Ok, I couldn't resist the itch to get a new pc. Thought I'd build my own, save a few bucks. Should be easy, right? So, 2 motherboards, 3 OS installs, 60 hours later and 1/3 of what hair I had left missing, I finally got everything working.

Except Il2. It won't install. Get an error message "Error 1335. The cabinet 'Data1.cab' required for this installation is corrupt and cannot be used. This could indicate a network error, an error reading from the CD-ROM, or a problem with the package."  WTH is this? Thought maybe my CD was scratched, so I bought a new IL2. That one won't install either. Same message.

Anyone got a clue what to do? I tried extracting the cab file after moving to desktop with winace and it says it's corrupt. Is it not reading it from the cd-rom right? I've tried it in both drives and same thing happens. But, I've just installed a bunch of other stuff, so the drives are good.

I'm stuck. I haven't had a drink in 3 1/2 years, but I'm about to go get me some brewskies.

Oh, here's what I got:

Abit NF7-S ultra-400 mobo
AMD XP 2500+ Barton
1G Corsair XMS pc3200 Cas2 RAM
BFG GeForce FX5900 128mb
Zalman 7000a AlCu Heatsink (for Overclocking to 3200+ :))
Antec Lanboy aluminum case with purty window

This would all be worth it if Il2 would work

What OS (Operating System) and is it patched??S~TX-FlightRisk Black 3

It's XP, updated.I'm thinking I got a bad install. I'm starting to get some instability here and there. The first time I installed it it was completely unstable. The second time I couldn't get on the internet. Then, in this install, it gave me an error that it couldn't copy a file. (I think the others did too.) I hit retry and it kept on installing. So I guess maybe it missed something.I'll try installing it again now that I've installed all my software and tweaked it the way I want it. Ugh. This is getting to be tiresome. It took me a better part of a day figuring out how to get it to read my usb keyboard when I first hooked it up. That was after spending the better part of another day figuring out that the first mobo I bought (ECS) had a bad power connector and wouldn't power on.Oh well. At least it's a hell of a lot faster than what I had. It runs overclocked at 3200+ speeds quite nicely at 44c idle (That Zalman heatsink is awesome.) Just wish I could get the OS running like it should. I'll try reinstalling tonight or tomorrow. Hope it works.S~

Install some sort of virus scan software and be sure to run the scan with the latest updates for it. I had a bunch of quirky problems when I reinstalled 2K a while ago and it turned out to my surprise that I did have some old crap virus. Ran the virus scan and reinstalled, haven't had a problem since.TX-ZenBlack 6

Well, after two more OS installs and now 3/8ths of what hair I had left missing, I've got FB installed!! Wheh. That was a major pain in the ol buttocks.Still not sure exactly what the problem was, but most likely due to the chipset drivers. I had updated them before installing FB and was getting the errors. Tried it with the originals from the CD and it works. Also did not install the nforce optimized ide driver which may have been the culprit also.Anyways....3 days later, it's in. I'm happy-er.Now got the rest of the software to put in and should be online tonight. S!

Well, nevermind. It doesn't work.  I installed the patch and my files to FB, went to play, and the missions won't load. Internal error. So, i uninstalled it. Tried to reinstall and it won't install.I give up for now. Think I'll play Call of Duty for a few years or so. :(I'm tired...oh so tired.

:-(S!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX Squadron XO

I'm the exact opposite...I can play FB...cannot however play Call Of Duty in multiplayer... Regards,TX-Rahman"BLUE 2"

I'm gonna put in XP one more time. If that doesn't work, I just bought a Soyo mobo to put in with the Via chipset. Then at least I'll know if it's that or problem with my HDD or XP. Did I mention I got a new DVD-rom yesterday? Just in case my Compaq drive wasn't compatible.I started this last Thursday and have yet to play a game. These machines will not beat me!

It sounds like you don't intend on losing this fight. . .Maybe TX-Tenacious is a good unofficial callsign??  ;-)Best of luckS!TX-EcoDragonBlack 1TX Squadron XO

FYI......hate to be a bearer of bad news but every ECS mobo i ever had to deal with had random probs like you describe and only thing that fixed it was a different mobo....in my case an Epox 8RDA+ with nforce2 chipset and AMD XP2100+ ...now my PC screams in comparison to my old ECS K7S5A and 1.2Ghz Duron that i used to have lots of probs with and now my only gripe is i wish i had better vid card to complete the package..any questions about my fixes for ECS page or message me i will be glad to help. TX-Razor Blue 4 over and out

The ECS board never worked--had a bad power connector. Then I got an ABIT, and now a SOYO.  None have resolved my problem.I put in the SOYO board today and could not get the XP cd to load without an error. So, figured my HDD might be bad. Got a new one of them. SATA. Still wouldn't work. So, maybe the XP cd is bad. Tried an older one I had and it loaded just fine. Got everything installed and updated.FB still won't install. Get the same error.I'm running out of options. I'm completely dumbfounded. The only thing left  that is not new is my Compaq keyboard and cdrw.There's got to be something I'm missing here. Just don't know what. I'll keep plugging away at it. I didn't buy a new pc to stop playing Il2. If worse comes to worse, I'll play it on my old one dammit.

hey man how old is your drive. i have been exactly where your at and exchanged the hard drive and BINGO.. it fixed the problem... It may not be coomunicating well.... Maybe not but it was my problem exactly a year ago... I could maybe work with you one day if you somehow could get on comms... Good Luck...S~TX-FlightRisk Black 3

The HDD I had was less than a year old--Western Digital.I just bought a new Maxtor SATA today. Great drive, but no luck with FB. All my software installs and works fine except FB. Even got old Il2 working. Makes no sense at all.

