Cannot install OS (system hangs) on K7N2GM-L

Question

I've just put together a (mostly) new system.  The system posts OK, but when I try to install either Slackware or Win2k, the system hangs.  Slackware consistently hangs after recognizing the cd drive, with a message about a kernel bug, while Win2k hangs while loading hardware files, with a message about a registry error (As in a hardware registry, not the windows registry).  At one point, I was able to get slackware further in the install process, and even partitioned the hd, but I kept getting segfaults and then it would crash.
[Update]:  Slackware actually hangs in one of two places.  Sometimes it hangs right after initializing the Ramdisk, at which poing it gives an eror about being "Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virual address"  I get the CD error when FSB spectrum is set to .50, I get the ramdisk error when it is set to 1.00
Things I've tried:
I've tested both ram sticks individually.
I've tried relaxing the memory timings, and changing the ram voltage.
I've tried disabling external cache.
Other info:
System temperature: 30 degrees celsius
CPU temp: 50 degrees celsius
I had to manually tweak the FSB to 166 (was being registered at 100) and set the FSB/DDR ratio to 1:1 (otherwise my PC2700 showed a 100mhz clock)
Voltages appear to be within tolerance.
Can anyone suggest what might be wrong?  My power supply is rather cheap, but again, voltages look OK in the bios, and would that create such consistent problems?  Is it my RAM?  Or do I just have a faulty motherboard or CPU?
I've been at this for hours and I'm going nuts.  Please help!

Answer 1

qui3ote it's so hard to say just exactly what your rig is going to take to run properly...some ppl spend hours trying different component configurations trying to make them work together only to find out that they have 1 or even 2 components in the "mix" failing at the same time thus leaving them to scratch their heads in disbelievement...I've been there myself...your best bet is to do as the "pro" builders do...
Homework, homework, homework...many of us now look around the net for others who have already built systems around a certain motherboard not being the first pioneers to venture into the unknown...saving ourselves countless hours because we've taken the time to talk to the experienced out there as to what will and will not work...
Some of us who do build a lot of systems for other folx out there take the time to buy different brands of memory, PSU's, CPU's, MB's, etc...and play with different configs in order to find "what works" and then post results in different forums in order to let others know what they've tried and not tried...this usually takes a bit of capital in order to buy what's known as "troubleshooting parts" and can get quite expensive...
To the occasional home builder: The days of buying and building with no problems is long past...with todays high speed systems, a lot of these home builders only remember the brand names that they used in the past thinking that they can go out and buy a really full featured high end MB, cheap generic or "Value" RAM memory, use the same case (usually 3 to 5 yrs old with a PSU in it that couldn't jump start someone's heart if they were dying, much less start up a power hungry high end gaming rig), as well as other peripherals...
Then they head on down to the MB mfg's website (if they even have one these days) and (thankfully not in your case) begin to trash and bash the company about how they have a crappy product, blah, blah, blah...
See where I'm going with this? In any case, as long winded as I've been here, you must now rise above the "occasional home builder" status and approach building with a new outlook as to "how to" and do that homework if you don't want to end up in this boat each and everytime...technology advances and it's up to us humans to advance our thought processes with it...
I wish you luck in your build here...my biggest advice I can give you atm is to go read the sticky posts at the top of the forum for some excellent tips on Memory, troubleshooting, etc, in order to gain some insight into how to do what you're doing...also, as Raven here points out, that PSU is way out of it's league in being able to supply the power needed for the build you're doing...take a step up into the world of high speed computing and lay down some cash for some higher end components that will leave you tearing out less of your hair and give you some peace of mind...
Apacer, OCZ, Corsair, Infineon, and, of course, Mushkin are all decent memory lines that have been known to work with these MB's...DO NOT buy cheap "Value" RAM memory for your board, it's likely to only give you more headaches...Mid to high end memory will cost you considerably more money but will save you countless hours of time trying to troubleshoot which to me is more valuable these days...a PSU with AT LEAST the amperage specs that Raven lists in his post, +3.3v-28, +5v-35A, +12V-18A, or even better is in most cases a requirement these days...and yes you're going to spend 60 to 100 dollars US or more to get one that gives you that spec...sales are a good thing to watch for all of this...
Sorry to go on for so long but I just wanted to give you some insight into the "new age" of computer building! Hope I've enlightened some things for you...if not sorry I rambled on so much *chuckles*
Good luck and let us know if you need any more help!