Can't format new HDDs or my old HDDs...?

[Oroka Sempai]

Been trying to reinstall windows, but I always get stuck at the partition/format screen. It just wont format the drive. I figured it was the HDD going, so I ordered a pair of 250GB SATAs I was wanting for a while... guess what, I cant format or partition these either. Same behavure between both drives, one IDE, one SATA.

I tried using a win98 boot disk fdisk... it starts verifying drive integrity, but goes back to 0% once it hits 8 or 10%. The XP install format just sits at 0%, I tried Vista Beta 2... no joy. This motherboard has given me some questionable performance ever since I got it... trip to RMA and got sent back no problems found (nice waste of a month). Could this be a RAM issue...?

[Audioaficionado]

Go into your BIOS and make sure it isn't set to prevent any writes to the boot sector as a virus protection. I once couldn't get 98 to install until I disabled that.

[Oroka Sempai]

Not seeing anything mentioning virus anywhere. I remember seeing that on a old mobo I had, but nothing recently. I reset all the settings in the bios... still no luck.

::edit::

I am now running memtest-86, see what I get out of that.

[billb]

Been trying to reinstall windows, but I always get stuck at the partition/format screen. It just wont format the drive. ...

I tried using a win98 boot disk fdisk... If they are old drives and have been reformatted/win reinstalled, the master boot record may be screwed up. Boot the windows install CD into repair consul and run fixmbr . New drives may need to be fdisked. there are many older versions of fdisk floating around...they will not work, they appear to work, but the format fails. You could also try Partition Magic.

[Oroka Sempai]

not the mbr... I dont care about the old windows install. First thing I tried was Partition Magic, it just shows as BAD and will not format... actually, that gets me thinking. I have my old IDE 320GB in my server that I am using now, but it will not format (havent tried a boot disk yet). Problem is that my 2 brand new SATAs wont format or partition either in my main rig. I cant hook them to my server as it dosent support SATA.

I am going to go try to fdisk the 320gb in my server now, but still my issue remains... I cant format or fdisk anything in my main rig.

[Oroka Sempai]

Well... since I installed the previous XP install, I changed from a Sempron 2800+ to a X2 4200+... could that some how done something?

[Oroka Sempai]

So, I left the computer off for a few hours, went and worked on a model I promiced my dad would be done for him... last January :D

Anyways, turn the computer on, try again... lo and behold, it partitioned and formatted perfectly with the same boot disk I have been using all this time.

I had a issue with this mobo freezing at boot, then after leaving it off for a few hours, it would come back to life. For a mobo that has already been RMAed and still having issues, I am going to harass ASUS a bit... maybe a bios update or something ;)

I will repost if there are any more issues. Once I am done installing SP2 and updates, I am downloading Vista RC1 :D

[billb]

[QUOTE=Oroka Sempai... then after leaving it off for a few hours, it would come back to life. [/QUOTE]PSU - Crap 450w
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

[Oroka Sempai]

PSU - Crap 450w
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

Yeah, I have been meaning to order a new PSU... but I thought my hdd went, so I ordered some new ones... I got some $ comming to me monday, so I will order one then.

I did that calculator thing... 356w

[billb]

I did that calculator thing... 356w Note that OCing can add 50-100 watts for the CPU alone.

[Oroka Sempai]

To think about it, all my problems started when I installed the X2 4200 inplace of my Sempron 2800... there is a 30w diffrence there. I decided to reinstall windows slightly after that point, and that is when I started haveing issues. I havent started OCing yet, not till all my issues settle down...

I ordered a OCZ GameXStream 600W, should be here in a few days. All I need is a new case and a new DVD burner and I got a whole new computer :D

[Audioaficionado]

To think about it, all my problems started when I installed the X2 4200 inplace of my Sempron 2800... there is a 30w diffrence there. I decided to reinstall windows slightly after that point, and that is when I started haveing issues. I havent started OCing yet, not till all my issues settle down...

I ordered a OCZ GameXStream 600W, should be here in a few days. All I need is a new case and a new DVD burner and I got a whole new computer :DHow recent is the BIOS? Some boards made before dual core chips need to be flashed with the most recent BIOS. You might check that out. If that is the case, then you'll have to flash it with the Sempron before putting the X2 back in.