install problems

ok i have at least two good sticks of ram and one good mobo slot. does it matter what configuration my sticks of ram are in when i run memtest? if i know i have two good sticks and put them in two other slots that i have not tested and then that runs clean for 6-7 passes then that confirms that both of those slots are good? or do i need to do each slot one at a time with one good known stick?

I think you're good. Test the other slots if you want. Have you tried install yet?

have not tried the install again, just got back from my trip, bad news about the dolphins...

should i run the hard drive test before i try the install? i have at least two good sticks, so i'll do the install with the one known good one, then once it installs put in the other one for a total of 4 gigs, and RMA my other two sticks.. then when they come back i can have all 8 gigs.. this time ill run memtest on the memory first

If you found that a RAM stick you were trying to install with is bad, then I'd try install again with good expectations. Catch up with the rest of your hardware testing later from Win7.

alright, ill try the install after dinner... i should be ok without doing another clean all on the HDD right?

Yes. Use current partitioning. If it fails, boot in again to use Drive Tools to delete partitioning, create new then format again before install.

installing now, with known good stick of ram in known good mobo slot... i cant watch

ok i made it to the desktop!

what should i do first to keep this install as clean as possible... at the moment i only have my wired ps/2 keyboard plugged in, should i plug in my wireless receiver for my keyboard and mouse?