A8N-SLI Secondary IDE Channel

[CYcolone]

I recently installed a second video card and an Audigy 2 into my system. After doing so, it seems that nothing I plug into the secondary IDE channel will work. I tried removing the two cards but I still had the same problem. I have 1 IDE HDD and DVD-RW, the HDD on primary as a single drive and the DVD-RW on secondary as a master (since there is no single for it). I know both the DVD-RW and HDD work along with the IDE cables used, since whichever I plug into the Primary IDE channel BIOS will detect. I tried resetting BIOS to default settings and updating it to the latest, and that didn't work either. None of the pins on the IDE slot on the motherboard appear to be bent or missing. My first thought is that the motherboard must have gotten damaged somehow, but I find that hard to believe, since everything else works fine and the system is completely stable 20% overclocked. Anyone have any suggestions on getting this thing working before I RMA it?

Specs:
A8N-SLI Deluxe 1006 BIOS
AMD 3200+ Socket 939
Kingston HyperX DDR400 512MBx2
MSI GeForce 6600GTx2
Soundblaster Audigy 2 ZS

EDIT:
Also noticed that when I tried to run AsusUpdate, it would give me errors and crash, so I uninstalled it and when I tried to reinstall it I got the following errors: "NT service registry error! Please reboot NT and run again". After clicking OK I get another error: "Setup program detect no ASUS motherboard. Installation will be aborted now."

 

[CYcolone]

BUMP

 

[Peter]

Un-overclock the system. Before even discussing anything else.

 

[CYcolone]

Well I had already. I reset BIOS to default settings.

 

[mlc]

as mentioned ... go back to stock settings first...
then remove the 2 cards until you get past the problem (this board seems to have misc. issues with some add on sound cards...

I would then doublecheck your bios to make sure the 2nd IDE channel is enabled.. I know you allude to the fact that you may have done this .. but it is not clear ..

then I might try removing the IDE controller drivers via the device mgr, and let them reinstall.... Are you using the nvidia or windows drivers? If NVIDIA, make sure you're using the latest version... Most folks seem to have better luck using the windows provided drivers.. so you may want to go that route..

 

[CYcolone]

I already reset it to default settings through BIOS and removed the 2 new cards. I checked to make sure the secondary channel was on and was auto detecting and tried clearing CMOS. I tried reflashing BIOS through the Phoenix utility on ASUS's site to 1006 and then 1004. I uninstalled the ForceWare drivers, rebooted, installed them, and then rebooted (Although I don't think this is a drivers issue). Out of things to try.

 

[mlc]

is the device recognized during the POST ? or is it just not recognized by windows after you enter the OS ?

if the latter.... then I would be concerned about the asus updata error you received....(possibly try a repair)

if the former.. then it sounds like an RMA as you suspect...

the 1006 and 1004 are both very stable .. so i don't see an issue there..

 

[CYcolone]

It's not reconized by POST.

 

[Promethply]

A silly question, but was the DVD-RW set as a master drive in your older system?

 

[CYcolone]

Well, this isn't a new system. I've had it up and running for months, and the drives have been working for months. It's just recently that the secondary IDE channel stopped working without me touching the jumper settings. I sent an e-mail to ASUS about it. I don't really want to RMA, since that means I'll be without a computer for at least 2 weeks...

 

[Promethply]

Maybe you can take the DVD-RW off and connect it to your friend's computer,

Or if you have a spare healthy optical drive, or another harddrive, you can connect them to the second IDE socket

If they work, then it's not your motherboard, otherwise you"ll have to RMA it.

 

[CYcolone]

Well I'm fairly certain it's not a problem with the specific drives because both of them will work when I plug them into Primary. My main HDD, which is a SATA drive, is fine. If I want to install something off CD, I have to unplug my storage drive and plug the DVD-RW into the primary IDE channel. So, the two devices work, just not on the secondary IDE. For me, it's just been one problem after another with this board. Do I have to RMA it for a replacement, or can I get a refund by any chance?

 

[Promethply]

Depending on the stores, you may get a refund, otherwise RMA

 

[mlc]

as a temp solution , why couldnt you just install the hdd on the primary channel as the master and the DVD on that same channel as a slave ?

