The system is as follows:
CPU: AMD Phenom 3750
Mobo: Asus M3A
RAM: 2 x 1Gb PQA 1066 (PC 8500)
HD: Maxtor 250Gb sata
DVD: Asus sata (not sure of the model number or anything)
Video: Asus ati 3870 512Mb
The problem is as follows:
Getting it to install windows!
The windows version is XP professional with SP2. I install the way I usually do, which is booting from CD, doing a format, and going through the windows install procedure.
What happened initially, was that when setup was copying the files, the computer stopped responding. On reboot, it was saying that there was not enough space in the runtime area (VRAM) and smbios data would not be available. This was eventually resolved by inserting the ASUS motherboard driver disk (after a bit of googling) and holding ctrl + pg up.
The recurring problem is that the setup is copying files, doesn't complete. I have tried a couple of different versions of windows, all with the same result:
1. Windows xp pro sp2... not even detected
2. windows xp pro (pre sp1)... setup goes to copy files, and resets at ~70%
-when it goes to boot, it says ntldr is missing and won't continue the installation
I have used both of these versions many times before on my own computers, and had no problems.
A few things we tried to fault:
* We were unsure of the RAM configuration, so we moved them around and finally, back to channel A1, B1... dual channel (both yellow)... which we had initially.
* Hard drive had a jumper on the back of it... With the pin on it was 1.5 Gb restricted, with it off it was 3Gb. We removed it as the M3A mobo supports 3Gb sata.
As my friend lives on the other side of town, he left unsatisfied with an awesome PC but no windows. He tried one of his versions and he told me just now that it keeps stopping at 30%
Does anyone reckon we may have stuffed up the build, or does it sound like there is faulty hardware somewhere along the line?
I'd really appreciate some help because he spent a fair bit of money under my advice, and I feel as though I've let him down.