[jimmuh]

I've just finished building my first computer. Well, almost finished, the Video card, MSI 8800 GT, hasn't arrived yet. I have a temp card in the computer just so I can run some tests.

Computer = MSI P7N Plat 750i *latest bios*, Q6600, Zalman 9700, Two Corsair XMS2-DHX 2gb sticks, Seagate Barracuda 250gb SATA, Antec Earthwatts 500, Lite-on 20x dvd burner SATA, Lite-on Combo x52 SATA, and an Antec P-180 case with three 120mm fans. ** temp video card = Nvidia MX440, 64mb PCI card.

I am installing a newly purchased version of Win XP, SP2.

During the installation, while installing drivers at the 34 minute remaining mark, the mouse will blink twice, the screen goes black, then BSOD appears. "DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" "STOP: 0X000000D1 0X00000000, 0X00000002, 0X00000000, 0X00000000"

I've switched mem slots, I've tried each ram stick seperately, I've run a mem test program on the ram, no error on multiple passes. I've disconnected all extras, USB, 1394, 2nd DVD, floppy. I have cleaned the mobo ram slots. nothing worked with my new version of XP.

I then went old school and tried installing Win98. It couldn't detect my SATA devices, HD and DVD drives. No good.

I then tried an old version, pre-service pack, of Win XP Pro. It worked. Unfortunately, I can't keep this version on this computer because it's on my wife's laptop. I did go to the MSI site and get the latest bios and update my system with it.

I then re-formatted the HD and tried putting the new XP back on. BSOD, installing drivers, 34 min remaining. Same as before.

Pulling my hair out. Any suggestions?
Jimmuh

[CDATech]

Good job testing everything for a first time system builder! to that!

Now onto other things to check.

Does the MSI board have onboard Audio? If so can you disable it during the installation? I would attempt disabling the onboard audio in the bios, along with the onboard NIC if possible.

It won't hurt to try it, even though I may be sounding absolutely crazy I've seen very odd things in 15 years of system building.

If that still doesn't work then we can try some other things, you may indeed end up having a defective board, since the PSU should have nothing to do with a stop error of that sort, and you don't have any other pci cards in the system.

[jimmuh]

Only one PCI card installed. That is the older MX440 video card. The onboard audio is currently turned on. I'll turn it off and retry with the new WinXP sp2 when I get home from work.

One step I failed to add in earlier description was that besides getting old XP Pro sp0, to work on it, I also tested it with Linux Fedora. Both installed quickly, correctly and worked fine for the brief time I had them installed.

Thanks for the audio tip. I'll repost after I try this afternoon.

Jimmuh

[CDATech]

Yeah, the problem you're encountering is tricky. I wonder if maybe SP2 is conflicting with something on your motherboard that sp0 ignores.

[jimmuh]

That's what I was thinking. Possibly a device, the video card, since it's older, conflicting somehow with SP2. Sadly the real video card won't be in until the end of May. Unfortunately, I don't have any spare PCI-e or PCI-e 2.0 cards to throw in to test with. Along with the video card, I plan on picking up a twin to the 250gb HD and trying a Raid 0.

[CDATech]

I encountered a problem like yours installing Win2k SP2 on an MSI KT7 once...several years ago. That's the only reason I'm thinking it's the onboard audio, Heh. Oh a raid-0 is nice I'd pickup a pair of WD 250's if I were you.

[jimmuh]

Audio disabling done.
Reformat done
Bios examined and built in audio turned off.

Fresh install of XP sp2... failed. 34 mins remaining. same error on BSOD.

Any other suggestions?

[Gnomad]

I would also try disabling the onboard NIC as well as the audio and try to install Windows.

[Rich-M]

Why not install what you can with old disk and then download SP2 or 3 from www.microsoft.com and install it afterwards.

[jimmuh]

I've disabled just about everything on the mobo, to include audio, nic, usb, 1394, floppy, ide, I tried a fresh install of sp2, and still no luck. It hangs at the same place, same BSOD.

I then went back and put on XP sp0 and it installed fine. The reason I don't keep it on that computer and just update the SP's up to 2 or 3, is because that version of XP is already installed on my wife's computer. I tried it as a test to see what would happen. I don't want to jeapardize her good status with the Microsoft gods by using that copy a 2nd time.

[Rich-M]

Originally Posted by jimmuh

I've disabled just about everything on the mobo, to include audio, nic, usb, 1394, floppy, ide, I tried a fresh install of sp2, and still no luck. It hangs at the same place, same BSOD.

I then went back and put on XP sp0 and it installed fine. The reason I don't keep it on that computer and just update the SP's up to 2 or 3, is because that version of XP is already installed on my wife's computer. I tried it as a test to see what would happen. I don't want to jeapardize her good status with the Microsoft gods by using that copy a 2nd time.

If it is the same version of XP (SP # does not matter here) such as XP Home or Pro full, then you could install it with the coa from the Sp2 version.

[jimmuh]

Sadly they are different versions. The new version is XP Home SP2, upgrade, is what I bought for this build. It's not working. The old version that's already installed on another machine is XP Pro sp0, full.

[Drew7997]

Are you upgrading the machine or formatting and starting fresh with the "upgrade"

[crjdriver]

OK, I see one big issue here. The ram you used needs 2.1~2.2 vdimm. Your board will default to 1.8V. Have you set the correct vdimm [ram voltage] in the bios? The error you posted in post #1 is almost always caused by a ram problem.

[jimmuh]

This will be a fresh install, brand new HD. XP sp2 is an upgrade version. sp2 is the version that won't install.