Need help troubleshooting MB

CheshireCat · 12-24-2006, 11:01 AM

I just put together a system, but I'm not sure it's functioning correctly.

Actually, to be honest, I'm kinda being impatient and trying to test it before the rest of the parts arrive, but I wanna know ASAP if I should return anything or if I can go ahead and send in the rebate forms.

Here are the details:
AMD64 3500+
Biostar TFORCE 6100-939 Micro ATX mobo (probably not the best choice, but oh well)
512MB DDR RAM (another 512 is on the way)
Antec Sonata II case w/ 450W PS

Ok, here's the deal; The HD that this system will use hasn't actually arrived yet, but I have a spare 8.4Gig HD that has nothing on it, so I figured I could use it to at least test the system.

When I turn the power on I hear it post, but then it seems to hang up. I see the Biostar splash screen that says to hit 'delete' to enter setup, but that doesn't do anything.

At the next screen it lists my HD and does the RAM test, but it only shows 64MB of RAM. Then it says "floppy disk error", even though I don't have a floppy drive in it.

This screen also has a bunch of options like "press 'delete' to enter setup" and "press 'F1' to continute", but pressing them doesn't do anything. It just stays on this screen forever until I turn the power off.

So I'm not sure what the issue is. Is the mobo defective or am I missing something? Is the RAM defective too, if it's reported as 64MB, or is that just another issue with the mobo?

By the way, feel free to suggest a different mobo. This is the only thing that I feel might have been a hasty decision. I'll use it if I can get it to work, but if I have to return it I plan to get something else.

By the way, I tried a couple different blank HD and even installed the CD-ROM drive out of my old computer, with a Linux type boot disk, but it didn't change anything.

**The_Other_One** · 12-24-2006, 11:07 AM

If it only shows 64MB system RAM, there's definetly something wrong or some incompatibility with your RAM. Try another slot to see what happenes. As for the floppy error, nearly every computer comes with the floppy drive enabled. No biggie.

What type of keyboard are you using? USB? PS2? If you're using USB, try converting to PS2 or using an older PS2 board and see if that lets you into the bios

CheshireCat · 12-24-2006, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

If it only shows 64MB system RAM, there's definetly something wrong or some incompatibility with your RAM. Try another slot to see what happenes. As for the floppy error, nearly every computer comes with the floppy drive enabled. No biggie.

What type of keyboard are you using? USB? PS2? If you're using USB, try converting to PS2 or using an older PS2 board and see if that lets you into the bios

I tried putting the RAM in the other slots, but it always says it's 64MB.

The keyboard is a PS2 keyboard.

**The_Other_One** · 12-24-2006, 12:46 PM

That's strange it's getting that far with a RAM error. If that is infact the problem, normally it won't even get beyond the RAM test. I can't think of anything else besides testing other RAM in the system. Any DDR RAM should work fine.

Do any of the lights work on the keyboard? Normally the Num Lock comes on by default and you should be able to use others(caps, scroll)

Also, that board has onboard video, right? You're not mistaken the 64MB shared RAM as the system RAM, are you?

CheshireCat · 12-24-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

That's strange it's getting that far with a RAM error. If that is infact the problem, normally it won't even get beyond the RAM test. I can't think of anything else besides testing other RAM in the system. Any DDR RAM should work fine.

Do any of the lights work on the keyboard? Normally the Num Lock comes on by default and you should be able to use others(caps, scroll)

Also, that board has onboard video, right? You're not mistaken the 64MB shared RAM as the system RAM, are you?

Oh, my god, I am a vortex of stupidity. There is a bottle cap sitting on my desk right now that could probably teach me a thing or two.

...I forgot to plug the keyboard into the new computer.

I have the new box sitting next to the old box and I had been just swapping the plug for the monitor back and forth and for some reason my brain just never thought that we needed anything else. Here I am hitting 'delete' over and over going, "Why won't this work??" I might as well have been hitting the buttons on the microwave.