Seeker, Lets see if I can help ya.Step 1: Do you have all your Motherboard and Video drivers installed?Do you have the Windows XP updates installed?Step 2: You need to make sure your Temp folder is clean. Go here:C:\Documents and Settings\{Your User Name}\Local Settings\TempIF you cannot see the Local Settings folder, then you need to turn on the View Hidden Files. Go to the Tools->Folder Options->View Tab->click "Show Hidden Files and Folders" buttonSo, when you get there, delete everything in that folder. Anything you are not able to delete is running in your Systray. 90% of install problems are caused by junk in this folder...Step 3: You mentioned the word "Overclocked". Don't. Step 4: Hmmm. Are you getting random lockups, and read failures on the install?  You need to Test your Memory. Do this, go here http://www.memtest86.com/ and download Memtest.  It will create a self-booting 1.44 floppy. Start the PC with the floppy in the drive. Memtest will come up in a purty blue & red DOS type screen and start testing...will take 20+ minutes for your Gig o' Memory. ANY errors in the lower 1/2 screen, and you have a bad stick of memory. -OR- your memory timings are porked. Step 5: Your CD-drive is going south. Dunno if it is new as well, but that would explain bad installs also....~Bill

Thanks for the tips Bill. I tried removing the temp files and that didn't help. Then I ran the memory test and found I got 6000 errors on one module and 10000 errors on the other. That mean the memory is bad? That would explain a few things with some stability probs. I haven't messed with the timings except try both cas2 and cas2.5--it's cl2 memory.Think Fry's will exchange it, or do I have to RMA them? I don't have any other DDR memory to put in to test with. Now, where did I put the box....Thanks again!S~

Well Seeker, Fry's is a whole other ball of wax. But you have 15 days to return it with no questions....heheh. If you have that many errors, as in more than 1, the memory is hosed. You should have (0) errors in Memtest.But don't feel bad, I ordered 2 sticks of 512MB Corsair from Newegg, and BOTH sticks were bad.  The replacement sticks are flawless, however. Memtest is your friend. Corsair memory is good stuff. I am running 1Gb in both Athlon machines in the room I am in. Heheh. Only gripe, Corsair doesn't cross-ship. So if you have to send it to them, you have to wait until they get it, test it, and send you a replacement. Can't secure it with a CC like Kingston, and get it the next day.... Glad I was able to help....DO me a favor, and next time you play against TX-Bomblast, you blow a wing off'n his plane, and say "That was for Bill." ~Bill

I am extremely familiar with the memory test Bill is talking about and it is very accurate........ Incredible both sticks are bad though.... but I have seen it...To be very honest I have built many computer systems and used to do the show routes over the weekends until the market got saturated with black market goods and knock offs. Bill is exactly right and one of the best written support pieces I have seen written ... he has got to be a builder, installer or super help desk guy of the year..... Incredible ... after reading his post I thought I was going to hear a phone click at the end.....WOW!! S~TX-FlightRisk Black 3

It's possible the sticks got fried when I was fiddling with the power connector on the faulty ECS board. It would power on and off for a split second as I jiggled it. Makes me wonder about the cpu...I'll return the sticks tomorrow and see what happens. Hope it works, I was starting to think my Il2 days were over.Thanks for your help guys! I never know building your own pc could be so much fun....a week later. lol

TX-FlightRisk: Pshahhh!TX-Seeker: Doubt it on the power-frying thingy.  Seems that the Larger memory sticks are more susceptible to failing 'bits'; part of it. NEVER buy ECS MB's. They are craptastic. Guaranteed you are going back to Fry's within two weeks. Speaking of Fry's, the *best* one to go to is the one in the Irving/Coppell area. Clean, helpful, and stocked.And never, EVER buy a component with a 'white return tag' on it.Knock your 2500 back to specs until you get the Memory straightened out. No need to lose more hair needlessly.... hehheh. ~Bill

Na bill ... Thank you seriously. I should have known to ask about the memory but never thought about it. We appreciate your help in getting Seeker back on.TX Salutes!!!!S~TX-FlightRisk Black 3

I nominate Bill_Grant for the TX-Techie award....good read on having Seeker test the memory....Carpal Tunnel in my trigger finger....Rocky...TX-CUDA on UBITX-CUDA on HyperLobby

Hey Guys, I've known Bill Grant for ever, or so it seems. Him and his wife are the nicest people you would ever want to know. Heck, our families even vacation together. Bill's a computer guru , hands down one of the best I've ever known. So yes, he deserves the TX-Techie award.Tx-BomblastRed2