More Problems

  • Thread starter Thread starter Marc B.
  • Start date Start date
M

Marc B.

Okay... I finally got Windows to boot long enough so I could get the
updated BIOS and install it. The CPU is now registering properly, but
when in Windows nothing seems to be working. The LAN drivers are
installed properly, as is the sound card, yet neither work. The system
is also VERY sluggish.

I have an ATI Radeon 9600XT, 512MB RAM (two PC2100 266), and two Maxtor
40GB drives.

While I tried installing XP it kept coming up with missing files, the
service pack wouldn't install while XP worked briefly... this is all
very frustrating.

Can anyone advice me what the problem is? I'm at the end of my rope.

Thanks!
 
Marc,

I would start with a double check on the drive and CD cabling.
Are the two HDD's on the first IDE port as Master / Slave correctly?
Is the CD on the second IDE port as Master correctly?
Is everytying seated on the mobo correctly?
Does the CPU have a correctly mounted heatsink with theermal paste?
What does the bios say about power voltages - they should all be withing 5%.
What is the CPU temp in bios?
Have you tried clearing CMOS and loading Bios Defaults?\

If all is ok, then

Download and run memtest86 for a minimum of 2 full runs. Note what it says
about Test #5. If you have any errors at all reported then these will have
to be sorted before you attempt to install an OS.

What rating is your PSU? Check the current rating for each of the power
rails and check this against the requirements of installed devices. Paul has
often posted in this news group excellent detailed information on estimating
PSU loadings, and many other details so search for Paul...

- Tim
 
Marc,

I would start with a double check on the drive and CD cabling.
Are the two HDD's on the first IDE port as Master / Slave correctly?
Is the CD on the second IDE port as Master correctly?
Is everytying seated on the mobo correctly?
Does the CPU have a correctly mounted heatsink with theermal paste?
What does the bios say about power voltages - they should all be withing 5%.
What is the CPU temp in bios?
Have you tried clearing CMOS and loading Bios Defaults?\

If all is ok, then

Download and run memtest86 for a minimum of 2 full runs. Note what it says
about Test #5. If you have any errors at all reported then these will have
to be sorted before you attempt to install an OS.

What rating is your PSU? Check the current rating for each of the power
rails and check this against the requirements of installed devices. Paul has
often posted in this news group excellent detailed information on estimating
PSU loadings, and many other details so search for Paul...

- Tim
Click to expand...
I'm a bit stumped. His board is running, but the peripherals don't
work. That almost sounds like the wrong motherboard CD was in the
box with the product. Maybe downloading drivers from the Asus
download page will help.

Sluggish performance could be the Windows disk drives running in
PIO mode. He could check and set them to DMA mode.

As for the processor, go to the hardware monitor, and see if
Vcore is correct for your Athlon 1.2GHz. Check that the OVERVOLT
jumper is not engaged (at least until you need it). Note that
the state of the OVERVOLT jumper will not be reflected in the
Vcore item of the BIOS, but you will be able to see the effect
of using the jumper using the Hardware Monitor BIOS page. Perhaps
a boost of 0.1V for Vcore, in the BIOS Vcore menu item, will allow
the processor to boot. It could be a nominal 1.75 volt part, but
I'm not 100% sure.

As it runs enough to install Windows, it probably isn't a gross
powering problem. I wonder if this was a return from
another customer :-(

HTH,
Paul
 
Tim,

Thanks for the advice. I've already checked all cables multiple times,
made sure everything is jumpered right, and I've checked to make sure
everything is seated right. All looks good from what I can tell.

The CPU has the heat sink mounted fine and is running at a cool
65-degrees celcius.

Here is the power voltage listed as it is in the BIOS:

VCORE Voltage 1.79V
+3.3V Voltage 3.24V
+5V Voltage 4.81V
+12V Voltage 12.22V

I have tried clearing the BIOS and resetting to the defaults: nadda.

