BSOD during new install

[Gravely]

Sorry to ask for help in first post. Read many threads here and elsewhere with no luck finding an answer.

I am trying to install Win 7 on new build.

New Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3 mb
CPU - AMD Phenom X6 1090T
4 x 4GB Kingston matched set DDR3
WD blue 1TB SATA drive - no previous format or install
DVD-ROM SATA (older only CDRW from HP pull)
Generic case

Every time I try and install, when it finishes loading files to RAMdrive and begins the animated logo,
I get BSOD. Stop: 0x000000F4, followed by 4 other codes which vary.
This happens with XP and Win7
As I cannot get far enough, I have no dump files.

Things I have done:

Ran MemTest86+ for over 8 hours. CPU temp never got above 40°C ZERO errors (will let run overnight)
Tried 1,2,3 and all four memory sticks, in varied slots

Tried multiple Win 7 discs
Tried multiple XP disks
Tried Recovery Discs
Used both 32bit and 64bit versions of all above. Only difference was the length of the codes after the F4.
Tried above without HDD attached
Tried different cables
Tried different ports
Tried "tiny xp" from IDE CDrom

Set Sata to ACHI and IDE emulation.
Cleared CMOS Got desperate and swapped battery.
Took XP HDD from working computer and tried to boot. Same BSOD.

I was able to boot an Acronis true image restore disk, but then had nothing to do.
I'm out of ideas, anyone else have any?

thanks

 

[americancritic2]

Hello and welcome to the seven forum. Please follow the posting instructions and a BSOD expert will help you.

http://www.sevenforums.com/bsod-help-support/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

 

[Golden]

I get BSOD. Stop: 0x000000F4, followed by 4 other codes which vary.
This happens with XP and Win7
As I cannot get far enough, I have no dump files.

0XF4 can often be indicative of HDD issues, whether its the actual disk and/or connectors between the motherboard and disk.

Run the DOS version of the LONG test of SeaTools, as explained here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/313457-seatools-dos-windows-how-use.html

Read carefully and follow it.

 

[Gravely]

Hello and welcome to the seven forum. Please follow the posting instructions and a BSOD expert will help you.

Thank you.

Unless you can tell me how to post a minidump without an operating system, all I can do is type the codes.

64bit:
0x000000F4
0X0000000000000003
0XFFFFFA800CA49B30
0XFFFFFA800CA49E10
0XFFFFF8000D1D0240

32bit:
0X000000F4
0X00000003
0X94A503F8
0X94A50564
0X8BC6FD50

The last 4-5 characters of the last three codes is all that seems to change on each attempt.

I will post some SeaTools results. I will also try Lifeguard.
If I can dig up an old IDE drive, I will try and install to that as well.

I wanted to let Memtest hit 8 passes. After running overnight I think it's up to 6.

 

[Gravely]

I only have dialup and rather than wait for seatools to download, I tried another option first.

I took the 80gb SATA HDD that had an old version of XP on it, and did an automated install of TinyXP.
This was the drive I tried booting from that gave the same BSOD as trying to install Win7.
I set BIOS to use "native IDE" for the SATA ports. (AHCI off)
Setup booted fine from CD; (I used the CD-ROM IDE drive) and after choosing "L" to remove the old install,
TinyXP finished a new install without any problems.
I let the machine run all day, but I didn't have time to install or run any other programs.

I hate to jump ahead of using Seatools, but if the issue with Win7 is the 1TB HDD, how should I proceed?
All attempts have not gotten to the point where setup lets you press F6 to load drivers.

I would need help slipstreaming the gigabyte drivers into a Win7 ISO.
I could try and install Win7 over TinyXP, and then GHOST onto the large drive.
Or if Win7 installs over XP, leave it on the 80gb and put everything else onto the 1TB drive. (I have only read about doing that)

I really appreciate your suggestions. I'll get back at this after work today.

 

[Golden]

You have to test the HDD you removed...there is no shortcut.

 

[Gravely]

I ran seatools, both short and long. No errors.

Now sometimes when I try and boot from a setup disk, it acts even weirder.
After the win7 swirl logo or the XP green bar, ½ the time it just shuts off, ¼ time it enters an endless reboot, ¼ time it does give BSOD

I put the drive back in that I installed TinyXP on.
It boots fine every time. I then ran an XP-SP3 upgrade on top of that and it still boots fine.
I have also been able to boot any number of "repair" disks such as Hirens, ERD, Windows pre install disk etc.
Although I cannot boot from either 32bit or 64bit windows recovery disks. (ISO downloaded from microsoft)

When I can get it to boot, I can see the 1TB drive under windows disk management.
While I didn't format it, I did change it to healthy & active.

It sure seems like a driver issue.
If I did not mention it the board says rev 5.0
I have not flashed the bios.

Onboard graphics with bios set to boot the onboard VGA first. (the default was pci first which I did start with)

No cards installed.
I even pulled all the case leads for front and rear USB as well as the front sound ports.

?????

 

[Gravely]

Well I wouldn't call this solved, but I have made progress.
There are some undocumented BIOS options. At least not in the manual that came with the board.
I had been leaving them at default.

I changed two of them:

Unlock core
Turbo CPU

Both were disabled by default.
After that change I was able to complete Windows 7 64bit PRO install.
No question marks in device manager after driver install.
Watched an entire movie last night without a problem.
However it still seems a little flaky and has shut off while unattended a few times.

I will look around, but does anyone have BIOS settings suggestions for a gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3?

 

[Gravely]

Anyone?

 

[Golden]

Sorry this was missed....try setting the BIOS settings to default (often called Optimised settings, depending on the BIOS). Thats always a good place to start

 

[Gravely]

Seems to OK since changing those two BIOS settings.
Was able to activate and run Windows update.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Golden]