makmillion

Redo the installation?
Stick with x86?
Go Open Source? (e.g; Linux)

All very good ideas, if I do say so myself

__________________
Mainboard: MSI K9NBPM2-FID
CPU: AMD x2 3800+
RAM: Kingston / 5GB (2GB + 2GB + 512MB + 512MB @ 4-4-4-12)
Video Card: evga 7600GT (256MB GDDR3)
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250GB 7200.10 (16MB Cache) x2
Optical: LG H41N + LG H44L
Case: Xclio 188A (Black/Blue)
OS: XP Pro
Display: Acer AL2016W
Audio: Logitech x-230 (Arrived - man these things rock!)

GSAV55

If I already have XP, would I have to create a partition to install Linux?

__________________
Acer 24" wide screen 2ms 1920x1200
Asus M2N-E nForce 500 SLI
2x XFX GeForce 7900GTX SLI
2gb OCZ DDR2 RAM
AMD 64 x2 5600+ 3.02Ghz
550watt X2 Ultra modular PSU
250gb Seagate Barracuda
G15 Gaming Keyboard

SIMP

Hey, I may go the Linux route.....just kidding. I have tried the installation several times only to fail. Oh well......guess I'll stick with XP for now.

__________________
Main PC (Custom Build): E2160 @ 2.8GHz / MSI Neo2-FR / 7800 GTX / 4GB DDR2-800 / Vista Ultimate x64

Guest PC (Compaq Presario): AMD 64 3800+ / Stock Mobo / 6150SE / 2GB DDR2-667 / Vista Home Basic

PC eye

When you go to install any other OS including a different version of Windows or even a different edition of the same version like Pro and Home you first create a new primary while for Linux that could be an extended partition. Linux won't run on NTFS however like Windows won't run on UNIX type VFat. Two totally different types of OSs there.

Something probably isn't configured quite right if multiple attempts are not seeing Windows finishing the setup. Safe mode can only be used once Windows is fully installed as a boot option there.

It sounds like you may be seeing a hardware problem if the hard drive itself was set as default in the boot order once all files were copied to the drive. Or were they fully copied? Trying a lens cleaner for the optical and looking at the disk for smudge marks, scrtaches, etc. there might reveal something besides possible bad ram.

__________________
Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175

Is EBay going out of the Auction Business?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

GSAV55

How do you create a new primary?

__________________
Acer 24" wide screen 2ms 1920x1200
Asus M2N-E nForce 500 SLI
2x XFX GeForce 7900GTX SLI
2gb OCZ DDR2 RAM
AMD 64 x2 5600+ 3.02Ghz
550watt X2 Ultra modular PSU
250gb Seagate Barracuda
G15 Gaming Keyboard

SIMP

PC Eye, I just wanted to say "Thanks" for spending the time on these forums like you do. You never mind helping folks and know your stuff to boot! I really do appreciate all of your input on this man. I'll let you know what I find out with my situation!

__________________
Main PC (Custom Build): E2160 @ 2.8GHz / MSI Neo2-FR / 7800 GTX / 4GB DDR2-800 / Vista Ultimate x64

Guest PC (Compaq Presario): AMD 64 3800+ / Stock Mobo / 6150SE / 2GB DDR2-667 / Vista Home Basic

GSAV55

If I got a new HD I could just put linux on one and edit the boot.ini right?

__________________
Acer 24" wide screen 2ms 1920x1200
Asus M2N-E nForce 500 SLI
2x XFX GeForce 7900GTX SLI
2gb OCZ DDR2 RAM
AMD 64 x2 5600+ 3.02Ghz
550watt X2 Ultra modular PSU
250gb Seagate Barracuda
G15 Gaming Keyboard

PC eye

Some around might not say that but thanks for the flowers!

For creating a new partition you first need the correct partitioning depending on the type of primary or extended being created. For MS that would go either the old Fat16/32 or NTFS for 2000-Vista there.

Linux uses a VFat type on a different platform there which can be either a primary or extended type depending on the distro. A second extended type is also used by Linux for virtual memory called the "swap" while the main files go onto the "root" partition.

The one free tool that seems to do all for both MS and Linux is the Gnome Partition Editor's live for cd-r pllatform independent version more commonly known as GParted live. OParted another Linux is strictly open source for Linux there. The documentation for using GParted is seen at http://gparted.sourceforge.net/larry...es/gparted.htm

With any drive you can create upto 4 primary type partitions or add some extended along with a pair of primaries. Linux generally uses a Grub or Lilo boot loader and you need to manually install that into the Windows mbr and edit the bootmenu.lst file to see a distro and Windows dual boot together.

Linux does have some advantages like not seeing the clutter for faster loading and runs more stable as a rulle then Windows. It also sees a far better hardware detection process then XP. MS had to do better there with Vista to see that sell. The 0.3.3.0 or older 0.3.2.0 releases are platform independent as you look under architecture when cliching on the plus(+) sign at the left of each version. Look about 15 down from the top at http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...kage_id=173828

Review the documentation adn screenshots and practice getting used to the difference seen with it. To load up to the main gui you simply press the enter at each prompt and leave it at 24bit and 1024x768 defaults when you see those options. Changing the 24bit will force you to reboot and the larger 1280x1024 resolution will force things off of the screen.

__________________
Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175

Is EBay going out of the Auction Business?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

GSAV55

Thanks a lot for your help

__________________
Acer 24" wide screen 2ms 1920x1200
Asus M2N-E nForce 500 SLI
2x XFX GeForce 7900GTX SLI
2gb OCZ DDR2 RAM
AMD 64 x2 5600+ 3.02Ghz
550watt X2 Ultra modular PSU
250gb Seagate Barracuda
G15 Gaming Keyboard

PC eye

Someone else would have to explain how to see a dual boot with Linux along with Windows since I veered away from Linux for the most part a few years ago mainly from not seeing any dsl driver support for connecting online as well as not seeing too many programs other then those for Linux.

Once I see a new larger sata drive go in Vista will go on one of the pair now used for storage/backup leaving the ide model free for tinkering with Linux, Solaris, or another OS there if I simply don't remove it entirely. Once familiar with Linux a little you can then learn how to use a virtual machine to run Linux on a Windows system or MS type games and apps while a distro is running. That gets a little more involved however.

__________________
Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175

Is EBay going out of the Auction Business?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1