.. getting back to your problem...
sounds like its a dead controller... But you could have some type of bios corruption as well.. depending how you flash it... Supposedly some methods of flashing are cleaner than others...

.. dumb question.. I assume you're using the same power cables when you try both IDE slots.. correct?

 

[CYcolone]

Yea, I'm using the same cables. I could make a temp solution, but I'm just trying to fix the secondary channel because it may be more than just the secondary IDE channel and it may cause more problems in the future. I could just get another SATA drive to replace the IDE HDD. Hopefully I can get a refund and replace it with a DFI SLI board. Also, to me it sounds like a BIOS issue as well, since Asus Update can't identify the board. How do you fix a corrupt BIOS? I tried flashing it in DOS multiple times with different versions and it flashes fine there.

 

[Dream Operator]

I had/have the same problem. Could not find any resolution. I set up Advanced Replacement with ASUS. They take credit info and send you a new board. They charge you for it, but then give you the money back after they receive the old board (and determine that you are not at fault).

Good luck!

BTW, whats your PSU? how many amps on the 12v rail?

 

[CYcolone]

I have a Thermaltake 480W with 22A. According to Asus's site, that would be enough to run dual 6600GT's. Did you get your money back Dream? The only problem with RMA'ing it is the fact that I have replaced the chipset fan with a Zalman heatsink. It hasn't been overheating or anything, but they might hang BS on me and charge me just because I switched it out.

 

[CYcolone]

Well, Asus responded with the following, someone mind making sense of it for me and have any idea what USB has to do with the issue?

Dear Friend :
Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.
My name is Ailon and I would be assisting you today

Sir, If you install the usb device on the front USB port , please remove it to try and please change other ide cable to test . if still not , please contact your motherboard dealer for advanced test or repair/replace .

if it is impossible to contact your dealer , please contact :
ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL in the USA (Monday-Friday
8:30 - 24:00 (EST))

Hotline: 1-502-995-0883
Fax:1-502-933-8713

We will help you to resolve the problem and let you satisfaction

Or you can check this link for contact information :

http://usa.asus.com/contact/contactindex.htm

Best regards!

 

[ohnnyj]

I would try a new PSU just to test as well as swap each stick of memory in and out.

 

[CYcolone]

Worth a try, since I've tried almost everything else.

 

[Aquila76]

Originally posted by: CYcolone
Well, Asus responded with the following, someone mind making sense of it for me and have any idea what USB has to do with the issue?

Dear Friend :
Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.
My name is Ailon and I would be assisting you today

Sir, If you install the usb device on the front USB port , please remove it to try and please change other ide cable to test . if still not , please contact your motherboard dealer for advanced test or repair/replace .

if it is impossible to contact your dealer , please contact :
ASUS COMPUTER INTERNATIONAL in the USA (Monday-Friday
8:30 - 24:00 (EST))

Hotline: 1-502-995-0883
Fax:1-502-933-8713

We will help you to resolve the problem and let you satisfaction

Or you can check this link for contact information :

http://usa.asus.com/contact/contactindex.htm

Best regards!

Wow. You should submit that to Engrish!

It looks as though they're asking if you have anything connected to the extra USB connectors on the mobo next to the last PCI slot (not the ones under the network ports) and to change your IDE cable. Maybe there's an issue with the USB controller and IDE2? I have my Optical drives on IDE2, but I only have two USB devices and they're both connected to the mobo USB ports, not the headers on the mobo next to the last PCI slot.

 

[CYcolone]

Well, I'm actually kind of aware of the issues with BIOS and things being plugged into the additional USB ports. My motherboard won't even POST when I have my jump drive plugged in. But yea, I assumed that's what he was saying and unfortunately it did nothing to fix the issue.

 

[spazzbecker]

Hi Cycolone
Did you ever fix the " NT service registry error. Please reboot NT and Run again"?
As I have the same error when I'm attempting to run Asus auto update.
I have the P5GD2 Premium and it was over clocked but is all set to standard settings in the bios now.
Everything does run fine and it's a stable pc.
Any ideas anybody?


Cheers
Carl

 

[CYcolone]

Well, yes I fixed the problem. It ended up being that the source of my problems was actually the memory. The combination of upping the DRAM voltage and using different sticks of RAM fixed the problems I was having with both the A8N-SLI and the DFI SLI-DR.