New Harware-possible conflicts???

[Opt1mus]

OK, I would love some help here as i've been trying to get to the bottom of this for waaay too long.

I've bought some new harware recently, and put it together with my existing hardware, here's my specs:

AMD Athlon XP 2100+ (new)
Volcano 7+ heatsink/fan (new)
Gigabyte GA-7VA mobo-Via KT400 chipset (new)

GF4 mx440 64mb video card-AGP
40 GB 7200rpm HDD
DVD/CDROM
300W Power Supply

At first i tried plugging the new stuff in and running straight off my existing version of Windows XP Pro, but of course, to no avail, this failed after a number of spontaneus resets and some various windows stop errors...
Not being able to get around these, i formatted my C: drive, as i preferred a clean install anyway...formatted c: back to FAT32, ran setup from a bootable WinXP CD and these proceeded to load the drivers as it does in a DOS-based console..after the message 'Now loading windows setup' (or somethhing to that effect) it either stops HDD activity altogether, or sometimes brings up a windows stop error, namely the IRQL_FLOATING_POINT (etc..etc, which i've looked up here) and another to do with memory, also which i've looked up.
I've been into BIOS and disabled every on-board feature apart from IDE, to prevent possible conflicts, taken out all the peripherals besides my gf4, and plugged my usb mouse into ps2 and disabled usb controllers as well.

Still no luck....also, i've tried installing win98 as well, just to see if it were XP, this was able to install, however was unable to launch the OS afterwards....so to me, it seems that something is stopping the PC from doing anything outside of dos-based programs....could it be a conflict with the gfx card, or perhaps inadequate power??/

i really, really don't know=/

any help or advice would be much appreciated

 

[Tezzie]

It could be anything, but I would install a bog standard VGA card then install XP. You need to format to NTFS for the 40Gb hard drive.

If XP installs, download the latest drivers for the GF4, install the drivers then install the card (yes - that way around)

If you can't install with a VGA card try installing from the black / Secondary IDE port rather than using the UDMA 100 / 133 /Primary connector. Slave the CD to make it work.

I have had PCs where I can't get XP to install from IDE1 yet installed ok on IDE2. Root cause turned out to be the mobo and UDMA6.
Tez

Backups are great but checking if you can restore is more fun.

 

[Accessdabbler]

Your power supply may be underpowered but that's questionable.

First I'd check to make sure your processor is set up in the BIOS properly (correct multiplier and bus speed). Next, flash the BIOS to the most recent version. Via chipsets seem to have some problems with USB and AGP ports. Go to

http://www.viaarena.com.

Next step would be to upgrade the motherboard drivers too.

You don't mention memory. Did you upgrade it with the motherboard? Your memory may be too slow for your board or you may have a bad stick. Try putting in only 1 stick of memory and run the install again.

 

[jonhiker]

It could be inadequate power, the spec for the MOBO would tell you. Try this, 'cause I had a problem with a newly formatted HDD. Reformat, then shut it off. Then,sounds odd, short the BIOS out(see the instructions with the MOBO), and try to load the OS.

 

[Opt1mus]

I've also tried using a TNT2 m64 as my first thoughts were video card issues, but it produced the same result

as with the memory, i also got 2x 256mb 2700 ddr ram, thought they may be dodgy, i tried using one stick, then the other, then a stick from another PC (that i knew was functional), still the same...

Last night after i posted the message, i put the new hardware in and gave it another go, from a tip of from my friend, i ran the clock speed at 100mhz, taking my processor down to that of an XP 1500+, this time, going thru the winXP bootable setup, after the drivers loaded, it proceeded to the next screen, which, i assume will be fine for the rest of the operations..i've yet to go thru with the installation as i needed to work early in the morning, will try it out this afternoon..

so what would be the most likely issue with this, where the processor/mobo/everything won't operate at higher rate?
does larger clock speed necessarily require more power??

 

[kempouk]

power supply needs to be at least 450 for that chip