with a clean slate. You
also want to make sure all your hardware is compatible with Vista before
you try again. Make sure all USB drives, external storage devices, etc
are unplugged. Have you tried installing XP and then doing an upgrade,
you may be left with some junk, but it could work.


--
wind0ws_g33k
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I've tried everything...still no dice. I'm packing my mobo and returning for another one....gigabyte or DFI or something?

well...i've tried just about everything other than voodoo....so this one is going back for RMA.

I'm gonna try another board

wow...I'm really REALLY lost now:

I got a brand new P5Q-E board, and same behavior! So it is definitely not a mobo issue, unless it is a incompatibility with Asus and WD hd's which I doubt.

Anyways, I did the following:

a) installed XP, and then tried to install Vista 32bit that way.....it did part of the install, but then (once it rebooted) it would try to start vista and continue installing and BOOM, it reboots! It definitely doesn't like something.

b) I copied all the files from the DVD onto my HD, and tried to start that way, and nothing...it just sits there blinking.

so, I really don't know what else to try. COuld it be my IDE drive doing something with the SATA controller?