Mornin' mates!

I recently built this machine and it is currently running XP (so I know that the hardware is good).
Last weekend I bought a 1 TB drive (thinking that I would use it in this machine instead of the older 250GB drive that is currently running the show) and tried to install Vista on it without success. The install process was slow and after it did the first reboot, it just kinda hung... the message on the screen said that it was completeing the install, however the status bar wasn't moving at all over the course of the next couple of hours. Eventually this screen moved on and a black screen with a while coursor (which I could move with the mouse) replaced it. From this point it does nothing... it sat like that for over 24 hours before I gave up and rebooted it. Apparently the install wasn't complete... I've tried running a repair on it w/o success, and I have tried entering safe mode (as it lists the programs that it is loading, it gets to crcdisk.sys and hangs) and have tried re-installing it a couple more times none of which are having any measure of success.

I'm not trying to do anything fancy here like setting up a dual boot... its just a straight one OS install on this machine, and when I'm doing this it is the only HD I have plugged into it (so there shouldnt' be any kind of interferrence from XP).

As other tests I dropped this same 1TB drive in my old computer and Vista installed on it just fine.
As a second test, I dropped 40GB IDE drive in my old computer and it installed there perfectly as well.
However, when I installed the 40GB drive in my new machine and tried loading VISTA on it, it went through the same problems as I have mentioned above.

Any input or suggestions on what I could do to get this going would be greatly appreciated.
Thx in Adv
DtB

PS: I'm sure I missed some details in there somewhere, so if you need to know anything else just let me know

Thanks Gandalf!

I'll let you know how it goes when I get home tonight. :)

DtB

Sorry I didn't have the specs posted earlier (I was in a rush to get out the door)

Mobo: ASUS M3A79-T Deluxe (with 4 Gig of RAM)
CPU: ATHLON64 X2 6000+
Graphics: ASUS EAH4670

(And yes, to answer your previous question, it is a desktop system I'm working on.)

My gut is telling me that its either something in the BIOS (as a friend of mine was in there checking out some stuff a while ago), or maybe this new machine of mine knows what I'm trying to do and just doesn't want to have to deal with Vista.

In about 2 hours I'll be home able to try the XP install.

Thanks again for all the help! :)
DtB

From the tests you list, it sounds like the problem may be the new 1TB hard drive you got as you said Windows Vista installed on all the other drives.
Sometimes you can get a hard drive that is not working right from the get go, it shouldn't happen offtin but it does happen and should it be the problem then you should find out now so you can send the hard drive back before you waste more time trying to install an Operating System on it.
Most hard drive manufacturers have at least a 3 year warranty where they will replace the drive for most failures.
You should download the diagnostic tools from the hard drive manufacturer's web site and make sure the hard drive is working properly before you continue.
You can usually download the tools on a bootable disc and run tests for a few hours to make sure it's working right.
Should you need help finding the diagnostic tools and using them just let me know what make and model of hard drive you have and I will assist you with it.

Doc, you are the best tech on the scene. If I/we can say something that makes you think about the issue, then I/we have done my/our job(s).

You obvious are not computer ignorant, so go with your gut. Just let me/us know what you do so if it doesn't work I/we don't recommend that action AND if it does work, the member with a similar issue will have a solution to try and I/we can learn from your brilliant gut idea. :) Swapping the DVD drive out is a great idea. You see. You knew you had a drive to swap with. We didn't.

Here's to the best technician on the scene.
*That tasted good.*
*No, Doc. Not until you get that computer fixed.* :(

Never to old to learn. Remembering is another thing all together. (:~)

Doc, you do have interesting issues. I can only surmise at this point.

NOTE: never say "other" anything. Please be specific. I get confused real easily.
If you put the original DVD drive back in, say that. Thanks.

Have you ever installed a patch and have it tell you to reboot to finish the patching process?
Well, I would surmise that this is what happened here. After the "reboot", the Vista install kicked in to finished the installation procedure.

I've never played with dual OS, so you have me at a disadvantage there.
Do you want the Dual OS? As to what really happened, I'd be guessing. To many variables.
If you want Vista and Vista is working, abet a little odd on start up, then let it ride.
The choice is yours. *Decisions, decisions.*

As for sticking with you, I'm an old terrier. I don't let go until I get what I want. :)
Again, I wasn't there so I only know what you tell me.

Let me know how you want to play this and I'll be happy to help.
There is no sense starting to troubleshoot, if you like what you have.

Gandalf the Terrier {:~)

If you want, check this out... Win7 Beta

It might still be available. I don't know. I can't risk it with only one computer right now.
The economy is putting a cramp on my computer fun.