maddening failure to install any OS.

[Baby Lee]

I'm trying to set up a new computer for my father and am having a dickens of a time with the OS install.

Here are the particulars.

Motherboard - Soyo SY-P4RC350
Processor - Intel Celeron D 320, 2.4 GHz, 533 FSB, 265Kb L2 Cache
Hard Drive - Western Digital 200Gb, 7200 RPM, 8 Mb Cache
DVD-RW Drive - Digital Max 16x DVD Dual Drive
Video Card - ATI Radeon 9100 Pro [on board]
------------ATI All in Wonder Radeon 8500DV [AGP] - this is the one I'm using.

OS - Windows 2000 CD boot, CD install [later tried XP Pro to similar luck]

I should also mention that he bought a cheapie case with an Austin 300W ATX power supply. I initially thought that might be the problem, so I swapped in my own Q-Max 350W power supply. No better luck there either.

-----

Anyways to the problem.

I use the WD bootable CD to partition the HD to the 137 GB limit the OS has until you install SP3-4.
I then restart with the Win2K bootable CD. It goes through it's initial file xfer and goes to "starting windows 2000." I get the initial pages about accepting the EULA and what partition I want to install the OS on just fine. Then it starts installing files [the blue DOS screen with the yellow progress meter]. Then around the time it's copying 'digimon.dll" it starts saying the read failed. Then the read failures come hot and heavy, until I get a different blue screen with a 'DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL' error, a bunch of reference #s and an instruction to check bios, disable new hardware, etc.
I've tried;
changing power supply
unplugging chassis fans and taking case sides off instead [to lessen power supply load]
changing from AGP card video to onboard video
changing IDE cables [several times]
putting both DVD and HD on the same primary IDE cable.
futtering with master/slave and cable select in most all iterations.
swapping out my dad's DVD writer for my own Liteon 811S.
Letting W2k format/partition the drive instead of the WD software.

Each time, I get the same problem.

Also, I used my own XP Pro installation CD instead. It would either [at around the same point in the installation process], restart the system right in the middle of file xfer, or come up with a 'xxxx file corrupt' message screen.

Also, on the off chance the CDs actually both crapped out at the same time, I successfully installed both OSes on a clean HD I have in my own ASUS P4-2.4G system.

I'm usually pretty good at applying the scientific method to diagnosing computer problems, but I'm out of ideas. Anyone have a direction I should go?

As I write, I came up with another avenue. Perhaps I shouldn't designate that the OS will be W2K SP3-4 when the WD software partitions. Since I'm installing W2K pre-SP4, then adding on with SP4 afterwards. I'll reassemble the other PC and let you know if that works. Otherwise, I welcome all input.

Thanks in advance.

[Saulbadguy]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Saul wins. The second DIMM slot on the MOBO was FUBAR in it's alignment. The retainers snapped into place and the DIMM felt seated, but it wasn't seated completely. Interestingly enough, the BIOS registered 1024MB OK, but the OS recognized that the memory wasn't properly seated.
In course of discovering this, I took out the second DIMM, to run with just 512MB. OS installed fine. Then I put the second DIMM back in. The system kept restarting. Took both out, and put the DIMM from the second seat into the primary seat alone. OS started fine. Went to put the DIMM [originally from the primary seat] back into the secondary seat and the retaining clip popped off the MOBO into my hand. Gingerly, I replaced the retaining clip and shoved the DIMM into the seat [with authority!!!]. Now things look kosher.

Sweet. Kosher. Mmmm...hydrox.

Glad you got it resolved, those problems are frustrating.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Sweet. Kosher. Mmmm...hydrox.

Glad you got it resolved, those problems are frustrating.

Might have spoken too soon. Now I have a situation where, if either DIMM is in the primary slot alone, the system is stable. But if both slots are filled, regardless of which DIMM is in which slot, it's highly unstable. Half the time it soft restarts before the OS is opened. The other half, it gives you a memory error as soon as you try to do anything. And the BIOS still keeps saying 1024MB OK.

[Saulbadguy]

Is it a dual channel board? Are both DIMM's the same speed?

If so, are they the same speed/make/model/brand/etc? Identical DIMMS are the best in a dual channel application.

[chiefz]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Might have spoken too soon. Now I have a situation where, if either DIMM is in the primary slot alone, the system is stable. But if both slots are filled, regardless of which DIMM is in which slot, it's highly unstable. Half the time it soft restarts before the OS is opened. The other half, it gives you a memory error as soon as you try to do anything. And the BIOS still keeps saying 1024MB OK.

Take a look in the book, sometimes main boards will take odd sizes depending on the chips you are putting in.

Sometimes if they have 4 slots you will need to populate slot 1 and slot 3 leaving 2 and 4 open.

Outside of that I would say send back the mainboard, you have a bad memory slot.

[Saulbadguy]

Sometimes if they have 4 slots you will need to populate slot 1 and slot 3 leaving 2 and 4 open.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Usually though when I filled 1 and 2, the machine wouldn't even boot up.

[chiefz]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Sometimes if they have 4 slots you will need to populate slot 1 and slot 3 leaving 2 and 4 open.

