Cannot Install Windows XP on 500GB Partition

You might need to attach the HD to an existing system, and FDISK/FORMAT it from there.

nice... I dont have a floppy drive.

Can I just stick it in another computer and format it from windows?

Yup, that's the attaching to an existing system ^_^.

If you can run FDISK before format then that would be great.  I would also advice you to partition your hard drive.  Its tooooo large for only one partition :)

i unplugged 2 of the new harddrives...just one plugged in.  Windows began to install, but im getting a stop 0x0000050 stop error while windows is installing :-(

Are you using a version of XP with Service Pack 1 or 2 included?  Or is it the gold release (no service pack?)  As I recall, XP needed SP1 integrated to properly access disks over 128 GB.

Try parititionmagic from powerquest to partition ang format your HD.

I agree, please verify u are running SP2.  Also let me tell you  that I knwo some HDD manufacturs have had quality controll issues with these large drives.  I know you tried installing windows with just one drive, but try another of the 3.  Its possible one is defective.  Page fault errors typically come from either bad RAM or bad HDD.

1) Many (!!!!) systemboards have issues with properly detecting the ram timing and, sometimes, the memory is just plain defective.  The easiest (and best) test is a free download from http://www.memtest86.com/ (ignore the sales pitch and click the Free Download link)  Create the CD from the ISO image and boot it up.  Let it run for as long as you can stand to.  If the error section stays blank, yeha; but, if even one error appears, you need to fix it before installing Windows.  In some cases, you may need to get the timing specs on your memory and set the BIOS manually for it to work.

2) Did you know your machine will be MUCH FASTER with two (or more) hard disk drives? And I don't mean partitions, I mean separate physical drives.   I, for example, have three in each of my systems. One is for Windows and Programs, the next for all of my temporary files, and the third has all of my data.  Because 40 GB is tons for programs and the same is true for the dedicated Temp file drive, they are partitioned with the rest of the drives used as archival backup.  The gain is that you eliminate most of the seeking involved in normal operations which is far slower than the reading of files.  My "C" drive is a lowly 80 Gig's, split in half and, IMHO, a 500 GB "C" drive is asking for trouble.  Get a smaller drive for C and, once Windows is working, all you have to do is right-clcik on My Documents to move it to the 500G drive.

I want to add this why windows does this error...
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/171003
This may describe the error and solution...

I hope you are using a antistatic handchain when you are building a computer. The parts are very vulnerable. Specially the ram could be harmed...

I dont know one single tech that uses those annoying wrist bands.  But I do agree, the ram seems to be faulty at this point.  An alternative to the wrist band would be just to touch your power supply any time you move away from the case.  The wrist bands never stay clipped right anyway.

_Forgotten_; we digress; but, in 31 years of computer repair (18 of them with 20 employees), I have seen TWO instances where I knew static had zapped a part.  The source of the problem (guys) is what the soles of your shoes are made of.

I agree - is static a potential cause of problems?  Yes... is it a LIKELY cause of problems - NO.

I appologize for geting off topic there.  Plain and simple solution....replace the ram and all should be well :)

It was a bad stick of RAM.  Thanks for the help guys!

One of the two 2GB sticks was bad, so I have to call newegg today and get it RMA'd

To the poster above, I bought 3 500GB drives, not 1, so no worries.  OS/Games are on the first drive, downloads are on the 2nd drive, and the 3rd drive is a backup.