Unable to install windows XP på MSI K8N NEO

Question

Hi!
I have problems installing windows XP (SP1) with MSI K8N NEO Platinum Edition. After I bootet my computer (I build it myself) I noticed I had extrem cpu temperatures (65-70 degrees celcius). A quick search on the net indicated that a bios-upgrade might solve the problem, as my current bios probably showed too high temperatures.
As I had already installed windows XP i downloaded the bios and upgraded using the msi-windows-bios program. And, after the reboot my cpu temerature was 20 degrees lower (45 degrees celcius), which is more normal. But during the bootup of windows I got a blue-screen (or, actully a blue blink, just for a nano-second), and then my computer rebooted.
As the system were fairly new and didn't contain any importaint data, I decided to try to make a fresh install of winXP. But now I get a blue-screen during the installation, when the progress-bar says "installing devices", the blue screen appears when it is about 75%.
The installation of XP went fine before the bios upgrade, and I used XP for several hours without any problems at all - except the high cpu temperatur. Now my cpu temeperatur is acceptable, but XP wont install/boot.
I have tried to disable all the integraded devices (such as firewire, network, sound card etc) in the bios menu, but the XP install still provides a bluescreen during the installation of devices.
My system:
A64 3000+
1024Mb RAM (corsair value, I believe)
Samsung SATA 160Gb HD
Matrox Millenium G400 (I know it is old)
NEC 2510 DVD Burner
As I said, this is propably caused by the new bios, as it did work with the old one. I have also tried "Load failsafe defaults". Do you guys have any ideas of how to fix this?  Should I (can I) downgrade my bios (I do not have a floppy drive in the computer).
.wirrum

Answer 1

Hi wirrum,
 I see you are Swedish (the på was a give away).
 I recently aquired a MSI K8N Neo2 from Komplett - where did you get yours from? maybe that have a bad batch because I am seeing the same problems as you.
 I have two different problems , the same stability problems you are seeing and problems with the keyboard (ps2) not always starting up. I'm currently at Bios V1 and after seeing your problems I might just wait with V1.1 unless everything else fails.
Im considering an RMA to komplett soon and asking them for a motherboard that works (maybe from another manufacterer).
 I have a decent PSU (Antec Truepower 480) and DDR400  from Kingston thats on their reccommended list, no overclocking, stable settings, I built the thing with ESD protection and carefully. Not overly impressed right now.
 Some suggestions - turn off AGP Fastwrite, turn on SATA DMA access if you are using SATA. Turn off any Overclocking, move your memory around , try just one stick in DIMM 1 see if that helps.
 I finally managed to get through an XP install but it took 6 hours to install. And it will occasionally stutter then shutdown entirely.
  Quality..