Can't do a clean Vista install

[whovous]

Working on a new build:

C2D ES4300

Gigabyte 965DS w/ F10 BIOS

2 Gig Corsair XMS RAM

Biostar 7900GS

Antec 900 case and HE550 PSU

WD SE16 250GB

Lite-On SATA DVD Player

Samsung DVD Burner

 

This is a clean install, not an upgrade. I have the full install OEM DVD. I can boot from the DVD and use it to partition and format drives (FAT-16 was the only choice). It asks me which partition, which language, and finally it asks for my product code.

 

Once I tell it to proceed, it says something like "Windows is Copying Files (0)%." As near as I can tell, it never gets past 0%. I let the machine run for a while, and when I come back, I see the message:

"Windows Setup could not reinitialize the deployment engine. To install Windows, restart the installation." If I click OK, all it does is start me over again, with the same result.

 

I also tried partitioning the HD with the WD tools. It allowed to NTFS the drive at least, but when I went to install, I got exactly the same result.

 

I am at a lost on what to do next. What is the advice from the Street? I cannot call MS support, because this is an OEM disk. My impression is that their support is not all that good anyway.

[uneedav8]

I'm not sure if what your settings are in the BIOS, but if they are overclocked. I would save your current BIOS settings and put them all back to default settings and try again. If it still fails to install, clear the BIOS with the jumper and try again. Of course,the BIOS defaults are just until Vista is installed. The same thing happened to my installation.

[whovous]

No OC'ing at all.... yet. I will return to defaults (nothing really to save yet) and try again. I will also do a CMOS clear.

 

It is very weird to be working on something other than a DFI board.

[whovous]

The problem appears to be solvedd, or at least Vista is installing as I type.

 

I cleared CMOS, got an error message or two, ran one WD diagnostic and got a mysterious error code, then ran an older diagnostic and was told there was something wrong with my data cable. It may have simply been a connection issue, but I replaced the cable, then used WD Data Lifeguard to restore the MBR and re-partition the drive to NTFS.

 

From there, I put the instsll disk in, and when it got to "copying files" the step that normally caused things to stall indefinitely became about a three second process. As I type, it is almost done with the "expanding files" step.

 

Thanks all.

[Redbeaver]

Vista will install on NTFS only.

 

some BIOS settings can disable this.

 

glad u got everything worked out

[whovous]

I gotta say I am very impressed that a diagnostic program can find a cable issue. I still have a little trouble believing that to have been the problem, but the problem went away when the previous cable did...

 

Hank Baron is sending me some shorter SATAs. Performance-PCs rocks. Now I need to shut down my sig rig and get to tweaking the C2D.

[jaylar]

what diagnostic program is that then

[whovous]

I've already forgotten the precise name of it, but it is one of the sort that is supplied with the HD. I used the Ultimate Boot CD (does TMOD work his magic for Gigabyte, or only DFI?), then went to the Western Digital section, because that is who build my HD, and ran the diagnostic.

 

After writing this, I realize I answered the question before it was asked, then forgot the answer. As I said in an earlier reply, it was WD's Data Lifeguard, found via the UBCD.

[ridikolous]

i had the same issue too.. with a bad sata cable.. i thought i had a dead hard drive.. then said what the hell. what is it gonna hurt if i changed out the cable... waahh laaa. magic again..