First build, mobo issues

F

fortyways

banned
Helloooo,

I just today built a PC from scratch for the first time. It turns on and is compatible with itself for the most-part, so I'm nothing less than ecstatic about that part.

The mobo I used is an ABIT IP35-E. It's Intel socket LGA 775 and has a Pentium D 945 on it. I'm in the process of reading the manual cover-to-cover but haven't found anything about:

A bright red light near the RAM that is always on, even if the box is off (as long as the comp is plugged in).

And most importantly, the computer boots up twice every time it's turned on. I hit the power, the lights come on, fans and drive start, and then 2 seconds later everything dies. Ten seconds after that, it all comes on again and stays on. Is that some kind of test, or setting that I can disable? It's really bothering me since I keep hearing how bad it is to turn computers on and off all the time.

I really don't feel like returning the motherboard and doing it all over again, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
It should be the green led being seen not the red! Something about the board is definitely wrong there. I could add bad caps or a shaky bios to that easy enough. Before something does go the rma option would be a smart move.
 
I can't find mention of the colour of the LED but the manual says there's 2 LEDs. 1 for having a power source connected (will light up even when the power is off) and another LED that will light up when the power is on.

I don't think it will boot if the CMOS clear jumper is set but check to make sure it is in the right position.

Is there any message on screen when you power it on (either the first time or when it comes back on)?
 
i have a simular mobo and the red led near the ram is normal it just indicates that there is power going to the mobo the other green light is desplaying the codes on boot up and should end up with the letters ff at the end of boot up if so everything is fine.
 
I imagine the light is just as it should be... they just happened to choose red for the color, however the booting twice thing is a mystery. You never have any problems with unexplained shut downs or anything of that like?
 
All i can suggest is clearing the Cmos in order to do this take the battery out of the motherboard and leave it out for about 10 seconds after this re-insert the battery and turn the system on. I hope this will help
 
Okay, it looks like the red LED is just a power indicator (red is a poor choice for "everything's ok" if you ask me), and the double boot, apparently, is a known issue, according the reviews on newegg. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127031)

So now I have a new question. Known or not, I hate it. I went to abit's site and I guess there's a bios update that'll fix it. Their instructions for updating a bios say to make a bootable floppy. I don't have a floppy drive anywhere and do not want one. Is there another way? And anything I should watch out for with a bios update? Common mistakes or risks? I've never done one before.

Thanks guys.
 
fortyways said:
Okay, it looks like the red LED is just a power indicator (red is a poor choice for "everything's ok" if you ask me), and the double boot, apparently, is a known issue, according the reviews on newegg. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127031)

So now I have a new question. Known or not, I hate it. I went to abit's site and I guess there's a bios update that'll fix it. Their instructions for updating a bios say to make a bootable floppy. I don't have a floppy drive anywhere and do not want one. Is there another way? And anything I should watch out for with a bios update? Common mistakes or risks? I've never done one before.

Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

Some mobo manufacturer's give you multiple options when flashing the BIOS -the most common being through use of the floppy. If you can't find another option at the support site, you'll have to use a floppy drive. No way around it.
 
you need to go on abits website and utillites and download flashmenu make sure you get the correct one for you mobo, install it and click one touch bios update it will do the rest.
 
I'm confused, do I use the Flashmenu utility in order to write and use a floppy disk or does it remove the need for one?

I have a Flashmenu install thing on the disk that came with the mobo, should I just use that?
 
fortyways said:
I'm confused, do I use the Flashmenu utility in order to write and use a floppy disk or does it remove the need for one?

I have a Flashmenu install thing on the disk that came with the mobo, should I just use that?
Click to expand...

I read the instructions. It looks like you have to use a floppy to flash the BIOS. I don't see any other options. :(
 
Arrgghghghhhhh..

Oh well, I guess I'll go to Fry's Electronics and see if they still have any floppy drives. This should be fun.

Will I have to install my OS again after updating the bios, or should that be okay?
 
fortyways said:
Arrgghghghhhhh..

Oh well, I guess I'll go to Fry's Electronics and see if they still have any floppy drives. This should be fun.

Will I have to install my OS again after updating the bios, or should that be okay?
Click to expand...

You won't have to reinstall the OS. Read the instructions carefully. You need to clear the CMOS jumper after the flash, I believe.
 
That's their form of WIN Flash tool there. That works through the current operating system installed and goes quickly. The floppy method is pretty well outdated at this point abd requires you manually enter commands correctly at the dos prompt when booting up from a floppy.

Since the system has already been booting up and if you haven't removed the battery and moved the jumper pin back and forth according to what is seen in the manual you simply follow the instructions for using the utility available.
 
you dont need a floppy disk it does it from within windows, dont use the one on the mobo disk it will be out dated and will just tell you to download the latest version.
 
With the board having just been bought the latest or last bios version is most likely already on it. What the current flash utility would do is refresh the bios if it succeeds in reflashing the current version out. If that refuses to put the same one on there are ways to make boot floppies into bootable cds for the old manual method. Give the Flashmenu utility a try first however.
 
i have just built my pc with a new mobo see sig and the bios was number11 i used the flashmenu to check if it was the latest and it wasnt the latest is number 14 his board is nearlly the same as mine.
 
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