EggXpert

I just built this system and am trying to install Windows XP Pro but it keeps freezing on me during the formatting section of Windows Setup.  I just built three other systems just like this one but they had the HD 3650 and Thermaltake PSU's and they installed fine.  I have the HDD's in a RAID 1, so I have been using the F6 command for the RAID drivers.  Using the Quick Format, it gets to 20% formatted and freezes.  Using Regular Format, it gets to 2% formatted and freezes.  Has anyone experienced this problem before and perhaps point me in the right direction to get this fixed?  I do need to build another computer and am debating getting the exact same parts and swap out one by one to determine if a part has gone bad, but that would be my last resort.  Thank you ahead of time for your help!

Have you checked the RAM to make sure its good?

Other than that, bad cable .. drive ..drivers .. onboard controller are the next places to look.

If the RAM and cables are good, first try installing it without the RAID array, if that works you know the RAID controller on your board is bad and you should RMA the board, if it still doesn't work the hard drive controller may be bad, or possibly the actual hard drive. Try a hard drive that you know works.

Thank you so much for your help and pointers.  I should have known to look at the hard drives since it was stalling during the formatting section of the Windows install.  First I tried swapping out the cables but that didn't help.  So then I tried installing on each drive separately and found that it worked on one and not the other.  So I guess I have a bad hard drive that needs to be replaced.  Thanks again for your help.  Guess I shouldn't panic so quickly and maybe I could figure these things out on my own.

No problem, its ok man, we all get a little freaked out when our system isn't working. I just happen to be a Computer Technician in an IT Services department so I'm kinda used to troubleshooting.