Abit KN9 Ultra Vista Install Problems - Won't Boot from DVD

Hello,

Having some problems with a recently purchased Abit KN9 Ultra, I've been trying to boot from the Vista DVD to install the operating system, but it's not happening. Once it gets past the "Windows is Loading Files" and the scrolling progress bar I've seen numerous BSOD type errors, including:

Stop C0000221 Unknown Hard Error \systemroot\system32\ntdll.dll
Process1 Initialization Failed
Page Fault in Non-Paged Area
Stop 0x000000F4
Stop C000021a

The closest I've actually gotten to the installation option screen is where there was a black screen with the mouse cursor.

To solve the problem I've tried the following:

Ran MemTest86+ two passes no fails
Tried Different a Vista DVD
Two Different IDE Cables for the DVD Drive
Tried a different SATA cable for the HDD
I thought it might have a problem with the 1Tb Seagate drive I was using, tried a 80Gb WD drive
Changed the jumpers on the DVD drive from Master to Cable Select
The DVD drive was pulled from a working system, so I plugged it back in and it booted from the DVD fine.
Updated the BIOS from 22 to 23 (latest), didn't think this would help but I tried it anyways

Any suggestions? Only thing I think it can be is either BIOS settings or the motherboard is faulty.

Any help would be much appreicated.

Thanks,

Mark

Full system specs. (it's obviously not the 1 in your profile) ?

Good point, yes it's not my main Pc but a download box I'm building.

Sempron LE1150 (Sparta Core)
Abit KN9 Ultra
2Gb (2 x 1GB) Rendition Micron DDR2 PC5300 667MHZ
Ati X300 Passive PCI-E Graphics Card
Foxconn 400Watt PSU
Pioneer DVR-110D DVD Drive
Seagate 1Tb Hard Drive (ST31000340AS)

The PSU is fine, ran a much better system for a few years before I replaced it before a graphics card upgrade. The motherboard has supported the 1150 since one of the early BIOS releases.

have you tried loading XP?

Not yet, strangely it boots from the XP CD, but I've not tried an install yet.

It seems very strange that it has a problem with Vista, maybe something about booting from DVDs instead of CDs.

Can someone from Abit please comment, I really need to know if a certain BIOS setting might help or wether the board is faulty!

Thanks!

Right another update. I've disabled all onboard devices, reformatted the hard drive, tried another IDE cable and another DVD Drive. Same problems.

Also tried installing XP, boots to the setup page ok, but during the copying of files for the setup it has problems copying certain files.

So I'm pretty sure the IDE channels on this motherboard are faulty and the board needs replacing! :rolleyes:

I guess it's also worth pointing out that no one from Abit has contacted me either through the forum or in reply to my e-mail! Just as helpful as I remember them years back!