M2N32-SLI Deluxe Windows installation problem

[tjwasiak]

I have strange troubles installing Windows (XP SP3 or Vista 32bit) on self-made computer based on M2N32-SLI board. The board has newest (1903) BIOS, it was running XP troubleless.

It is my younger brother computer and he caught some virus, so the need for reinstallation. XP installer hangs while loading second stage of installation (just after loading drivers, before partitioning). Vista installer hangs after bootscreen saying Windows is loading files. In both cases I see just blank screen.

Already tried disabling USB, HD Audio, even COM port in BIOS. Not overclocking.

Other specs:
1 GB DC Kingston HyperX PC6400 SLI certified RAM
Geforce 7950GT
Seagate 250GB SATA hard disk
Samsung SH-S182D DVD recorder

Anyone had such issues before?

[JTKWalesUK1981]

this may sound like a daft suggestion, have u tried using an IDE DVD Writer instead of a SATA?

[tjwasiak]

My DVD Writer is IDE/PATA!!! I do know about issues with SATA DVD drives, so I don't buy them... Trying customized XP install disk with nearly all drivers removed and slipstreamed only those needed. I hope it resolves the issue.

EDIT: nothing changed I will try to downgrade to 1201 BIOS as I have read it is most stable for X2 CPUs...

EDIT2: It was BIOS problem!!! Downgraded to 1201, even applied mild overclocking to CPU to achieve memory running at DDR800 and everything went as it should

BTW. It is last ASUS product I bought. I had so many troubles with it... I run small company, mainly selling, making & repairing computers, even cheapest mainboards are making less difficulties than this ASUS... And I was really ASUS fan few years ago, I used their mainboards in every server I built!

[RiZK]

How did you downgrade to 1201? Tried to downgrade my 2001 to that version but it bugs me that a downgrade isn't possible...I tried it in dos also?!?!?!