Disk boot failure

I just put together a computer for my girlfriend and have been having issues. I first noticed a problem when I started it up for the first time and it was running very slowly. It went to the splash screen and when I pressed delete it took a good 30 seconds to go to the bios. After I configured the BIOS it took awhile for the windows installation to start. After the windows installation finished it restarted and I took out the installation disk. It was still running slowly and got past the splash screen but then it said "DISK BOOT FAILURE: PLEASE INSERT SYSTEM DISC". Even if I turn off boot from CD in the BIOS it still won't work. So I tried reinstalling windows and left it and when I came back it was on the windows desktop. So I know that the hard drive isn't corrupted or anything. After I installed some drivers it went back to the same problem where I can't boot it up.

Obviously it's not the hardrive. The processor wasn't overheating. It starts up so I'm thinking the ram is ok. I'm just lost at this point as to what may be causing the problem. I'm not expecting an exact answer but if someone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. thanks a lot.

 

Hmmm. Makes me wonder if there's a configuration error in the BIOS. You might try going back into the BIOS -- make a note of your settings, then tell it to revert to the default settings and see how you do.

If you get reasonable performance, restore the special settings one at a time, testing after each change. When the system starts to slow down again, the last setting change you made is the one that the system didn't like.

 

i once had a problem on my first build, i had bought the top of the line stuff (raptor HD, 6600 gfx, big heatsink etc.) and for three weeks i couldnt get xp to load up on it it would recognize the hd but i would bsod every time i got to installation screen i was sick. how i figured it out - disassembled everything and was going to put everything back together when i noticed the HD was plugged into the IDE raid port i could have puked when i realized. Look real close at your connections make sure everything is where its suppose to be