New computer install of Windows Xp troubles

[herenow3]

Hello every one I shure do need some help here.I just built a new computer and am trying to install windows XP-----it only goes as far as to see my hard drive and just stops, no beeps no screen nothing. I tried a few things in bios but all the same. I once got it to go as far as to format the hard drive---and when it started to load the files----it stopped.
ASUS P5N-E SLI BOARD
Pentium 4 3.20Ghz 800MHz
1 g of ram
evga card pci-express
120 g hard drive
OEM virsion Xp sp2---from tiger direct

[DeltaSlaya]

What do you mean by 'stopped'?

What hardware is visible in the BIOS? What did you try in the BIOS? Did you change anything prior to trying to install windows XP?

Have you tried setting it back to default or fail-safe to diagnose the problem?

and, obviously, double-check and recheck all connections. You didn't mention your power supply wattage / manufacturer either, that may be of concern as well.

[patio]

Use the utility's CD that shipped with the HDD to partition/format it and be ready for the OS install...make sure to make the partition active.

[herenow3]

Power supply is new 550 w
I put the bios back to default
I changed some things like
Changed pci---to pci-express
Bios see's all that is in the tower---ram----hard drive---
It just shuts down----Like you pulled the cord-----all connectors are good-----it will run in bios forever-------Cpu temp is only 60deg--cell

[herenow3]

Will the hard drive cd work with no O.S. installed?
This is mt first windows install---I have done alot of linux ones   But never a Windows
Thank you all

[herenow3]

Tried the hard drive cd----did every thing right on-----tells me to pu in my o.s. disc----I do--gets to where I have to agree to user agrement-----and just shuts down-----no screen---no beeps----nothing

[DeltaSlaya]

The '-' key is not a substitute for space ' '.

Now, I'd suspect the hard drive, possibly PSU? or RAM. Have you run RAM tests? www.memtest.org

60°C is an alright temperature, though in the BIOS thats probably a bit high, once you start running thats going to shoot up when it starts doing something like read / write operations? Have you installed the CPU correctly?

You could try installing linux I don't know? You may have a faulty disc but I don't know why it would crash like this.

[herenow3]

Tryied 2 new hard drives, but the ram in different slots, I got it to go as far as to format the drive and that took about 45 mins.And after that it started to down load files. I could see the disc drive was busy, but after about 2mins, It just shut down again.
I use linux now love it. But I need to run some windows usb stuf that linux cant handle.

[DeltaSlaya]

Did you run memtest though. What about checking CPU?

It could be the motherboard, I assume you still have a warranty.

[Fed]

I'd be concerned about the 60C while sitting in bios too.
Fans, heatsink, thermal paste, cpu voltage?

Have you installed the CPU correctly?

[herenow3]

Found one thing, the cpu fan was not fully seated. First time I used this style>
Temp down to42 c now

[DeltaSlaya]

YAY I was right I was right! Yes LGA775 is a bit different, easier but if you're not used to it you mightn't get it on correctly.

And did that fix any problems?

[herenow3]

Thank you all. It was the cpu temp. Reinstalled the cpu and the fan. I got the temp down to 42 c. I was afraid with this socket that I might break the board by pushing down on those locks. It is loading nice now.
Bless you all, job WELL DONE
TOM

[DeltaSlaya]

Yay I solved something!

Yea you have to press down pretty hard to get the heatsink on. For once it wasn't Microsofts fault!?

If the motherboard stands are screwed on right you won't break the board easily.