I tried to download memtest86 but it won't load for me. Granted, I
can't get any software to load (either from Windows Updates, the Asus
driver CD, or downloaded drivers).

As for something Paul mentioned, the board was a returned item but
before buying it I opened the box and inspected it... it looked fine,
like brand new.

Thanks for the ideas on what to try. Any other ideas?
 
I managed to get memtest86 working. Tim, you were right: there is an
error popping up on test 5. I have no idea what it means or how to fix
it but I'm posting it here in hopes someone might know:

Tst = 5 , Pass = 0 , Failing Address = 0001408f6d8 - 320.9MB , Good =
ffffffff , Bad = ffff7fff , Err-Bits = 00008000 , Count = 1

Thanks for any input.

-Marc
 
Marc B. said:
I managed to get memtest86 working. Tim, you were right: there is an
error popping up on test 5. I have no idea what it means or how to
fix it but I'm posting it here in hopes someone might know:

Tst = 5 , Pass = 0 , Failing Address = 0001408f6d8 - 320.9MB , Good =
ffffffff , Bad = ffff7fff , Err-Bits = 00008000 , Count = 1
Click to expand...

Bit stuck low? Replace that busted stick of ram with a good one?
Just a couple of wild guesses...
 
"Marc B." said:
I managed to get memtest86 working. Tim, you were right: there is an
error popping up on test 5. I have no idea what it means or how to fix
it but I'm posting it here in hopes someone might know:

Tst = 5 , Pass = 0 , Failing Address = 0001408f6d8 - 320.9MB , Good =
ffffffff , Bad = ffff7fff , Err-Bits = 00008000 , Count = 1

Thanks for any input.

-Marc
Click to expand...

In your previous post, you said the processor runs at 65C ?
And that is idling in Windows ?

You should try to improve on that, by removing and checking
that the heatsink/fan is oriented so the contact patch lines
up with the CPU die, and that there is a thin coating of a
thermal interface material on the die, to fill any air voids
between the heatsink/fan and the CPU. If the previous thermal
pad is in bad shape, is scratched, or no longer aligns well
with the die, then you'll have to remove it, and get some
thermal paste from a computer store. Only enough thermal
paste should be applied, to fill the air gap, it shouldn't
squish out when the HSF is clamped to the processor. You can
test the degree of spread, by placing a dot of paste, the
size of the head of a pin, then place the HSF on top of it,
and see how much it spreads. That will help gauge how much is
needed. In any case, keep the paste away from the bridges on
top of the CPU.

You don't want the paste to spread, as it can be hard to
clean out of tight spots. Ethanol or propanol is generally
safe on electrical assemblies and you can clean off residue
with them. Use a cloth with solvent on it.

When reinstalling the HSF, be very careful while doing that,
as it is easy to crack pieces off the edge of the CPU die.
If you can manage it, do your heatsink install/removal while
the motherboard is outside the case, so you can see what you
are doing. You could even test the components in your computer
while they are outside the case, as the PSU is easy to remove
(four screws), and you can do a "cardboard test", where you
rest the motherboard on a piece of cardboard or wood, while
bench testing. You can start the computer by touching a
screwdriver tip, to the two pins where normally the power
switch goes.

The toughest part, is sliding the motherboard into the
case and getting it to fit underneath the stiffener bar
that runs across the center of many cases, when the HSF
is in place.

HTH,
Paul
 
Thanks for all the help and info. One of the reasons I upgraded to this
board was so I could upgrade the CPU in the next month or so. Now with
one of my SDRAM being bad I have to upgrade the memory too. And
finally, a new case is in order as it only has the PSU fan so not a lot
of air circulation gets in there. Right now I have to leave it open
with a fan blowing in to keep it cool (which is not the best way of
doing it but as I'm strapped for cash I have to improvise).

In any case, thanks again. You've been most helpful.
 
It means that you have bad memory. That's really all that you need to
know. Replace the bad memory.
 
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