Is it.....dead? EDIT: Intel Sucks

[whalen]

Man, this really sucks. I built a computer for a family in my neighborhood in February of 2000. It consists of the following:

P3500e@667 socket CPU
MSI 6905 MASTER Slocket
Abit VA6 Motherboard
128MB PC133 SDRAM (Micron Chips)
Elsa TNT2 Video
27GB Maxtor HDD
Sony CDRW
50X CDROM
.....................

Today, she called me up and said it wouldn't turn on. I went over there thinking that the monitor cable was loose, but that wasn't the case. I brought it back to my house, and I have disconnected the HDD, CDROM, FDD, and CDRW drives. I've replaced the ram, tried using a PCI video card, and reseated the CPU in the slocket and the slocket in the Slot1 in the VA6. At bootup, I finally got it to post video, but It locks up saying something to the effect of "Primary master HDD error". Sometimes, it locks up with a continuous BEEP even before this error.

Right now, if I had to guess, I'd say that either the motherboard has bit the dust, or the CPU is on its last days. The replacement parts I've used are ALL confirmed to be good.

Any suggestions or comments are welcomed and will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[Dark4ng3l]

Maybe the bios is messed up.

 

[whalen]

Thats a thought...by that do you mean a setting or just a bum bios chip? If thats the case, I believe that the board should still be covered by Abit since its only 1 year old.

 

[bacillus]

could be a dead m/board battery!

 

[whalen]

GOOD THINKING! I'll give that a try! Heck, I'll give ANYTHING a try! Here are all the things I've tried so far:

1. Reseat CPU, Slocket, Video Card, and Ram
2. Remove everything from the system except for CPU, good RAM, and good PCI video
3. Try a new enermax 550W p/s
4. Switch the slot the RAM is in
5. Kicking it numerous times
6. Pouring cold water on the cpu to help it cool off.

In case you couldn't guess, the last two were jokes But like I said, I'll try anything!

 

[whalen]

No go on the bios battery.

 

[Athlex]

So it DOES get past checking the RAM, right?

 

[whalen]

Sometimes....it does 1 of 2 things each time it tries to boot up

1.Gets to the main boot up screen, and stops after the PIII 667mhz apears on the screen, followed by a continual BEEP (Nothing else below, just the PIII 667 CPU speed)

2.Counts ram, looks for IDE devices, and says Primary HD failure...followed by a long continual beep. It then says press F1 to continue, and del to enter bios. However, its all locked up at that time, so I can't get into the bios.

 

[bacillus]

<< Primary HD failure >>


have you checked the connectors to the hdd properly?
if the're ok then I suggest you try the hdd in another pc as it may well be that its failed, hence the Primary HD failure!

 

[whalen]

An idea, but if I took out the HD and disconnected it from the computer, it STILL should be able to enter the bios, and not lock up with a long beep. It should get to what I like to call &quot;phase II&quot; of the boot up, where it would say &quot;Invalid system disk&quot; or something to that effect.

 

[dkozloski]

Clear the CMOS memory. Disconnect the HDD. It should at least POST. Try to boot from a floppy with the HDD disconnected.

 

[pillage2001]

5. Kicking it numerous times
6. Pouring cold water on the cpu to help it cool off.

These are BIG NO-NO!

 

[whalen]

<< Clear the CMOS memory. Disconnect the HDD. It should at least POST. Try to boot from a floppy with the HDD disconnected. >>



SHOULD is the key word. It doesn't even get to the part where it tries to boot, so it can't boot from a floppy. I removed and replaced the CMOS battery, so that cleared the CMOS. I've tried removing EVERYTHING from the system except for the stuff that is absolutly needed to boot, and still nuttn'

 

[dkozloski]

If you didn't unplug the computer before removing and replacing the battery and leaving it out for a few minutes you didn't clear the CMOS. You might doublecheck. Keep alive voltage for power management prevents the CMOS from discharging unless the power cord is unplugged.

 

[whalen]

I know it cleared becasue the CPU dropped to 333MHz when the CMOS cleared to defaults, and the 66MHz FSB. It also said CMOS checksum, which tells me it cleared

 

[dkozloski]

Not much to be done from here. Pull all the cards and memory. Clean the contacts with a pencil eraser and reinsert. Try another power supply. Disconnect the keyboard and mouse. It might get as far as a keyboard error message. Take the motherboard out of the case. Hook up the power supply. Plug in just a PCI video card and a stick of memory and give it a go.

 

[whalen]

<< 1. Reseat CPU, Slocket, Video Card, and Ram
2. Remove everything from the system except for CPU, good RAM, and good PCI video
3. Try a new enermax 550W p/s
4. Switch the slot the RAM is in
5. Kicking it numerous times
6. Pouring cold water on the cpu to help it cool off.
>>



Did that already...

 

[dkozloski]

1) Hire New Orleans Jazz Band and Preservation Hall.
2) Sad singing.
3) Slow walking.
4) Wake

 

[whalen]

So....what you're saying is....i'm screwed?

 

[jkings]

Whalen:

I am guessing your mobo has gone into that good night. Try the for sale/trade forum. Someone has to have a gently used mobo for a good price.

Good luck,

JK

 

[whalen]

Yes...I'm afraid that this motherboard has reached the end of its useable life...a whole 1.4 years...heh. I may try the FS/T forum, or just go to a Computer Store and get a cheap Slot1 or fcpga board for cheap. I need one fast, because I don't want these people to start getting ticked at me about this.

Also, now it says &quot;CMOS Check Sum error. BIOS defaults loaded&quot;

GAH! This motherboard is gonna get a personal arse wooping after I get the replacement and all is well... I'm thinking dremel, soldering iron, and something involving an open flame.

 

[maxSe]

Yeah, I too think it's the motherboard... Even oc'd chips should last more than 1 1/2 year... I think the mistake was done when you put in an Abit board... (I know I'm gonna get flamed for this...) But, from my personal experiences, Abit boards aren't meant to last... They've gotten better now, but I have not and never will put an Abit board into a system that I'm building for someone else... (FYI, I went through about 6 Abit boards and only 1 of them (BP6) lasted without giving me some sort of problem...) My suggestion is pick up an inexpensive 815 chipset board, clock that 500 back to 133fsb and you're good to go. Good luck.

 

[whalen]

Thanks dude. Thats the plan. Get a cheap NON ABIT motherboard and fire that baby back up. However, i think i'll just leave it at the stock 500MHz

 

[mdwhite]

I have a VA6 that's been (and is right now) running a celeron 300@450. I got a P3 700 and a MS6905 and it won't even post...ever. I put the 700 in a BE6 and they work fine. I'd try some older CPUs before you trash the Abit. This is my 3rd VA6. Two have died on me

 

[whalen]

Yep....abit is SUCK!