new build: xp will not boot from hdd

[josbd]

Not sure whether this is the right forum so apologise if it is not.

A friend has a new build, comprising:

Gigabyte K8U mobo
AMD Sempron 2800+ 64
Western Digital WD800JB Caviar SE 80Gb 7200rpm 8MB Cache
1024 Ebuyer extra value Ram
LG GDR-8164BL DVD Rom
Mitsumi floppy
Sapphire Radeon 9250 128MB AGPx8 DDR 64-bit DVI TV-out

He says he cannot get it to boot from the hdd. It always needs to boot from disk. I asked him exactly what happens. His description:

"Switch it on and it shows the Award screen.

Testing Memory, ok

Pause

Detecting IDE devices

Pause

IDE 0 Master (shows Western Digital 8gig HDD)
IDE 0 Slave None
IDE 1 Master (shows DVD Rom)
IDE 1 Slave None

Pause

Detecting IDE Devices......

Very long Pause

Goes to next screen, one with all the numbers on

Cursor at bottom of page blinking

very long Pause

Boot from CD Rom.......
DISK ERROR, INSERT SYSTEM DISC AND PRESS ENTER.

Insert motherboard disc and press enter

Pause

Blank screen wiv cursor at top

Pause

FDD 1 1/4
Press any key to boot from CD Rom..... Boot from Hard Disk

Pause

Then it either boots from the HDD or it doesn't depends what mood its in.

All in all that process takes 5 minutes plus."


In Bios it is set to boot from hdd.

He has tried a reinstall, and a repair.

If anyone could help, he would be extremely grateful.

Thanks!

 

[Mirob]

Try setting the drive to Cable Select. The BIOS my find it faster.

 

[Samstoned]

once he is in can he nav through the hard drive fairly like normal
if so
find boot.ini file and copy and post here
other than that in bios disable boot floppy seek and on boot order make sure the cdrom is next
if it is sata capable and there is not sata drive?? disable that as well.
I don't know about the cable select thing, I always have trouble with it ,I make sure the hdd is set to master at the very end of cable
same with cd or dvdrom make it master at end of cable

 

[josbd]

I shall pass on comments and ask.

Thanks guys!

 

[josbd]

OK, he has decided that the mobo is faulty, so it is being despatched back to ebuyer.

Thanks for all of your help, it really is appreciated!