Hi. I just had a PC built, and I thought I'd handle the OS (Win98) installation myself. Everything was going fine until the final boot up during installation. Basically, everything goes well until the screen with the PCI device listing, where it hangs. I've gone into BIOS and set it boot from HDD-0, from Floppy, from CD-ROM and any variation thereof. No dice. In fact, though I set the Floppy as the primary boot device, it ignores it (well, that's not exactly true. The activity light on the drive comes on, but it's not doing anything).

If I could just get a prompt, I'd be the happiest girl in the world. Is there anything that I can do (as opposed to taking the thing somewhere) to sort of "reset" the process? Is there any way I can get a prompt?

Thanks in advance for your help!

You should be able to boot from the floppy. Do you have a startup disk in there? If not find an old one or make one on a different machine (my computer/comtrol panel/add remove programs/create startup disk). put that in and it should boot there first.

[This message has been edited by cromwell (edited 12-16-2000).]

Is the floppy light on constantly? That ususally means the floppy cable connector is reversed.

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reido@my-deja.com

I have an update--still confusing to me.

Thanks, Cromwell and Reid-O, for your replies. I do have a Win98 start-up disk, and I've been using it. Since the boot process hangs before it can verify the spool data (or something similar), it doesn't truly access the floppy drive.... Except when I turn the power off and then on by the I/O switch on the back. Something about that helps to push the boot process onward. If I do that, it will boot on up, but only if I turn off and on the I/O switch.

I managed to get Win98 installed, but the computer hangs at the same place whenever I restart. Off and on by the power button on the front causes boot to hang, too.

So it works, but it's all so inconvenient. Is there any reason why it would hang on boot on any restart except as initiated by the I/O switch? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[This message has been edited by girlbowler (edited 12-16-2000).]

Does the motherboard have both AT and ATX power connectors? I think boards may require a jumper to be set depending on what type you have.

Is ACPI enabled in BIOS? (Usually in PNP/PCI)

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reido@my-deja.com

[This message has been edited by Reid (edited 12-16-2000).]

Girlbowler....

I had this same problem a few computer builds back....I had the powersupply plugged into the wrong place on the motherboard (see Reid's last post). Also, I believe this "problem" will occur regularly if your power supply is not large enough for your system components. If it is a 250 watt PS...then that may be suspicious...depending on what other devices you have on your system.

Tom

PS: If you had this new computer built by a "boy friend"....lose him! ...lol..just kidding. But it does sound like the system builder wasn't totally accurate in his/her assembly.

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Tom Pabst
www.pabst-racing.com

Use the [F8] key or hold down [Ctrl] while booting, see if you can get a boot menu. Boot into Safe Mode and check for conflicts in Device Manager.

You might also try pulling all PCI devices except video card and see if it will boot.

I think it's either a conflict somewhere, or a BIOS setting.

PC Guide BIOS Settings (http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/set/index.htm)

BIOSSurvival Guide (http://www.manawatu.gen.nz/pages/bios_survival/bios_sg.htm)

Definitave BIOS Optimization Guide (http://www.adriansrojakpot.com/Speed_Demonz/BIOS_Guide/BIOS_Guide_Index.htm)

First thing I would do is get into BIOS and set BIOS defaults or Performance Defaults. Then look around, with these sites as references, and see if anything is amiss. Write down ALL changes, and make changes one at a time. That makes it easy to change back if you have problems.

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