Formatting a HD with windows XP

[Fayttt]

So I've seen this issue all over the place through google and what not but I couldn't find a clear-cut issue, so I decided I'd ask you guys =p

About 2 and a half months ago I found out my motherboard was fried, so of course I got a very new one (A Gigabyte S-Series GA-G33M-S2L mobo), a new dual-core processor (intel duo core 2), a new 500watt PSU, and two new sticks of 256ram (i know the ram isnt the issue, already tested, the guy who fixed my computer had a HD with XP installed already and tried it and it worked fine), so I'm pretty sure my hardware is fine.

Here's the problem though: Every time I go to format the new Harddrive I got (IDE to SATA2 HD upgraded also) with windows XP, the install fails to copy about 6-10 files, like shell32.dll, mdmg1004.inf, sisbkup.dll, shsvcs.dll,mcastmib.dll, sigtab.dll, skeys.exe, slbsp.dll, slip.inf, slbinop.dll and a few others. It says it failed to copy the CDs from the CD, so I popped out the CD and tried again to 'warm up' the CD, and then put it back in and tried, nothing. I tried burning it onto another CD (just the file) and nothing. I tried just spamming enter for an hour to tell it to try to copy again and nothing. The farthest I got was when I told it to abort those files (they do alternate sometimes; few files are added or the same or some are missing so not always the same files are asked for due to a failed copy) but of course with the amount of files i'm missing windows starts up and gives me a blue screen immediately. So I've got no idea what to do anymore.

I'm pretty much left with the option of copying an XP install to a flash drive or copying the CD I have to another CD (Doing that right now). Any other suggestions/ideas? I'm really lost in the dark as to what to do. I'm hoping if copying it to another CD won't work I can boot from a flash drive; but I'm also wondering is a flash drive considered a USB-ZIP in the boot with screen? Any suggestions/ideas would be very helpful...Thanks in advance =D

[Sigi]

look for the drivers for your sata controller. put them on an USB key. when it says "hit F6 to install third party drivers" do so, and point to the USB key. Hopefully your install will go through perfectly

[Shuemue]

The SATA drivers might well be bundled with the RAID drivers, so check for those if you can't see an obvious download.

[Suterusu]

Google this with key words like "SATA" and the name of your motherboard. The key for this is the F6 installing additional drivers. Soem mobo though require changes in your BIOS as well before this will work. For me I had to enable certain RAID services in BIOS and even set my single HD to "striping" in order for windows to read it during installation.

[Blackroses]

Something similar happened to me...

This might not be the case but is your Windows CD scratched? Try burning a new Windows CD. It might also be you CD /DVD reader. Try another drive if you can.

If it's not the case, just ignore my post. Just trying to help ^^

[Isiolia]

I have experienced that issue with bad RAM. You might try running Memtest86 or something, as it may not actually be a problem with your HD or SATA drivers.

[Shuemue]

I have experienced that issue with bad RAM. You might try running Memtest86 or something, as it may not actually be a problem with your HD or SATA drivers.

You may be right, but I had that exact issue with a gigabyte board and SATA HD before, it just wouldn't read correctly with the stock SATA drivers that come with Windows. (I wouldn't be surprised if the OP has a Maxtor HD either)

[Isiolia]

Yeah, not saying it's -definitely- RAM. Just suggesting to check that too, since I've seen that exact behavior due to it, and would have saved myself a good deal of time/effort had I thought to test the memory earlier.

[Fayttt]

Well before I went to sleep last night I decided to put something to hold down my enter key and force it to keep trying to copy the files...came home from work today and it was done...Didn't have to install any drivers or anything =D Now I have to figure out why my XP key won't work *sigh* it's the same one I'm using on this computer too..

[Akucaen]

It may be something as oblivious as a bad SATA cable. I threw together a new system and during installation XP x64 would regularly bluescreen, fail, or throw out transfer errors like yours is or Vista would either sometimes see the harddrive and fail to transfer files with the right drivers in the same manner as your errors as well. In an act of desperation I switched cables and that fixed it.

Sometimes it really is simple things. ;o