First install of Windows XP help!

[videogangs]

Hi guys, I was referred here by a mate, as I was told this is probably the best place for tech advice. I was just seeing if someone could offer some insight because I'm putting together a new system for a friend.

About a week ago I put together another new system for my mate Cal, and I was just wondering how long Windows XP Home is meant to take to install, because it took almost 12 hours. The system runs fine now but that install was painfully slow. I think I set up BIOS ok, but if it's something to do with that I'd love to know. Here are the specs for last week's PC below:

Abit AN8 NForce 4 PCI-Express DDR400 Socket 939 Mobo

Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Socket 939

1Gb Crucial PC3200 RAM

Powercolour x800 256Mb DDR1 PCI-Express

DiamondMax Plus10 SATA 200Gb 8Mb Cache Hard Disk Drive <9.0ms 7200rpm - OEM

Sony DVD-RWx16 Dual Layer Black


Anyway these are the specs for the PC I'm putting together this week, and I'd like suggestions to avoid the same problem, unless that's just how long it takes before the chipset drivers are in place.

MSI K8N Platinum NForce4 SLI PCI-Express DDR400 Socket 939 Mobo

Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Socket 939

Novatech Value 2Gb RAM (2x1Gb sticks) PC3200

Sapphire x800XL 256Mb DDR3 PCI-Express

Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 120Gb HHD 8Mb Cache

Sony DVD-RWx16 Dual Layer Black

Thermaltake Suprano Silver Case

Hiper 350W Silent PSU ATX


I'm fully aware that it should only take 40 minutes or so, and I'm stumped because that aside, the system runs FINE. Could it be the DVD drive? Or maybe the HHD cache? I really haven't a clue. Your help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated to save us spending all day installing Windows XP.

[Nick F]

Everything looks okay, when I insall windows it takes about 30 minutes tops. I reckon there must of been a data transfer setting that needed changing in the BIOS systems or you have a dodgy install disk.

[videogangs]

Ah cheers, I mean hopefully I can't see it happening twice with two different rigs, but it was quite odd.

[herulach]

Is the cd scratched to hell?

[videogangs]

Nope straight out the packet

[BUFF]

I'm running a pretty similar system AN8 Ultra, Venice 3200+, X800XL & Diamondmax 10 & it takes nothing like that to install Windows. I haven't actually timed it but I would say under 40 minutes.

Only thing that I can think of offhand is if you have a V1 of the AN8 it probably didn't come with a BIOS that supported Venice cores.


btw if it was me I wouldn't be building your upcoming system with a 350W PSU.

[videogangs]

Cheers, i did wonder if 350W was going to be enough. Ok I've changed that for a 450W PSU now. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[BenW]

If its a quality 350W then it should be fine

Cant help on the other issue though

[SilentDeath]

12hour install priobably mean you had your hdd set as PIO mode 0 transfer (where 4= 16.7mb/s, 3 = 11.1mb/s, 2 = 8.3mb/s, 1= 5.2 and 0 = 3.3mb/s iirc).

Windows usually installs in PIO4, iirc, as they were to lazy to code the install for UDMA.
Look in bios and see if you set it to PIO-0.
Windows should automaticlly enable UDMA once its installed, which would explain why its working fine now.

[videogangs]

Ah nice one, that sounds like the best explanation I've had so far. Cheers silentdeath