Intial Startup problems

setting.
OK...I've loading WinXP Pro SP2 to the Raptor 150. It booted fine, allowing me to install all the P5K Deluxe drivers and the Asus Video Card drivers.
When I began to connect my data drives, it hangs and Windows crashes. I have to restart and I get the Start Windows Normally or Return to last good configuration that worked. I have disconnected one of the two WDCaviar 500's and it started again.
The error code that Windows want to send to Microsoft is:
C:\docume~1\ronald~1\locals~1\temp\wer6dea.dir00\mini032608-04.dmp
C:\docume~1\ronald~`\locals~1\temp\wer5dea.dir00.sysdata.xml

I'm wondering if I should install Norton Anti-Virus and then head to the net for Windows updates. I'm thinking the Windows Updates may fix this boot problem.
Or is is corrupted Windows Install or just the bloody weather?
Thanks Guys, in advance
Please have a Great Day! Ron

This kind of problem boot problem on a new rig has often been because the memory voltage needs to be manually set to specs in the BIOS. I'm not sure what your mem voltage is: probably 2.1v or 2.2v. It should say on the kit, or on the website.

Sometimes you need to manually set the memory timings to specs too.

by adding new drives and crashing the bios could also be changing the boot sequence ?

Mark

Hmmm....I did the Asus auto-setup on the Bios so I will check that.
Boot sequence is set to CD Rom, then to boot drive. With no CD in the drive, it defaulted to the boot drive. Not sure what you mean by that?
The BIOS does give me other option for a floppy which I disabled since I don't have one. It would be nice if Asus would offer a jump drive as a boot option.
I've been waiting all night for some direction, so I will run off and look at these two items.
I shall report back.
Hey, I haven't even begun the dual-boot option pain and suffering!

Hey Ron,

I've seen (and read) that when people have added a larger HD than the smaller one with your OS on it, the bios will automatically select the larger HD as the boot drive. Not saying that's the issue, but since you'll be in the bios anyways, you may as well check the memory timings and boot sequence while you're in there (after plugging one of the 500's in of course).

Hope It Helps,

Mark

Thank you good friends of the Asus Realm....I even spread Butterscotch pudding on the hard drive and...LOL...........
I tried a Windows Repair. It hung when repairing the video driver/utilities for the Asus EN-8800GT which I installed from the Asus disc that came with the card. BTW...during the install, Windows XP warned me that the EN-8800GT driver was not signed or approved by Microsoft.

I reformatted the Raptor and reinstalled Windows XP. All was well. I connected both hard drives. All was still well. I rebooted 4-5 times and everything was perfect and normal.
I installed the drivers from the Asus P5K Deluxe disc and all is still well. The next logical thing to do is to install the drivers from the Asus disc OR should I download the la-*test*-('") drivers from Asus.com? If so, I assume I save these to my other computers HD and then install on a jump drive to transport to this new system. Yes?

My gut and hopefully yours, tells me it is those video drivers that came with the card.

Your thoughts please and thanks to all in advance.

Please have a Great Day! Ron

Sir... Never use the Graphics Card Drivers that come with the supplied disk. If you have an 8800GT go straight to nvidia to get the la-*test*-('") drivers, dont bother with Asus.

Here are the la-*test*-('") nvidia drivers for XP:

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_169.21_whql.

Gosh Paul...I'm just a rookie and learning....
OK...NEVER use the drivers that come with the card. No wonder they didn't work for me...but why would the "benevolent ASUS" include them?
Anyway, I will try it and report back to you.
Thanks again to all!
Ron

Well Holy Sheep Dip Batman! That seems to have worked.
The group at Asustech can close another help ticket. You have taught another man how to fish...for now.
Can you tell me why the disks that Mother Asus includes conflict with Windows, etc? It makes no sense for them to include them if we should get the drivers from Nvidia.
All is up and running and I am loading software as soon as I do an Acronis image of this setup.
Thanks again guys! I really appreciate it!
Ron

Good deal!

The boards ship with software that was up-to-date when they are packaged, but often are not current by the time the boards are purchased and a system is built based on them.

Video drivers and the cards change pretty frequently and the drivers on the disk were probably older, causing a conflict. So, it's always best to get the la-*test*-('") drivers from the company web sites.

The hard-core hardware junkies, who are the first to buy just-released video cards, will often try to find a beta driver to get improved performance a few weeks before the drivers are officially released. Beta drivers are actually released by the manufacturers as -*test*-('") software. So, they aren't usually buggy, just not perfected.

The same is true of the BIOS shipped with the board and on the CD. In the first few months after release, the BIOS will go through as many as 10 iterations most of which incrementally improve performance.