First Build - Vista Won't Install

[soccerpimp09]

So i decided to build my first computer - after a lot of research i ended up with:

 

antec 900

Gigabyte x48-ds4

q6600

sapphire 4870

corsair 750tx

lite-on dvd/cd

xigmatek rife 120mm cooler

ocz reaper 800 (4gb)

 

It starts up fine - I went ahead and set the mem timings to factory recommendations and voltage.. but when it starts running vista from disk - it gets to the black screen with the green load bar - goes to the standard vista background... and just stops... blank.. background... nothing else... and I have tried pulling out 1 set of ram... diff. ram voltages... I really don't know what else to do... Its 15 mins into memtest86 without a problem... Anyone have any ideas? perhaps some bios things i should turn on or off? I'm really stumped - and since its my first.. have no clue what i'm doing...

 

Thanks in advance...

[Seth]

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help soccerpimp.

 

Just to be clear, the Vista install went ok, but after the install Vista won't load?

 

Any chance you can try loading up a different operating system on the build?

 

Other options:

 

1) See if Safe Mode works.

 

2) Load the bios defaults and be sure to save the changes. See how that works out.

 

3) Have you checked for a bios update?

[soccerpimp09]

thank you for the welcome - and no.. vista never gets installed.. i try booting from the disk (inorder to install it) and it never gets past that blank (er.. plain.. since it displays the background) - screen...

[soccerpimp09]

Got it to load.. i think.. increased MB voltage a little... but she is loading very slowly... hmm - must need to further tweek the bios....

 

Any suggestions on good CPU temp etc... monitoring programs?

 

Edit - sorry for the double post... merge if possible?

[Seth]

Be careful on that stuff.

 

Did you try the bios defaults?

 

The bios will show cpu temps under a heading like "Hardware Monitoring".

 

From within Windows, try speedfan:

 

SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer

[soccerpimp09]

Ah speedfan was exactly what i was looking for - thank you :) -

[Dalo Harkin]

You must be VERY careful with MB voltages - do not be tempted to up and up them until it loads faster as it can blow the Motherboard capacitors :eek:

Q6600 CPU's are extremely awkward - I had a very similar problem with my ABIT MOBO (search my posts)

Have you set the RAM timings for 4GB as they are different than for 2GB as the timings are slightly looser.

 

You may also be experiencing problems with the 4870 as they are BETA drivers. - I was going to get a 4870 lastweek until I saw the drop of the 260 GTX and I opted for that ;)

Edited July 28, 2008 by Dalo Harkin