EVGA Z77FTW question

[Gustavus]

This is essentially a repeat of an earlier question. I have failed to get a new build to work on two EVGA Z68 FTW motherboards. EVGA on the second RMA replaced the Z68 FTW motherboards with a Z77 FTW motherboard. Good customer service and I ended up with a later model motherboard. Should be happy -- but as you will see I am not.

System as assembled on the bench: the Z77 FTW motherboard with an Intel i5 2500K CPU and two G Skill 4GB ripjaws sticks of memory. An ASUS CDRW drive, a new Seagate 1.5 GB 7200,11 SATA hard drive. USB mouse and keyboard. Power supply is a Seasonic Platinum 750 w. I have also tried a new SilverStone 650 w. The HD is formatted in a single partition NTFS -- done on another machine here in the lab. It doesn't matter since the system is running at stock, but the CPU is being cooled with a humungous CoolerMaster V6 GT. Drives are on SATA 2 and 3, but moving them to other connectors has no effect.

Have never been able to get beyond the setup screen. Overnight Memtest on the memory showed no errors. Ultimate Boot CD 5.0.7 reports memory correctly and finds and reports both drives -- make, model number and capacity for the Seagate. CPU and memory reported running at default voltages and speeds. Voltages are all right where they should be. Keyboard is seen as evidenced by being able to set time and date in the setup screen and move around between screens.

Now for the problem. If I put the Windows XP installation CD in the CD drive -- first in the boot sequence, the window opens saying press any key to proceed, but nothing I can do will make it continue. As I said I can enter from the keyboard in the setup screen, but it acts for all the world as though it is not getting a signal from the keyboard in the Windows install. I have more than one Windows installation CD -- all behave the same. I pulled a harddrive with a working install of Windows on it from another computer and replaced the Seagate with it -- not expecting it to work, but just to see what it does. It comes up with the splash screen for starting Windows followed almost immediately with the BSOD.

I have assembled many computers, but am at a total loss as to why I can't get this one to work.

Hope someone may see what I am doing wrong.

Thanks

 

[denis280]

All i can see.in your bios do you have boot usb enable

 

[fralexandr]

I suppose this is also why it's a good idea to keep a ps2 keyboard around .

ps2 keyboards are available for <$10 online, and should solve most of the usb issues when installing windows.
use tab to change selections, and enter, or space for the windows install process.

i don't know if hard drives with windows xp can be swapped into another computer,
but drives with windows 7 can be swapped, probably due to the improvements in how windows handles drivers.

 

[Gustavus]

I have many keyboards and mice here in the lab. There are no PS2 ports on these motherboards and the fact I can use the keyboard to navigate and make changes in the setup shows the keyboard is being seen when in setup -- but not when I get to the Windows install. EVGA suggested what you did to take a harddrive from one of the machines running Windows 7 and swap it in. Haven't done that yet. EVGA tech support suggested something I hadn't heard of before -- pressing ESC instead of DEL as the system is powering up.

 

[fralexandr]

it looks like the z77ftw that replaced the z68 actually does have a ps2 port?
the z68 doesn't have one though.
It could be a weird xp driver issue, which is why i suggested the ps2 keyboard :S; figured I'd suggest it since you've tried so much other stuff, and none of it worked.

 

[Gustavus]

You are right. The Z77 does have a ps2 port. I knew the Z68 did not and assumed this one didn't either.

The odd suggestion that I click the ESC key repeatedly instead of the DEL key did get me to a point where I could do the Windows install. Had never heard of such a thing before -- but the BIOS on these boards is weird to say the least.

At the moment am trying to get on net with it. Driver issue -- like none. EVGA says there are no net drivers for XP 32 bit and to try the Windows 7 drivers. That is weird too -- but hitting the ESC key worked so maybe this will too.

At any rate have made some progress.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Steltek]

You might have better luck with an Ethernet driver download from the Marvell support website (i.e. the onboard Ethernet ports appear to be Marvell Yukon devices based from a Marvell 88E8057 chipset) -- there appears to be an XP 32 driver there:

Link

There may be legacy USB options in the BIOS you can activate which will allow you to access the BIOS using a USB keyboard.

 

[Gustavus]

Steltek

Right on. I downloaded the Marvell Yukon drivers and am on the internet. Looks like the main hurdles are crossed. Thanks to everyone who responded.