Wow, probably not a real good way to start off in a forum.

Anyway, I was able to find in the BIOS where it said:
Base mem: 640k
Extended memory: 456704k
Total memory: 457728k (my bottle cap is telling me that is about 447MB)

Should I expect it to to be registering something closer to 524288K?

StrangleHold · 12-24-2006, 04:39 PM

Your onboard video is using, looks like 64mbs

mattsprattuk · 12-24-2006, 05:38 PM

the reason your harddrive was not being detected but posts is most likely the IDE cable... with the older HDD's if you try turning the strip cable upside down it may work. if it doesnt fit in upside\down, try an older IDE cable

12-24-2006, 11:01 AM	#1 (permalink)
CheshireCat Bronze Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 32	Need help troubleshooting MB I just put together a system, but I'm not sure it's functioning correctly. Actually, to be honest, I'm kinda being impatient and trying to test it before the rest of the parts arrive, but I wanna know ASAP if I should return anything or if I can go ahead and send in the rebate forms. Here are the details: AMD64 3500+ Biostar TFORCE 6100-939 Micro ATX mobo (probably not the best choice, but oh well) 512MB DDR RAM (another 512 is on the way) Antec Sonata II case w/ 450W PS Ok, here's the deal; The HD that this system will use hasn't actually arrived yet, but I have a spare 8.4Gig HD that has nothing on it, so I figured I could use it to at least test the system. When I turn the power on I hear it post, but then it seems to hang up. I see the Biostar splash screen that says to hit 'delete' to enter setup, but that doesn't do anything. At the next screen it lists my HD and does the RAM test, but it only shows 64MB of RAM. Then it says "floppy disk error", even though I don't have a floppy drive in it. This screen also has a bunch of options like "press 'delete' to enter setup" and "press 'F1' to continute", but pressing them doesn't do anything. It just stays on this screen forever until I turn the power off. So I'm not sure what the issue is. Is the mobo defective or am I missing something? Is the RAM defective too, if it's reported as 64MB, or is that just another issue with the mobo? By the way, feel free to suggest a different mobo. This is the only thing that I feel might have been a hasty decision. I'll use it if I can get it to work, but if I have to return it I plan to get something else. By the way, I tried a couple different blank HD and even installed the CD-ROM drive out of my old computer, with a Linux type boot disk, but it didn't change anything.

12-24-2006, 11:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	If it only shows 64MB system RAM, there's definetly something wrong or some incompatibility with your RAM. Try another slot to see what happenes. As for the floppy error, nearly every computer comes with the floppy drive enabled. No biggie. What type of keyboard are you using? USB? PS2? If you're using USB, try converting to PS2 or using an older PS2 board and see if that lets you into the bios __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

12-24-2006, 12:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	That's strange it's getting that far with a RAM error. If that is infact the problem, normally it won't even get beyond the RAM test. I can't think of anything else besides testing other RAM in the system. Any DDR RAM should work fine. Do any of the lights work on the keyboard? Normally the Num Lock comes on by default and you should be able to use others(caps, scroll) Also, that board has onboard video, right? You're not mistaken the 64MB shared RAM as the system RAM, are you? __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

12-24-2006, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 7,466	Your onboard video is using, looks like 64mbs __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600-3.3ghz. Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 1066-944mhz. 4gbs. PNY 8800GT/VD964 Cooler W/D Sata 3.0 500gb RE2 Humans are curious creatures and by nature insane. Lock us all in a room together and within hours we're dividing into groups, creating Gods and plotting on how to kill one another.

12-24-2006, 05:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
mattsprattuk Gold Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: plymouth, UK Age: 19 Posts: 405	the reason your harddrive was not being detected but posts is most likely the IDE cable... with the older HDD's if you try turning the strip cable upside down it may work. if it doesnt fit in upside\down, try an older IDE cable Last edited by mattsprattuk; 12-25-2006 at 08:40 PM.

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