OS Freezes upon fresh install... 3

[Mi1house]

I had decided to build a computer from scratch for my son as a pet project. Everything was going great until I got to the WinMe install. I was able to format the new hard disk that I picked up using 'fdisk' and 'format' from the win 98 DOS boot disk. I was able to copy files to and from the floppy drive with no problem at all. I also installed a LG 32/10/40/16x DVD/CDRW drive. I was able to copy files to and from the CD drive to the hard drive. Now my problems arose when I ran the setup program thru the Win Me OS disk. The setup configuration went fine, it was only when I completed putting in my product keys, verifying my upgraded copy from my Win 98 disk, and creating an emergency recovery disk, did I experience my problem. Immediately when I clicked on the button to "Begin installation of files" the computer froze. The kind of system freeze that you get when you press a few keys, and your keyboard begins to click. You know the sound. An observation that I had was sometimes my floppy disk light turned on and stayed on each time it froze.

The following are some of the things I tried to fix the problem:

1) Tried installing Win98 (original ver) instead of WinMe, encountered the same problem.

2) Tried switching HD Cables, same problem.

3) Upgraded my motherboards BIOS to the latest release, same problem.

4) Reformatted HD using Maxtor's MaxBlast utility disk. Same Problem.

5) Double checked master/slave settings on HD. They were ok.

I am at my wits end. Please help.

Enermax F118 350W Case
Alton M728L P-III Mainboard (ALi1647 Chipset)
P-III 1Ghz CPU
128 MB SDRAM
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 - 80GB 7200rpm HD
ATI All-In-Wonder 128 Video Card
LG 32/10/40/16 CDRW/DVD-ROM
(Ethernet, Modem, & Sound built into motherboard)

 

[Ger2111]

Dont mean to state something too obvious but possibly there is a conflict between the master/slave setup for your HDD and newly installed DVD, Just a long shot,

MCP

 

[wolluf]

Sounds like either a hardware problem or conflict.

If you have sound, network or modem card installed - remove them and try again.

If any of those work - add back missing items after install complete one at a time

If you have more than one memory stick - try one at a time - make sure you try each (you can do this before or after the cards).

If you are installing ME, I'd suggest using ME boot floppy to partition and format the hard drive (shouldn't make a difference - but you never know -

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

if you haven't one). Also, I'd never use Maxblast or any other disk manufacturer's utility to prepare a drive I was installing operating system on. Best to use window's own tools (fdisk/format for 9x/ME - the tools with installation process for nt/2k/xp) IMO.

PS. If it runs - good luck with ME, not my favourite operating system (nor 98). I'd go with 2k or XP - but that's
obviously extra cost as you already have 98/ME.

 

[ceh4702]

I think sometimes there is a conflict between the old DOS and the new OS on the boot disk. You should use a WinME Boot Disk to format the drive. I recommend you do another FDISK and format. WinME may run worse than Win98SE. It is a little more buggy than Win98.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.

 

[Mi1house]

Ger2111:
With the setup I have, the CD-ROM and the HD are on separate data cables using the motherboards onboard disk controller. I do not believe that a conflict can arise from this setup, although I will double check it.

Wolluf:
Good suggestion disabling the onboard sound, lan, & modem. I have just one memory stick. I will try the reformat with the WinMe bootdisk. Yeah, I am well aware of Windows ME and the crap that it comes with. I personally hate it always freezing up on me. Nevertheless it is an extra copy that I have kicking around and I will be picking up an XP upgrade in the near future.

ceh4702:
I will try the Me bootdisk. Again, I agree that WinMe sux bad.

Thanks for all your suggestions I will try then out now and report back to you as soon as I am done.