help!! Asus p5a and I just don't mix. =(

[TiggerTigger]

Hi everyone,

I need some major help from you..
I was trying to get my old computer K6-2 300Mhz to run Linux.
The computer system is using ASUS P5A ...
I was about to change the old 4GB HD for a newer 10GB.

after attaching all the cables and set "auto" in the BIOS's standard setup option,
I select saved setting. during the bootup detection, it shows some weird symbols
in the model number section. Then, it stops booting.
I was like WTH.. so, I tried to put back the old one and boot again.
Man.. it stucks in the boot screen ... on hte section saying "detecting harddrive".
it stops there forever w/o doing anything. *sigh*
So, it thought the BIOS may have messed up, so I put in the emergency boot disk.
and try to re-flash the BIOS. oh man.. it is the worst part..
it won't even boot to A drive!
I tried to go back to BIOS to disable all the detection in all the IDE controllers, and hope
it will boot to A drive. Unfortunatley, there is no luck.

I am not sure it is the ASUS problems or my luck. This is the 2nd ASUS board for this system.
The first one with is also a p5a, it failed totally after 1 year and 2 months. just passed the
warranty period. so, I got new and exact one. Now... 2 years later.. it failed again!!
I was barely try to change something.. my other systme which is also a ASUS boards.
it also has proble with a USB port.. man... can't believe.

Would someone please tell me what I can do to flash the ROM... or make it able to detect
the HD


thanks

Sincerely,

TT

 

[DieHardware]

Unplug the PSU and clear CMOS first...then see if it detects everything properly.

 

[TiggerTigger]

Hi DieHardware,

Thanks for your reply.
but What is the PSU ??

but I took off the battery to clear the CMOS..
it seems to move again.

However, the detection seems weird.
It primary controller detect nothing on their Master and Slave
but Secondary controller detects my old HD... and it shows CMOS checksum error.
Ask me to press "F1" to continue.
I press it, and it is able to boot....

hmm... it is weird.... and it still can't detect my A drive. during the boot ..

Thanks again
Thanks

 

[DieHardware]

What is the PSU ??

Power supply unit.

primary controller detect nothing on their Master and Slave

Are you sure you have the devices jumpered correctly? Some HDDs(hard disk drives) need to be jumpered differently when they're alone vs. when there is a slave on the same IDE channel. Also make sure the red stripe is on pin1.

and it still can't detect my A drive

Does the floppy light stay on? Make sure the the twisted end of the cable is connected to the floppy and the red stripe on pin1.