hard drive problem or motherboard problem?

DVDdude

Member
Apr 12, 2001
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I recently received a replacement motherboard from newegg (epox 8k7a) to replace one that quit working after a year. I put in the new motherboard and almost every other day, i get boot errors sometimes when turning on the machine.

It gets to "Detecting IDE Drives" and pauses for a while and gives off 2 quick beeps every 10 seconds or so. Eventually it gets to "BOOT FROM CD ERROR, PLEASE INSERT SYSTEM DISK" and just stops. The diagnostic LEDs on the motherboard also give off the error code that relates to IDE detection problems. But keep in mind, it only does this maybe once out of every 10 startups.

I have checked all the cables, the motherboard mounting, etc. just to eliminate the obvious. I even used new IDE cables and I still get the same error. (I am using a 1.33 athlon and a geforce 3 card with a new antec 300 watt power supply).

Could it be that the hard drive (a 1 year old 60gb maxtor) is getting "stuck" when first powered on, and not spinning up sometimes or could it be that newegg just sent a lousy refurb motherboard that has IDE problems?

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
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fobot.com
many of the hard drive manufacturers have utilities to diagnose problems with their hard drives (seagate for example)
check the maxtor web site for a diagnostic program, if it says your drive is good, then i would suspect a flaky mobo
good luck! :)