Hi Guys,Just a couple of questions before I dive into installing. What is the correct software install procedure? BIOS settings, format hard drive, WinXP and SP2, Mobo drivers, then video card and drivers? Will I even need new Mobo drivers?Also, what are some of the BIOS settings I'm going to need? The specs are:ASUS K8N (800 fsb, nForce 3 250)AMD 64 3000+, 800MHz, 512 cacheCrucial DDR2100 512 RAMATI 9500 Pro 128mbThanks for any help,Todd

Hi Todd, I sent you an email just before seeing this post. If possible and if you don't want to connect to the internet too early with your new machine, you'ld ideally have SP1 or 2 and the important post SP2 patches saved on i.e. a CD-rom. Are you going to install it on a freshly formatted partition? As a guideline, perhaps make sure your pagefile is eventually located on your fastest disk (which is normally also where your OS resides). You probably know this... The procedure is pretty simple: 1-Install the OS and update it to it's latest possible state (hence incl. SPs, post SP patches if available, etc.); 2-then install the mainboard drivers which will usually include installing all the onboard interfaces active in the bios; 3-install the display adapter driver. Done! Perhaps verify whether you have DX9.0c before installing the display adpater's driver? Hope this helps, good luck and kind regards Jaap PS, thanks for adding to the other thread, Todd

Thanks Jaap,As I said in the email the hardware install went well, but I'm somewhat hung up on the software. I formatted the hard drive, got past the NTLDR error, but when Windows tries to install, a blue screen with an error message saying there is a problem and has shut down. It mentions checking for a virus on hard drive, checking connections, running chkdsk (?), etc. I tried another hard drive and got the same message. So I'm guessing it may be something I missed in BIOS or some kind of controller issue?. The hard drive is a Maxtor 40g DiamondMax Plus 8, ATA 133. It's configured as the master, and like I said has been reformatted. BIOS is seeing it so I have no clue what the problem is.Jaap, I know you may be busy so if anyone wants to jump in here you're more than welcome :)Thanks,ToddAMD 64 3000+ NewcastleAsus K8N (BIOS 1004)ATI 9500 ProMaxtor 40g HDCrucial 512 DDR 2100CD and CDRW DrivesWinXP Home

I just installed a new system, new everything...motherboard, video card, cpu.......I have 2 operating systems on 2 separate drives.The first drive, it booted up but it froze. I tried it twice. Then I booted up with my XP pro CD, used the 2nd ®epair option. The CD went on its merry way for about half hour. It prompted me to install the software for the video card which I did. Later on I used my motherboard CD to finish the job. Everything went very smooth. I suppose I could have formatted the drive and started fresh. But I have too many applications to reinstall.The second drive, believe it or not, did NOT require my XP CD!! It just prompted me to install from my video card. Never thought this could happen, go figure!!Anyways all my fears and apprehensions were gone. It was EASY... as they say.Abe

Thanks Abe, got everything sorted out. I think the IDE sequence was messed up. Set the HD on IDE 1, removed the CDROM from IDE 2 with just the CDRW as master and away it went, XP is now installed. FS here I come!Cheers,Todd

Great news Todd! Congratulations! I'll try to send you an email tomorrow. Good luck and kind regards Jaap