Windows failed to boot due to hardware configuration error

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I am getting this error after I configured my first computer and booted it up with the windows disk in (after installation). I cannot get around it, so I am currently "nuking" both HD's and am going to start from scratch. If you could please give a detailed step by step with what you would do with a BRAND new computer right after all the hardware has been connected and you are about to power it on, it would be greatly appreciated.

This is my first build, so I am a bit confused as to what to do after everything is conencted. Do I need to download the "PowerMax" utility for my Maxtor HD's and install that first? Because I never really formatted them before installing windows and getting that error. I just inserted the CD and pressed <enter> to install.

Could you please give me a layout of exactly what you all would do step by step the moment after you plug in your power supply and are about to turn it on? Thank you so much.
 
It's all fairly straight forward.
Set your BIOS boot sequence to 1-floppy, 2-CD/DVD, 3-harddisk.
If you have no floppy and you hava SATA harddisks, go and get a floppy-drive now, otherwise you won't be able to install the SATA-drivers.

If you have XP, make sure it includes SP2 already. Otherwise burn a CD with XP and SP2 slipstreamed into it.
See here: http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm

Before you start, get an antivirus program. If you haven't got one yet, get the free AVG from http://free.grisoft.com.
Also get a proper firewall program, free versions from either http://soho.sygate.com, www.kerio.com or www.agnitum.com

Switch the PC on and immediately insert your Windows CD in the CD-drive. That should get you to boot from CD. If you miss it, reboot and try again.
Pretty soon you will be asked if you have any special drivers for SCSI. Press F6 and insert your SATA or SCSI driver floppy if needed. If you dont have SATA/SCSI bypass this.
Depending on the size of your HD, make at least 2 partitions, the first one (C:) about 10GB for Windows and other regular stuff, the rest of the HD for Data, Games, My Documents etc.
Then format in NTFS (Windows does that for you) and continue install.
When done, install the drivers from the CD that came with your motherboard, then the video-drivers and any other hardware drivers you may need.
Setup your internet connection, but don't connect your modem/ADSL yet!
Next install an antivirus program and a firewall.

Once this is done, go online and immediately update your antivirus program.
Then do a Windows update.
Enjoy
 
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