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HELP: MSI Neo4 mobo issues.. Monarch responses.. need advice

M

mcjimbo

Member
Hi everyone, i'm going to copy a threaded email including my original query and Monarch's responses. I just want some input on the pro's on what I should do here, i've has the motherboard for nearly 90 days, 1st month it work great... then went downhill from there. I need your diagnosis and advice based on what i've found. Start from the bottom and read up.

Thanks in advance.

James

Kevin,

Sorry for late reply have been on vacation.

Ok I disconnected HDD and it booted to CD no problems or delays. So I figured it was either to things faulty hardware on motheboard causing the delay, i don't have any other add in cards other than my video card (PCI Express ATI 800 XL).

Then a friend offtered me a spare SATA 40 gig drive he wasn't using to test. I disconnected my current drive, attached the new drive, it detectef fine. I ran Windows XP setup from boot CD. Formatted drive, created parttion, and let it install the O/S. When it went to reboot i now get a "CMOS Checksum Error" again. Which again hints at a dead battery (it replaced it 2 weeks ago with a brand new one), as the motherboard isn't remembering the hardware config. In my opinion the boards a dud.

I would like to RMA the mobo, my computer has been running unstable for some time now and i'd like to get a replacement before my 90 days are up.

James




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: <support-email@monarchcomputer.com>
To: <mcjimbo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 16:08:30 -0400


Try removing the Hard drive and booting from cd. Let?s rule out the HDD.



Thanks,
Kevin / Monarch Support Team

Please include copies of all previous conversations when you reply to Monarch Tech Support e-mails. These will help us greatly.

Monarch Computer Systems:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/

-----Original Message-----
From: James Davidson [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 9:32 AM
To: Support-Email
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns



Hi Kevin,

I've made all the changes you requested, and the board still suffers an extremely long delay. I've also tried removed everything except core components (video/hd) and the delay still occurs.

I would like to RMA the board, i'm convinced its a dud and don't want to get stuck with it. Can you please issue me a RMA ASAP.

Thanks

James




----Original Message Follows----
From: <support-email@monarchcomputer.com>
To: <mcjimbo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2005 12:12:27 -0400

Check your boot device priority and ensure it has your cdrom first and
hard drive second. Also, make sure there is nothing in the floppy drive
or the cdrom. In the boot menu of cmos under hard drives, ensure your
boot hard drive is selected as the first hard drive. Do you have
internet access to download a diagnostic utility from your hard drive's
manufacturer's website?

Thanks,
Kevin / Monarch Support Team
Please include copies of all previous conversations when you reply to
Monarch Tech Support e-mails. These will help us greatly.
Monarch Computer Systems:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: James Davidson [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 9:20 AM
To: Support-Email
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns

Hi,
I reinstall the O/S over the weekend and am continuing to have issues.
The system will never boot into windows first time, and always requires
a reboot. I am also getting an NTLDR error now.
Do you think this points toward a fault motherboard? I really don't want
to get stuck with a dud here, it worked perfectly when i first setup but
has been acting wierd these past 2 weeks every since the battery issues.
Let me know

James



----Original Message Follows----
From: <support-email@monarchcomputer.com>
To: <mcjimbo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 12:56:47 -0400

Only time will tell. Let us know.

Thanks,
Kevin / Monarch Support Team
Please include copies of all previous conversations when you reply to
Monarch Tech Support e-mails. These will help us greatly.
Monarch Computer Systems:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: James Davidson [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 11:57 PM
To: Support-Email
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns

Hi,

I tried a different power supply on the weekend and encountered the same
issue.

It still didn't fix it. I then thought to try switch the mobo battery
for a new one, the one out of my Pentium 3 is 5 years old.

Anyway I installed new 3v battery, and immediately things looked better.
I flashed to the latest BIOS, and then was able to save changes... this
wasn't working before.

All seems to be working now, however I did find a thread on a forum from
a guy who had the same issue with the MSI Neo4, and it kept eating up
battery's. I will be monitor and let you know, do you think the board
may be faulty?

James

________________________________

From: benjamin@monarchcomputer.com [mailto:benjamin@monarchcomputer.com]
On Behalf Of support-email@monarchcomputer.com
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:35 AM
To: mcjimbo@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns

If youre still receving that error (please Reset the CMOS, flash the
BIOS, and then reset the CMOS again after swapping the supply) please
let me know and I will set up an RMA for the combo so that we can test
it out.
Thanks,
Benjamin
Monarch Support Team
Please include copies of all previous conversations when you reply to
Monarch Tech Support E-mails. These will help us to resolve your issue.
Monarch Computer Systems: http://www.monarchcomputer.com
<http://www.monarchcomputer.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: James Davidson [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:57 AM
To: Support-Email
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Hi,
I have access to another power supply. I will test this weekend,
and let you know the outcome. If I determine the PC to be faulty, whats
the next step?
Also is there some sort of reference number in case I want to
call Monarch and talk about this?
Thanks
James



----Original Message Follows----
From: <support-email@monarchcomputer.com>
To: <mcjimbo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 16:34:05 -0400

It looks like either a problem with the power supply or the
motherboard - Do you have another supply you can test with the board? If
so I would recommend testing it in a minimal configuration outside of
the case


Thanks,

Benjamin
Monarch Support Team
Please include copies of all previous conversations when you
reply to Monarch Tech Support E-mails. These will help us to resolve
your issue.

