Installation BSoDs

>
> Hi there. I hope whoever is reading this has serious patience because
> this is gonna take some explaining. First off let me say I know enough
> about Windows after having used it since the beginning of 95, I even
> dabbled a bit in DOX 4.x when I was younger, so I'm no laymen. I also
> have ample experience recently with Linux, the command line and other
> assorted technology.
>
> I got my new Dell XPS 710 a few days ago and ever since I have been
> trying to get my dual boot and partitions in. The hardware is as follows
> if important :
> Core 2 Duo E6600
> nForce 590 SLI Intel
> 1 X SATA 320 Western Digital HDD
> 4 X 1 GB DDR2
> nVidia 8800 GTX
> VP930b Series monitor w/ DVI connector
>
> Now, it came with Ultimate 32 bit preinstalled, and a bunch of other
> crap I didn't want. In addition the fact they made one giant partition,
> as well as of course the dell service partitions. I made a drive image
> of the partitions as they came and then promptly wiped them off my drive
> as I've no need for them. I got a hold of my SATA driver for an XP
> install and put it on a Floppy.
>
> So I reinstalled XP onto it with no trouble at all after installing the
> SATA drivers. I put it on a small 20 GB partition, with intention to
> install any additional apps I need that don't work with Vista onto a
> shared NTFS partition (40 GB to be made later). Once I had XP updated
> and configured, I imaged that as well (I use a drive/partition imaging
> suite called Acronis True Image, by far the best I've seen). So with XP
> imaged in case of any failures I moved on to Vista.
>
> I have a friend who lent me his Vista installation media, he also had
> gotten Vista Ultimate but purchased his copies with access to 32 and 64
> bit versions of Vista. So I of course dropped in the disk and booted
> into it, made a 40 GB partition and then installed 64 bit version in it
> to see if I could get that working. It copied all the files, then
> expanded and followed the installer along... when it came to restart the
> machine it did so and when it reloaded into the Vista install it BSoDed
> me. The top of the message read quickly:
>
> IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
>
> or something similar to that.
>
> I have since tried numerous things to get it working properly, I tried
> to repair it via the DVD medium. I tried installing 32 bit Vista. I
> tried reformatting the entire drive and removing XP from the equation.
> Everything I do results in the same... either I get a BSoD after the DVD
> copies the windows install files to RAM (the Grey bar screen when you
> first boot) or I get a BSoD when it gets to the restart phase. Of note,
> a few times instead of a BSoD I got a blank black screen with a flashing
> grey underscore, like it was waiting for text. Those times seemed to be
> random anomalies.
>
> So now I'm here. I'm quite upset, I wasn't particularly liking Vista
> before I got my new machine but chose it for future game support and
> because I already owned a full copy of XP, this trouble getting a simple
> clean install has made me rather less enthusiastic to have it.
>
> Can someone tell me whats wrong? I don't believe theres any problems
> with the hardware, the RAM checked out fine when I tested it, I played a
> few games with the card in XP and it ran smooth, and everything else
> seems to be perfect.
>
> Thats my story, I hope someone can help if not I'm tempted to return
> the XPS and stick to my linux box... which I'm on right now btw cuz I'm
> restoring XP after another failed install attempt of Vista.
>
> Oh and I would phone Dell, but its not a dell problem, its Vista, and
> they'd probably tell me to restore the service partition and use that
> which I am not interested in.
>
> Thats it, thank you for whoever read that and had the patience to write
> an answer.
>
>
> --
> starcraft.man

> Now, it came with Ultimate 32 bit preinstalled, and a bunch of
> other crap I didn't want. In addition the fact they made one giant
> partition, as well as of course the dell service partitions. I
> made a drive image of the partitions as they came and then
> promptly wiped them off my drive as I've no need for them.

