Reboot problems when installing XP Pro on Epox 8RDA3i

  • Thread starter Thread starter Simon
  • Start date Start date
S

Simon

I'm installing XP Pro onto 2 freshly built PC's both using virtually
identical hardware. Motherboards are both Epox 8RDA3i's.

The first PC installed with no problem. The second is driving me nuts.
I boot off the Windows XP Pro CD and all goes well as I select the
partition (whole disk) to install into. Windows set-up formats the
partition (NTFS, I've tried both quick and slow) and loads the files
in. Then when it comes to the first system reboot, the system just
stops. It just stays at the screen with "Restarting computer..." at
the bottom. The Epox motherboards POST LEDs change from FF to F5.
(This is a motherboard LED I'm describing, nothing to do with F5 key.)

Anyone have any ideas? I'm beginning to think its a motherboard fault.
However, if I restart the PC with the power switch, which takes a 4
second press even though the BIOS Soft-Off by PBTN is set to
'instant-off'!!! let the PC boot off disk and continue the XP
installation, the resulting system runs ok. Except it does not have
the 'hibernate' tab on the power settings in control panel. And,
although it will 'power off' completely correctly from the XP menu
option, if you select 'restart' it does the same thing - just seems to
freeze and display F5 on the motherboards LEDs. So it can power off
but not restart.

I have tried using the F5 key (yes key this time!) during the first
part of windows set-up to force XP to use ACPI. But this makes no
difference. :-(

TIA
Si
 
Simon said:
I'm installing XP Pro onto 2 freshly built PC's both using virtually
identical hardware. Motherboards are both Epox 8RDA3i's.

The first PC installed with no problem. The second is driving me nuts.
I boot off the Windows XP Pro CD and all goes well as I select the
partition (whole disk) to install into. Windows set-up formats the
partition (NTFS, I've tried both quick and slow) and loads the files
in. Then when it comes to the first system reboot, the system just
stops. It just stays at the screen with "Restarting computer..." at
the bottom. The Epox motherboards POST LEDs change from FF to F5.
(This is a motherboard LED I'm describing, nothing to do with F5 key.)
Click to expand...

I read the psu for this board must deliver at least 350w - a 400w is
recommended!
 
Steve K said:
I read the psu for this board must deliver at least 350w - a 400w is
recommended!
Click to expand...

Good thought, but I'm using 450w in both PCs so I don't think this is
the problem.

I suspect something about the 2nd motherboard is making XP fail to
notice its ACPI capable. I read something about XP only checking at
install time. Its possible the first time I installed XP was when ACPI
was disabled in the BIOS.

Despite this I've re-installed XP several times, using NFTS format and
its still not fixed it.

I'm more convinces this is an XP problem now as I've done a clean
install of Mandrake 9.1 on the drive and this could reboot and
shutdown correctly with the right power down happening for shutdown.

Si
 
Simon said:
Good thought, but I'm using 450w in both PCs so I don't think this is
the problem.

I suspect something about the 2nd motherboard is making XP fail to
notice its ACPI capable. I read something about XP only checking at
install time. Its possible the first time I installed XP was when ACPI
was disabled in the BIOS.

Despite this I've re-installed XP several times, using NFTS format and
its still not fixed it.

I'm more convinces this is an XP problem now as I've done a clean
install of Mandrake 9.1 on the drive and this could reboot and
shutdown correctly with the right power down happening for shutdown.
Click to expand...

Have you been in to the BIOS and 'Load Setup Defaults' before starting
the XP setup?
 
Simon said:
Good thought, but I'm using 450w in both PCs so I don't think this is
the problem.

I suspect something about the 2nd motherboard is making XP fail to
notice its ACPI capable. I read something about XP only checking at
install time. Its possible the first time I installed XP was when ACPI
was disabled in the BIOS.

Despite this I've re-installed XP several times, using NFTS format and
its still not fixed it.

I'm more convinces this is an XP problem now as I've done a clean
install of Mandrake 9.1 on the drive and this could reboot and
shutdown correctly with the right power down happening for shutdown.
Click to expand...

Since u installed XP already on the other pc without any problems - XP
hardly can be the culprit (more likely the mobo is). However, I would try to
reset the bios by pulling the battery, reconfigure the bios and then give it
another go.
 
Steve K said:
Since u installed XP already on the other pc without any problems - XP
hardly can be the culprit (more likely the mobo is). However, I would try to
reset the bios by pulling the battery, reconfigure the bios and then give it
another go.
Click to expand...


Brief follow-up... turned out the motherboard was faulty. Scan's tech
support managed to determine this because, when the graphics card was
removed, the board still booted up as far as an "FF" code on the POST
LED. Epox tech support, by comparison, were utterly useless, still
telling me to fiddle with memory timings! Sending one line emails with
no explanation or reasoning. Not answering my questions. Crap
basically.

So I've bought 3 Epox motherboards in my life and 2 of these were
faulty and needed to be returned. I won't be buying anymore.


Si
 
Brief follow-up... turned out the motherboard was faulty. Scan's tech
support managed to determine this because, when the graphics card was
removed, the board still booted up as far as an "FF" code on the POST
LED. Epox tech support, by comparison, were utterly useless, still
telling me to fiddle with memory timings! Sending one line emails with
no explanation or reasoning. Not answering my questions. Crap
basically.

So I've bought 3 Epox motherboards in my life and 2 of these were
faulty and needed to be returned. I won't be buying anymore.


Si
Click to expand...

Steve

Sorry to hear of your situation. If there is anything I can do to help
let me know. If not, well good luck with the new board.

Thanks!

Visit the EPoX store: EPoXStore.com stocks all those hard to find
motherboard accessories... BIOS chips, heatsinks, cables, and much
more! Also find wireless and bluetooth products.
http://www.epoxstore.com

=========================================================
Technical Support Department
EPoX International, Inc.
(e-mail address removed)
www.epox.com
=========================================================
 
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