Monarch Computer Systems: http://www.monarchcomputer.com
<http://www.monarchcomputer.com/>

-----Original Message-----
From: James Davidson [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 4:04 PM
To: Support-Email
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns



Hi guys,

I have the following system ... A64 3700+ Rev.E / MSI Neo4
Platinum:

Anyway i've had it about a month, and lastnight the system
locked up in Windows and since then i've had no end of problems.
Everytime I boot into the pc I get a warning:

"Display Switch is set incorrectly
CMOS Checksum error - Defaults loaded
CMOS batter failed
Override enabled - Defaults loaded
Warning! Now System is in Safe Mode. er
Press F1 to continue, DEL to enter SETUP".

Below is a screenshot of this error message, a bit blurry:

http://staging.versantsolutions.com/img/msi_neo4_plat.jpg

I did update the BIOS over a month ago to the latest version off
MSI's website, and as I said the system has been working flawlessy. I
haven't installed anything new, or fiddled with anything inside and the
software is exactly the same.

I can it F1 to continue and get the generic "Windows did not
boot normally last time..." screen, I used to be able to either select
"Boot Normally" or "Last Known Good Configuration" and it would boot...
now neither or those work, and "Safe mode" doesn't get much further.

I have a Pentium 3 system, and thought maybe the battery was
faulty so I switched it with that... same issue. I've also hit the CMOS
reset button on the motherboard, but no luck.

I'm just dumbfounded... what has gone wrong here? I take it the
board is just faulty?

Thanks

James







----Original Message Follows----
From: <support-email@monarchcomputer.com>
To: <mcjimbo@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Request for tech support and returns
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:34:40 -0400

It looks like the end of the messsage was truncated - Could you
let me know what happens now when you try to enter Windows?

Thanks,

Benjamin
Monarch Support Team
Please include copies of all previous conversations when you
reply to Monarch Tech Support E-mails. These will help us to resolve
your issue.
Monarch Computer Systems: http://www.monarchcomputer.com


-----Original Message-----
From: Janna On Behalf Of RMA
Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 12:58 PM
To: Support-Email
Subject: FW: Request for tech support and returns




-----Original Message-----
From: mcjimbo@hotmail.com [mailto:mcjimbo@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 10:49 PM
To: RMA
Subject: Request for tech support and returns


email: mcjimbo@hotmail.com
realname:
name: James Davidson
zip: 53225
invoicedate: 06/03/2005
problem: Hi, I bough an Athlon 64 3700+ Rev.E / MSI Neo4
Platinum combo from Monarch on the 06/03/2005. Anyway i've had it just
over a month, and lastnight the system locked up in Windows XP and since
then i've had no end of problems. Everytime I boot into the pc I get a
warning: 'Display Switch is set incorrectly CMOS Checksum error -
Defaults loaded CMOS batter failed Override enabled - Defaults loaded
Warning! Now System is in Safe Mode. er Press F1 to continue, DEL to
enter SETUP'. Below is a screenshot of this error message, a bit blurry:
http://staging.versantsolutions.com/img/msi_neo4_plat.jpg I did update
the BIOS over a month ago to the latest version off MSI's website, and
as I said the system has been working flawlessy. I haven't installed
anything new, or fiddled with anything inside and the software is
exactly the same. I can hit F1 to continue and get the generic 'Windows
did not boot normally last time...' screen, I used to be able to either
select 'Boot Norma!
lly' o
Click to expand...
 
I would say you are in legitimate need of an RMA for the MB.
Monarch can be a PITA with RMA's, so if they don't give you a number ASAP, I would contact MSI and RMA thru them. Just mention to MSI the troubles your having with Monarch, and MSI will take care of you.

I also suggest you check out the MSI forums (if you haven't already) and see what you can find out.
IMO that forum is one the reasons to go with MSI as it's very active and can be extremely helpful when you have problems.
 
Go directly to MSI first, and if that turns out to be another brick wall (which I doubt it will) then you'll want to dispute the charge with your credit card and ship it back to Monarch with delivery confirmation and no return address. Make sure you save all correspondences with Monarch, and keep good documentation. He who documents wins.
 
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