Yeah, I forgot to mention that. Usually though when I filled 1 and 2, the machine wouldn't even boot up.

Just throwing things out there, it has been a while since I have worked on PC related issues.

I have seen times when it wouldn't boot, times when it would boot to an error and times when it would boot, count up the right memory size and then blow its wad a few minutes after startup.

I suppose that depends on numerous things.

[Baby Lee]

Only 2 slots. Only 2 DIMMS. Both Wintec 512 MB PC 3200 DDR. Bought at same time from Newegg.

[chiefz]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

Only 2 slots. Only 2 DIMMS. Both Wintec 512 MB PC 3200 DDR. Bought at same time from Newegg.

Will it support 2 512MB DIMMS?

I know that sounds silly but perhaps the max per slot is 256MB?

If not it seems the obvious problem is the second slot in the mainboard.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by chiefz

Will it support 2 512MB DIMMS?

I know that sounds silly but perhaps the max per slot is 256MB?

If not it seems the obvious problem is the second slot in the mainboard.

2 slots, up to 1G per.

I'll bet you bent some contacts with your misaligned 2nd slot. Look closely with a magnifying glass. See if you can bend them back with tweezers or needlenose. If not, you'll need a new mobo.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I'll bet you bent some contacts with your misaligned 2nd slot. Look closely with a magnifying glass. See if you can bend them back with tweezers or needlenose. If not, you'll need a new mobo.

All right, here's the deal now. I sent the unit back to Soyo on an RMA. They got it on the 22 of February and said the replacement would be mailed and get to me 5-7 business days later. No movement as of yesterday on the RMA status page so I called them. Said, they were backordered, but just got some in, mine would mail first thing this morning. Then, an hour after their business hours closed they send an e-mail saying the slot was damaged and I owed another $35 for a replacement. The sent the picture below

I do not doubt that it was physically damaged, but I know I didn't do it. That was the reason I returned it in the first place. I've built dozens of computers and taken out and installed hundreds of DIMM chips. I know how to be careful. And like I said earlier, I did the slide and snap procedure, only their retaining bracket was misaligned too.
This is a cheapo MOBO that was bundled with a 2.4 Celeron processor ($69 for the both) during the day after X-mas supersales. So it's not even worth the 35 in the first place, let alone again, PLUS the 7.00 to ship it, and the 5.00 to ship it back. Dad could've gotten a much better [and non-Soyo] board with an additional $50 invested. I think they are just trying to recoup their rebate expenditures, or strong arm me.
So what are my recourses? Anyone done battle with these shitwits before? Can I expect them to be receptive to a reasoned rebuttal to their position? Can I expect to be told to blow it out my azz?

[Saulbadguy]

Cut your losses. Shop at newegg. I've RMA'd equipment i've fried (overclocked) to them, and they replaced it, no questions asked. Unless this is where you bought it from...


As for brands, Abit, Asus, Intel.

[unlurking]

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

Cut your losses. Shop at newegg. I've RMA'd equipment i've fried (overclocked) to them, and they replaced it, no questions asked. Unless this is where you bought it from...


As for brands, Abit, Asus, Intel.

As for your loss, sorry, but I agre with Saul. Newegg has a good rep for a reason, they take care of their customers.

As for brand recommendations, I'd add Epox and Iwill.

I have never (out of close to 100) had an Epox fail, and the Iwill's just seem to have the best "bang for the buck" IMO.

[Baby Lee]

Whatta bunch of fuquetards.

Called this morned 10:45 CST. Went through automation to RMA department, got VM. Called back to operator, she said no one was back there as they didn't open until 8:30 PST. Last I looked 10:45 CST was AFTER 8:30 PST. So I asked if there was anyone I could talk to. What do you mean? Are there any managers or anyone with authority to speak on behalf of the company. No, call back in 10 min or so and the RMA people should be in.

Called back 11:05. Got the RMA person. Recited the e-mail back to me verbatim. Put me on hold twice, then told me that the tech people weren't there, could I call back in an hour. I asked if there was anyone in the entire company who had authority I could talk to with authority to act. You mean like a manager? Yeah that'd do, if they have authority. Well call the operator and see if she knows anyone. Can you connect me? No.

Called the operator again. Asked for a manager, she forwarded me BACK to the RMA department, who now wasn't answering the phone, back to the operator. Hemmed and hawed until she said she'd send me to the manager [what I'd asked for so much earlier]. I told her I didn't want VM. Of course that's where I ended up.

Back to the operator, now she's automatically dumping me into VM, but by now I'd figured out how to escape VM so I'd so back and she'd dump, I'd go back and she'd dump. Then she took to lifting the cradle and putting it back down, hanging up on me without answering.

Went around like this 'til noon. Gave up and left a strongly worded message with the manager's VM and request to call back promptly.

Come 3:00 and nothing. So I call back again. Operator is still dumping me into VM. RMA is still dumping me into VM. SO I go online and find another number of the RMA department. Finally get an answer, finally get the manager on the phone. Lay into him, and viola, they're sending me a replacement unit, mailing today.

[unlurking]

Gratz!

What was the name of the company?