New EPoX 8K3A+ - Install Probelm, Need Help!

[jmichna]

Just got new 8K3A+. Installed into Lite-On FS020 case, Enermax 340v PS, XP2100+ cpu/ThermalRight AX7/Sunon 80mm
MSI GF4 Ti4400 vid card
two - 512mb Corsair XMS DDR2700 ram
Other components:
two - IBM 75GXP 45gb HDs (connected to HPT connectors)
Pioneer 106S DVD (IDE1)
Plextor 15/10/40 (IDE2)
3.5" Floppy
Soundblaster Live!
Adaptec (non-BIOS. non-bootable) 2902 or 2904 SCSI card, for scanner connection
Intel 100Pro NIC

All components were functioning on older Asus A7V133 mobo earlier this evening. Changed no jumpers on HDs.

Problem:
Initial post, out of the gate, monitor shows Award BIOS info, shows CPU and DDR Ram correctly, the health monitor stuff comes up at bottom, and given option to hit "DEL" to enter bios, or "alt-F2" for Award flash.

I get no response on keyboard press. POST screen just stays at the view described above. LED diagnostics start at "C-something" (don't recall at the moment), runs quickly through a series of numbers, up to "52," then LEDs show "6b" and stays there.

Note: when first booting, the keyboard lights briefly flash, then all lights keyboard remain dark. Keyboard is a standard PS2; mouse is a USB MS Optical... mouse lights up like expected.

I pulled all cards except video... reboot, same result.
All cards out, cleared cmos, reboot, same result.

Any ideas where to start looking? What might be the problem?
Thanks in advance,
jmichna

[bill197169501]

j:
Did you look up "6b" to find out what that code means? I don't
remember what the ending LED reading should be, when everything boots correctly.
Otherwise, I'm quite fond of Epox boards.
Sorry, I know I haven't been much help. . .

- Bill

[bigblue77]

If it boots correctly the display reads "FF". At least thats what it is on my 8KHA+. If you cannot find it in the manual, you might want to check the EPOX website.

Jer

EDIT->I am currently downloading the manual for you r board so I can better help you.

[jmichna]

Bill and Jer...
Thanks for quick responses...
I've got the hardcopy manual that came with the board, "6Bh" (I assume that is "6b" that I saw on the LEDs) means:
"Program chipset registers according to items described in Setup & Autoconfiguration table."

During one of my (re)boots, it also stayed at "6d" (assuming this is same as "6Dh" in manual), then:
"1. Assign resources to all ISA PnP devices.
2. Auto assigns ports to onboard COM ports if the corresponding item in Setup is set to "AUTO"."

Sorry, but this is all rather cryptic to me, and the item 1. re "6d" LED instance shouldn't even apply... the board has no ISA slots/no ISA devices.

The most frustrating thing is it POSTs to show the Award BIOS, the CPU and DDR info, then the "PC Health" stuff. The temps and fan rpms, various voltages... all look okay. I just can't get past this screen, it hangs, and the LED post code just stays at "6b." Pressing DEL to enter BIOS does nothing... grrr... if I could just get into BIOS, then I can adjust whatever is needed re my specific components.

Oh well, hope folks have got other suggestions to offer.
(heavy sigh, resigned to my fate)
jmichna

[Xeroid]

You might want to try clearing your CMOS. If it's like the 8kha+ there is a jumper on your mobo to clear it.

Mike

[bigblue77]

Did you try going into the BIOS and setting everything up? If I remeber correctly, I had to do that to my 8KHA+ before it would actually boot.

Jer

[Scott Tiger]

I'm afraid that I can't help you much with your problem but I will say that that will be one sweet machine once you get it working!

Good luck.

(I would be worrying about those drives though)

ST

[jmichna]

Got it going!!!

Basically, tore it all down till it was only PS, mobo/cpu/hs/fan, vid card, floppy and kb. Removed everything else.

Was able to enter BIOS.

Kept adding back components one at a time, rebooting, checking that I was able to get into BIOS.

Flashed to newest BIOS, built RAID-0 array, and installed XP Pro.

After all this, I suspect it was the DVD-ROM drive on IDE-1. The ribbon cable was plugged into the mobo, however, I think the molex power connector may have been partially pulled out from the back of the drive (hard to see where it connects). I know when I disconnected the drive from IDE-1, I got into BIOS on the next reboot.

Anyway... as Willy-Shake-A-Lance once said "All's well that ends well."
jmichna

[bigblue77]

Glad to hear you got it going.

Jer

[ragtop]

Originally posted by jmichna
After all this, I suspect it was the DVD-ROM drive on IDE-1. The ribbon cable was plugged into the mobo, however, I think the molex power connector may have been partially pulled out from the back of the drive (hard to see where it connects). I know when I disconnected the drive from IDE-1, I got into BIOS on the next reboot. jmichna

I feel your pain - I learned this same thing the hard way a while back. The machine just hung at the point when it tries to detect the drives. (Lots of cussing and swearing until I figured it out)

I'm glad you got it solved.