k, so memtest is now running
I already tried diconnected the DVD rom drive but I haven't tried disconnecting both
as for power unit are you suggesting To get a new one, if so would this be a fair chose
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?NOV-PSU500
by the way I'm using a power adapter to connect to the HDD if thats any use
the motherboard is A74MX
-k (edit) or do you still need nLite to be ran
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/Product/Motherboards/detail_overview.aspx?id=en-us0000379 this might help
I don't feel comfortable recommending power supplies for UK since they are internally different than what is designed for North America.
If anyone from UK has other suggestion for a power supply for your needs based on our discussion, please let us know.
After checking lot of on-line stores in UK, all the ones I read, don't show detail, I can't get any info on the one you selected, it says it has 2 X 120mm fan which I find hard to believe, it has no PCI-E 6pin plug.
I found the web site for the
HIPER 425 WATT 18db Silent PSU ATX with full details, this one seems to be OK, with 2 +12V rails each at 17A max (not combined) and with enough output on the +3.3V and the +5.V rails. I hope the +12V1 and +12V2 yellow wires are distinguished so you can better distribute power to your system. Try and use separate wires for your drives rather than using one or two for your 2 optical drives, the SATA, and the floppy, do not use the same cable that is used for the drives for a case fan. Here is the same power supply from
novatech
As always, please check and see if there are any BIOS updates for the motherboard before starting XP install.
Check the web site for all your components and see if there are newer drivers than what is provided on the CDs, if there are newer drivers, save them to a USB stick or burn a CD, make sure the drive or the CD are free of infection before connecting it to your new installation.
During installation, delete all partitions, create new partition /s, format them (quick is OK) then proceed with XP install, this way your MBR is clean.
Don't connect any other hard drives with data on them until your XP is fully patched with a working AV and all it's updates.
As soon as XP is installed, install your chipset drivers first.
If you use the integrated ATI 2100, do not install it's video drivers till you have .NET Framework 2 at the least (available from foxconn or Windows Update)
It is best not to be connected to the internet during XP install till you have installed an AV (saved to the drivers CD or something) specially if you are not behind a firewall (router would be OK).
If you use Office products, do Microsoft update in Custom mode rather than Windows update, do not accept any hardware update from Microsoft or Windows Update, get them from the manufacturers site.
Remember, even with your XP Pro CD with SP3, there are some 50 or 60 critical updates that you have to install in Custom not Express mode.
Let us know how everything goes.