8rda+.... new build...troubles**fixed**Thanks!

[nergee]

I can not get any OS (win98, 2k or xp pro) to install without some kind of
error message coming up or the installation just hanging. I have the BIOS
set up with the optimized defaults. Any ideas before this board gets returned?

Thanks

Blaine

 

[Viper96720]

Detailed specs may help. What's the error message? MAybe someone knows what to change to fix it. Try disabling as much as you can in the bios. Just use enough to get the OS installed on the hard drive. One memory stick, cpu, hd, ps, vc, keyboard and mouse hooked up.

 

[nergee]

Viper96720

The errors when doing the XP Pro install were msgsrv32 and comctl32.dll. I got thru that
install but many "program not repsonding" pop-ups resulted. I only have the hardware you
recommended installed. This is not my first computer build, I have done many, mainly with
Asus boards and never had any of these problems. Ultimately, I just may have to go back to Asus.


Thanks for the reply

Blaine

 

[mechBgon]

More system specs would still help. Power supply and RAM, for instance. A computer system is a system, not a motherboard.

 

[nergee]

Ok........Antec True Power 430..............(2) 256 Crucial pc2100.............
Maxtor 80GB HDD.........Gainward Geforce 3 Ti200......XP 1700+ Palo...
Everything at default.......HDD fdisked and formatted, one partition,
nothing on it.

Thanks

Blaine

 

[mechBgon]

I found that the pinout on the EPoX USB3 header is a little different than I was expecting (Pin 10 has +5V power, not ground), so if you have any front-USB wiring from, say, an Antec case plugged into the mobo USB3 header, make sure to leave Pin 10 unoccupied.

BTW, you can update BIOS by putting the new BIOS's .bin file on floppy and Alt+F2'ing at the POST screen if you need to.

The board has been known to act strange with low-RPM or variable-RPM fans plugged into the 3-pin headers. Might want to power any such fans straight from the PSU.

If you have any doubts about the integrity of your IDE cables, see if you have any others you can try. I had some hangups with an A7N8X-Deluxe install... DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive was constantly having errors. Replacing the IDE cable resulted in a 100% cure. Speaking of IDE cables, you want the drive at the end connector so there's no vacant section of cable beyond it (prevents signal bounce).

It's also possible that either your RAM or HDD have errors. If you want to check that, Maxtor PowerMax and Memtest86 might have some light to shed. One of the first people to have problems with an A7N8X-Deluxe turned out to have a faulty hard drive, maybe your drive got rough handling or something.

Or it may be a bad motherboard, of course. Mine is a lot like yours, TruePower 430, 1700+ Palomino and Crucial PC2100, and I did a full Win2000 install with the BIOS settings at Optimal/default settings except I think I switched my printer port to ECP + EPP right off the bat. Good luck with the troubleshooting or RMA.

 

[nergee]

mechBgon,

Got a "page fault in a non-paged area" blue screen during Win xp install. Maybe
a ram problem. Pulled one stick and will go from there.

Thanks

 

[mechBgon]

Is the RAM at the default 2.63V or whatever it defaults to? That's what I used, it was 2.6something. Good luck!

 

[nergee]

mechBgon,

Swapped out the ram and replaced the IDE cable. Don't know what did
it but Xp installed w/no errors. Will continue testing. Thanks for the replies.

Blaine

 

[mechBgon]

That's good news. I hate that sinking feeling when a build won't go right

 

[SpideyCU]

I'm glad that you got it working, but to make sure you know what the issue was, try changing just one component at a time, next time. You're not sure if it was the memory or the IDE cables now. I'm happy when my system's working - I'm happier when I know why.

 

[nergee]

I'll throw in the suspect stick of ram. That should tell all. Everything is
running smooth now. All win updates & SP1 installed and am downloading
udp from nvidia now. I suspect there will be no problems. Waiting for the
Tbred to show up to get things really going.

Thanks for the replies

Blaine

 

[Grminalac]

Have you had any trouble with both sticks of memory installed. I have been having problems on my system as well, after switching the memory around (swap stick from bank 0 with stick from bank2) the problems seemed to have alleviated, however during normal use I get lockups and BF1942 is unplayable due to lockups and system dumps.

 

[LastRide]

I had a problem aswell installing Windows XP Pro with my 8RDA+ and 2 sticks of 256 OCZ PC3500EL Dual Channel memory.Turns out the one stick was bad and erroring left and right on memtest86.I have 98SE on right now.I still have to try loading XP again with the one good stick.