Challenge or comments for computer build.

**Praetor** · 09-29-2005, 06:23 PM

Quote:

On the video card: I know I probably could have went with a better one, but it is made by the same company as the PCI one I want to use, so the chances of a conflict would be less.

Why exactly would there be a conflict?

Quote:

but I can hook up this monitor to another computer, and it comes on.

So go into BIOS and set the primary video as AGP (or PCI if u want that)

Quote:

I will be working on eliminating the possibilities and checking all the connections. I will remove the PCI card, one stick of 256 RAM, and one hard drive and see if it will come on with that. Any recommendations from the experts on other possibilities or items I should be concentrating on?

So what exactly are you trying to boot the machine up with

Quote:

The computer stopped, and displayed a "system disk error press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart." I took out the HD and put this one in my external box, and my computer can read it. I did a scandisk on it, and no errors was found. I put it back in the new case, and the same error occurs. Any ideas or suggestions?

You dont happen to have both drives on Master (or slave) do you?

Quote:

I now have a Windows XP on cd (full version) and I booted the computer up with it. It is showing me a "system disk" error. Likely, I need to change around the boot order to verify that it boots from cd prior to hd.

What exactly is the error and when does it appear?

Quote:

it goes right back to the "welcome to setup" screen, where I can chose between: set up Windows XP press <enter>, repair a Windows installation press <R>, quit installation press <F3>.

Remove the CD

SirJay · 09-30-2005, 03:30 AM

<< Why exactly would there be a conflict?

I had problems before mixing AGP and PCI video cards. As of right now, both cards are in the computer, but I only use the AGP one until I can get Windows to load up.

<< So go into BIOS and set the primary video as AGP (or PCI if u want that)

It is set up properly in BIOS now for the AGP video card. I was under the impression it was a default, but it isnt.

<< So what exactly are you trying to boot the machine up with

Because I have been having so many problems installing XP, I wanted to eliminate pieces. At that point, I had only one hard drive and was going to put the other one in when I have XP loaded up.

<< You dont happen to have both drives on Master (or slave) do you?

I check both hard drives prior to installing them one at a time. I place the jumpers on cable select and connect it with the master ribbon cable. When it doesnt work, I take that hard drive out and put the other one in, using the same jumper and ribbon settings. I found that I get the same error if I have the jumpers on master or cable select, so I left them on CS so I do not lose them.

<< What exactly is the error and when does it appear?

The exact error message is as follows: "system disk error press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart" It appears right under where it says "loading from CD press any key"

<< Remove the CD

This message is the exact same one that I get when I first started loading XP. It is not the graphical interface that tells me I am at the next step. There is something that is preventing my hard drive from loading up after the initial files are loaded from Windows. This is also the same message that I get when I press a key to let it load from the CD. If I do not press any key, then I get the error message that I mentioned.

Update: I purchased a brand new 80 GB HD, and I am getting the same errors as before. I called Microsoft again tonight and they said it could be something related to the hard drive controller. I have tried to press F5 to force load drivers from the motherboard's floppy, but it did not work. Also in F5, I can "force in" Windows to use another HAL to a generic ACPI pc-still nothing. While in Windows setup, it will not allow me to load from the motherboard CD. They also mentioned it has something to do with the MBR not working, but they could not offer a way to manually put it on the hard drive. Even going through the recovery console shows that fixboot and fixmbr does find and repair the errors, but when the computer is restarted, I still get the same error.

**Praetor** · 09-30-2005, 03:40 AM

Quote:

I had problems before mixing AGP and PCI video cards. As of right now, both cards are in the computer, but I only use the AGP one until I can get Windows to load up.

If a conflict is gonna happen it'll happen regardless of the makes because as far as the BIOS is concerned any chip is gonna be running in VGA mode anyways

Quote:

It is set up properly in BIOS now for the AGP video card. I was under the impression it was a default, but it isnt.

Depends on the motherboard

Do you get the same error if you try to boot with only 1 HDD attached?

SirJay · 09-30-2005, 04:39 AM

<<
Do you get the same error if you try to boot with only 1 HDD attached?

yes. same error with either HDD, and also the same error using both.

**Praetor** · 10-01-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

I can get the initial single beep for the POST, but I can not get the video to come up. I tried it with the monitor hooked up to the AGP card and the PCI one-still nothing. The light on the monitoredited does not even change, indicating to me that there is a problem with the signal. Currently, I am working on getting another monitor to test the computer on, but I can hook up this monitor to another computer, and it comes on. There are indicator lights on the motherboard that tells me that the motherboard is getting power. I can hear the hard drives trying to load up, but still nothing on the monitor. I actually got a picture one time, and it said something about the CMOS not being set-up right. I reset the CMOS, and tried it again, but it has not displayed anything after that. I put one of the hard drives in an external box and hooked it to a working computer and I was able to get a few trojans off, but it should not effect the fact that I can not even get to the BIOS/CMOS start-up screen. I can see all the fans working properly.

I'm slightly confused .. where is the power indication LED? (and does it light up when power is connected)

SirJay · 10-03-2005, 11:04 PM

That problem was taken care of. The indicator LED is SW of the battery. I apologize if it is really not an LED. I can only see it because the case I have it in has a see-through window.

The solution to my problem was actually right in front of my face the entire time. I was preplexed on why Windows would format, and restart without any problem. When it came back from the restart, I would get the error. This led me to believe the hard drive was not working properly. I was partially correct. I first put the old hard drive in, got the error and then put the new hard drive in with the same error. I switched out the ribbon cable with another one I had, but that still didnt do the trick. I was just about the take everything back, until my friend gave me some general advice: start completely over and compare it to a working model. It was sound advice.