>
> Seth: I just got a fresh BSoD after trying again to get you the
> message, this time wasn't IRQL, here was the error code at the bottom:
> 0x0000007E (0xFFFFFFFFC0000005, 0xFFFF8000985E251, 0xFFFFF980018BE508,
> 0xFFFFF980018DBEE0)
>
> Duncan: Are you serious? Sounds ridiculous IMO that Vista should have a
> problem addressing all the memory on an install, will try that though.
> If it works I'll be very cross and wondering why such a stupid thing is
> a problem with Vista and not XP or Linux on the same machine. The
> "Wow" ain't impressing me.
>
> XS11E: I'm not interested in system restore disks, those are usually
> tied to the machine/service partitions and the whole point is I don't
> want those. I also don't plan on selling or trashing the machine, if
> anything it'll become another Linux box in my increasing army of Linux
> machines. Not to mention I see no reason I should have to use the system
> disks, I have perfect media (tested on other computer) and a full
> license of Ultimate.
>
> Thanks for the responses, I'm gonna go remove 2 of my 1 GB DDR2 RAM and
> retry.
>
>
> --
> starcraft.man

>
> Hi there. I hope whoever is reading this has serious patience because
> this is gonna take some explaining. First off let me say I know enough
> about Windows after having used it since the beginning of 95, I even
> dabbled a bit in DOX 4.x when I was younger, so I'm no laymen. I also
> have ample experience recently with Linux, the command line and other
> assorted technology.
>
> I got my new Dell XPS 710 a few days ago and ever since I have been
> trying to get my dual boot and partitions in. The hardware is as follows
> if important :
> Core 2 Duo E6600
> nForce 590 SLI Intel
> 1 X SATA 320 Western Digital HDD
> 4 X 1 GB DDR2
> nVidia 8800 GTX
> VP930b Series monitor w/ DVI connector
>
> Now, it came with Ultimate 32 bit preinstalled, and a bunch of other
> crap I didn't want. In addition the fact they made one giant partition,
> as well as of course the dell service partitions. I made a drive image
> of the partitions as they came and then promptly wiped them off my drive
> as I've no need for them. I got a hold of my SATA driver for an XP
> install and put it on a Floppy.
>
> So I reinstalled XP onto it with no trouble at all after installing the
> SATA drivers. I put it on a small 20 GB partition, with intention to
> install any additional apps I need that don't work with Vista onto a
> shared NTFS partition (40 GB to be made later). Once I had XP updated
> and configured, I imaged that as well (I use a drive/partition imaging
> suite called Acronis True Image, by far the best I've seen). So with XP
> imaged in case of any failures I moved on to Vista.
>
> I have a friend who lent me his Vista installation media, he also had
> gotten Vista Ultimate but purchased his copies with access to 32 and 64
> bit versions of Vista. So I of course dropped in the disk and booted
> into it, made a 40 GB partition and then installed 64 bit version in it
> to see if I could get that working. It copied all the files, then
> expanded and followed the installer along... when it came to restart the
> machine it did so and when it reloaded into the Vista install it BSoDed
> me. The top of the message read quickly:
>
> IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
>
> or something similar to that.
>
> I have since tried numerous things to get it working properly, I tried
> to repair it via the DVD medium. I tried installing 32 bit Vista. I
> tried reformatting the entire drive and removing XP from the equation.
> Everything I do results in the same... either I get a BSoD after the DVD
> copies the windows install files to RAM (the Grey bar screen when you
> first boot) or I get a BSoD when it gets to the restart phase. Of note,
> a few times instead of a BSoD I got a blank black screen with a flashing
> grey underscore, like it was waiting for text. Those times seemed to be
> random anomalies.
>
> So now I'm here. I'm quite upset, I wasn't particularly liking Vista
> before I got my new machine but chose it for future game support and
> because I already owned a full copy of XP, this trouble getting a simple
> clean install has made me rather less enthusiastic to have it.
>
> Can someone tell me whats wrong? I don't believe theres any problems
> with the hardware, the RAM checked out fine when I tested it, I played a
> few games with the card in XP and it ran smooth, and everything else
> seems to be perfect.
>
> Thats my story, I hope someone can help if not I'm tempted to return
> the XPS and stick to my linux box... which I'm on right now btw cuz I'm
> restoring XP after another failed install attempt of Vista.
>
> Oh and I would phone Dell, but its not a dell problem, its Vista, and
> they'd probably tell me to restore the service partition and use that
> which I am not interested in.
>
> Thats it, thank you for whoever read that and had the patience to write
> an answer.
>
>
> --
> starcraft.man
>

> This is an easy one - when your pc turns on go to setup and find where sata
> mode is and disable raid.
>
> "starcraft.man" wrote:
>

