Win 2k text mode setup fails to copy files

Hi

I've just built a new system; Abit IS7-E, P4 2.8G, 2 Dimms PC3200 RAM

I tested the build as I made it (PSU, Mobo, CPU, RAM, graphics), and
all was going well. Bit on the noisy side but I'll deal with that
later ... I hope

I put a basic hard drive (40GB 100 UDMA IBM noise maker) and CD-ROM
into the box to do a test install of Win 2k. The first phase of the
textual setup works ok, but when it get to the place where it starts
to copy files onto the hard drive the machine locks, and the display
shows just vertical strips of ASCII characters. Sometimes it happens
immediately, and sometimes it gets about 10% of the way through.

I checked the temperature of the system through the Bios and the CPU
is sitting at about 40-43 the system at 31-35, so I don't think its a
heat issue. I've also tried this with 2 seperate drives, so its not a
drive issue either.

For the moment I'm just using an old creative GeForce 256 AGP card.
Gonna try and dig out an old PCI card to see if that is the issue, but
my gut feel is its something worse.

I'm not a complete novice to building PC's, but this is the first P4
box I've put together. Its not overclocked, and I've let the BIOS make
its own choices with regard to timings/voltages etc.

Any thoughts as to where the problem might be, or what my next steps
should be?

Cheers in advance

I actually tracked down the issue this morning by running a copy of
PC-Check against the machine.

It seems that the memory does not like being run in dual-channel mode.
When I moved the ram into adjacent slots (to stop dual channel) it
would pass the PC-Check memory tests, and would then install Win 2k
fine.

I've read some posts about the IS7 class of boards needing to have the
DDR voltage increased to 2.7 or 2.8 V. I tried upping the voltage to
2.7 and the board failed memory tests even in single channel mode.
Actually, the board occasionally fails memory tests in single channel
mode with the voltage at 2.6

I'm using 'generic' DDR RAM, would I be better off with a known brand
(Crucial, Kingston, Corsair) so that I can up the voltage?

Cheers
Mark

(Mark G) wrote in message . com...
Hi

I've just built a new system; Abit IS7-E, P4 2.8G, 2 Dimms PC3200 RAM

I tested the build as I made it (PSU, Mobo, CPU, RAM, graphics), and
all was going well. Bit on the noisy side but I'll deal with that
later ... I hope

I put a basic hard drive (40GB 100 UDMA IBM noise maker) and CD-ROM
into the box to do a test install of Win 2k. The first phase of the
textual setup works ok, but when it get to the place where it starts
to copy files onto the hard drive the machine locks, and the display
shows just vertical strips of ASCII characters. Sometimes it happens
immediately, and sometimes it gets about 10% of the way through.

I checked the temperature of the system through the Bios and the CPU
is sitting at about 40-43 the system at 31-35, so I don't think its a
heat issue. I've also tried this with 2 seperate drives, so its not a
drive issue either.

For the moment I'm just using an old creative GeForce 256 AGP card.
Gonna try and dig out an old PCI card to see if that is the issue, but
my gut feel is its something worse.

I'm not a complete novice to building PC's, but this is the first P4
box I've put together. Its not overclocked, and I've let the BIOS make
its own choices with regard to timings/voltages etc.

Any thoughts as to where the problem might be, or what my next steps
should be?

Cheers in advance