I turned my working computer off, took it into another room(that had more space), and open up the case. It the other room, I took the non-working computer and dismantled it all the way down. I compared everything to the working computer. Of course, different models had different things, but many parts had similarities, except for one VERY important detail: the hard drive ribbon cable. Comparing the connections, they are identical, but the ribbon portion was different. The new computer had a 80-wire and the other one was a 40-wire. I was thinking-this couldnt be it. I rushed to the store and bought the 80-wire cable, put it in the computer (after I set the working one back up again), and turned it on. I went through the format once again and waited for the restart. NO ERROR. The computer finished Windows XP instalation and I couldnt be any happier.

Thank you all for your advice and comments.

handl3r · 12-25-2007, 04:20 PM

I have a same problem, i just formated my windows vista and wanted to install XP home (ORGINAL) and i get Disk read error occured when it restarts.

**oscaryu1** · 12-25-2007, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by handl3r

I have a same problem, i just formated my windows vista and wanted to install XP home (ORGINAL) and i get Disk read error occured when it restarts.

Please make a new thread, as this one is 2 years old. Merry Christmas handl3r

PS - Run disk diagnostics from your manufacturer.

houlie · 12-26-2007, 06:52 AM

one thing i recommend is to do your research. i ended up going into fry's to check out the prices of some parts and was shocked. on top of that, there were new products and types of hardware that i have not ever known. good luck.

09-30-2005, 03:30 AM	#12 (permalink)
SirJay Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Age: 35 Posts: 38	<< Why exactly would there be a conflict? I had problems before mixing AGP and PCI video cards. As of right now, both cards are in the computer, but I only use the AGP one until I can get Windows to load up. << So go into BIOS and set the primary video as AGP (or PCI if u want that) It is set up properly in BIOS now for the AGP video card. I was under the impression it was a default, but it isnt. << So what exactly are you trying to boot the machine up with Because I have been having so many problems installing XP, I wanted to eliminate pieces. At that point, I had only one hard drive and was going to put the other one in when I have XP loaded up. << You dont happen to have both drives on Master (or slave) do you? I check both hard drives prior to installing them one at a time. I place the jumpers on cable select and connect it with the master ribbon cable. When it doesnt work, I take that hard drive out and put the other one in, using the same jumper and ribbon settings. I found that I get the same error if I have the jumpers on master or cable select, so I left them on CS so I do not lose them. << What exactly is the error and when does it appear? The exact error message is as follows: "system disk error press CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart" It appears right under where it says "loading from CD press any key" << Remove the CD This message is the exact same one that I get when I first started loading XP. It is not the graphical interface that tells me I am at the next step. There is something that is preventing my hard drive from loading up after the initial files are loaded from Windows. This is also the same message that I get when I press a key to let it load from the CD. If I do not press any key, then I get the error message that I mentioned. Update: I purchased a brand new 80 GB HD, and I am getting the same errors as before. I called Microsoft again tonight and they said it could be something related to the hard drive controller. I have tried to press F5 to force load drivers from the motherboard's floppy, but it did not work. Also in F5, I can "force in" Windows to use another HAL to a generic ACPI pc-still nothing. While in Windows setup, it will not allow me to load from the motherboard CD. They also mentioned it has something to do with the MBR not working, but they could not offer a way to manually put it on the hard drive. Even going through the recovery console shows that fixboot and fixmbr does find and repair the errors, but when the computer is restarted, I still get the same error. __________________ Just Me :P

09-30-2005, 04:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
SirJay Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Age: 35 Posts: 38	<< Do you get the same error if you try to boot with only 1 HDD attached? yes. same error with either HDD, and also the same error using both. __________________ Just Me :P

10-03-2005, 11:04 PM	#16 (permalink)
SirJay Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Age: 35 Posts: 38	That problem was taken care of. The indicator LED is SW of the battery. I apologize if it is really not an LED. I can only see it because the case I have it in has a see-through window. The solution to my problem was actually right in front of my face the entire time. I was preplexed on why Windows would format, and restart without any problem. When it came back from the restart, I would get the error. This led me to believe the hard drive was not working properly. I was partially correct. I first put the old hard drive in, got the error and then put the new hard drive in with the same error. I switched out the ribbon cable with another one I had, but that still didnt do the trick. I was just about the take everything back, until my friend gave me some general advice: start completely over and compare it to a working model. It was sound advice. I turned my working computer off, took it into another room(that had more space), and open up the case. It the other room, I took the non-working computer and dismantled it all the way down. I compared everything to the working computer. Of course, different models had different things, but many parts had similarities, except for one VERY important detail: the hard drive ribbon cable. Comparing the connections, they are identical, but the ribbon portion was different. The new computer had a 80-wire and the other one was a 40-wire. I was thinking-this couldnt be it. I rushed to the store and bought the 80-wire cable, put it in the computer (after I set the working one back up again), and turned it on. I went through the format once again and waited for the restart. NO ERROR. The computer finished Windows XP instalation and I couldnt be any happier. Thank you all for your advice and comments. __________________ Just Me :P

12-26-2007, 06:52 AM	#19 (permalink)
houlie New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6	one thing i recommend is to do your research. i ended up going into fry's to check out the prices of some parts and was shocked. on top of that, there were new products and types of hardware that i have not ever known. good luck. __________________ HOULIE GEEK If your not sure what computer you want, research it. http://houlie.justaleaf.hop.clickbank.net/

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12-25-2007, 04:20 PM	#17 (permalink)
handl3r New Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 4	I have a same problem, i just formated my windows vista and wanted to install XP home (ORGINAL) and i get Disk read error occured when it restarts.