> >
> > Hi there. I hope whoever is reading this has serious patience because
> > this is gonna take some explaining. First off let me say I know enough
> > about Windows after having used it since the beginning of 95, I even
> > dabbled a bit in DOX 4.x when I was younger, so I'm no laymen. I also
> > have ample experience recently with Linux, the command line and other
> > assorted technology.
> >
> > I got my new Dell XPS 710 a few days ago and ever since I have been
> > trying to get my dual boot and partitions in. The hardware is as follows
> > if important :
> > Core 2 Duo E6600
> > nForce 590 SLI Intel
> > 1 X SATA 320 Western Digital HDD
> > 4 X 1 GB DDR2
> > nVidia 8800 GTX
> > VP930b Series monitor w/ DVI connector
> >
> > Now, it came with Ultimate 32 bit preinstalled, and a bunch of other
> > crap I didn't want. In addition the fact they made one giant partition,
> > as well as of course the dell service partitions. I made a drive image
> > of the partitions as they came and then promptly wiped them off my drive
> > as I've no need for them. I got a hold of my SATA driver for an XP
> > install and put it on a Floppy.
> >
> > So I reinstalled XP onto it with no trouble at all after installing the
> > SATA drivers. I put it on a small 20 GB partition, with intention to
> > install any additional apps I need that don't work with Vista onto a
> > shared NTFS partition (40 GB to be made later). Once I had XP updated
> > and configured, I imaged that as well (I use a drive/partition imaging
> > suite called Acronis True Image, by far the best I've seen). So with XP
> > imaged in case of any failures I moved on to Vista.
> >
> > I have a friend who lent me his Vista installation media, he also had
> > gotten Vista Ultimate but purchased his copies with access to 32 and 64
> > bit versions of Vista. So I of course dropped in the disk and booted
> > into it, made a 40 GB partition and then installed 64 bit version in it
> > to see if I could get that working. It copied all the files, then
> > expanded and followed the installer along... when it came to restart the
> > machine it did so and when it reloaded into the Vista install it BSoDed
> > me. The top of the message read quickly:
> >
> > IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
> >
> > or something similar to that.
> >
> > I have since tried numerous things to get it working properly, I tried
> > to repair it via the DVD medium. I tried installing 32 bit Vista. I
> > tried reformatting the entire drive and removing XP from the equation.
> > Everything I do results in the same... either I get a BSoD after the DVD
> > copies the windows install files to RAM (the Grey bar screen when you
> > first boot) or I get a BSoD when it gets to the restart phase. Of note,
> > a few times instead of a BSoD I got a blank black screen with a flashing
> > grey underscore, like it was waiting for text. Those times seemed to be
> > random anomalies.
> >
> > So now I'm here. I'm quite upset, I wasn't particularly liking Vista
> > before I got my new machine but chose it for future game support and
> > because I already owned a full copy of XP, this trouble getting a simple
> > clean install has made me rather less enthusiastic to have it.
> >
> > Can someone tell me whats wrong? I don't believe theres any problems
> > with the hardware, the RAM checked out fine when I tested it, I played a
> > few games with the card in XP and it ran smooth, and everything else
> > seems to be perfect.
> >
> > Thats my story, I hope someone can help if not I'm tempted to return
> > the XPS and stick to my linux box... which I'm on right now btw cuz I'm
> > restoring XP after another failed install attempt of Vista.
> >
> > Oh and I would phone Dell, but its not a dell problem, its Vista, and
> > they'd probably tell me to restore the service partition and use that
> > which I am not interested in.
> >
> > Thats it, thank you for whoever read that and had the patience to write
> > an answer.
> >
> >
> > --
> > starcraft.man
> >

>
> Thank you very much Duncan, that solved the problem. I cannot believe
> Microsoft is incapable of coding a product that works with 4 GB of RAM
> at installation. Then again, I don't think I expected them to bend over
> and allow the media industry to cripple their flag ship OS with DRM
> built in. I suppose everyone gets surprises...
>
> Anyway, thanks again. I won't be putting back in the 2 GB of RAM until
> I'm fully set up and imaged. I am very cross over the waste of my time
> on such a stupid issue MS should have dealt with...
>
> starcraft.man
>
>
> --
> starcraft.man