Issues with new system - help?!

[unevendozen]

Hey all,

I have just completed the first custom built PC I've done in probably 6 or 7 years. BOY HAVE THINGS CHANGED!! ;-) Anyway, I am having two problems that I was hoping I could get some help with.

First, when restarting the PC or starting it up from being powered off, there is a loooooong lag. It gets stuck on a blank black screen with a cursor in the upper left corner. After about 3-4 minutes, I get the Intel splash screen for my motherboard, then the Windows XP screen and start up goes normally. During the lag NOTHING is happening. HDD isnt spinning, DVD-ROM isnt reading, nothing. Any idea??

Also, when I finally do get to the Intel splash screen it says "hit F2" to go to BIOS. I hit F2 and nothing happens?? I do have a set of motherboard jumpers that may be the issue. There are three pins with a two pin jumper. If you have it on 1 and 2 it is "normal", 2 and 3 is "configuration" and all three pins empty is "recovery". The pins are currently in "normal" mode. Must I change them to "configuration" before I can enter the BIOS?

Finally, evertime Windows starts up, it says new hardware is found but it cannot tell me what. It keeps saying "unknown". When I go to the device manager is lists everything as working fine, EXCEPT the "unknown" device. How can install drivers for something the PC cant even identify??
Thanks for any help you might be able to provide.

 

[dfuze]

Wow, such a bad start to a 7 year lay-off!

I've built a few pcs in the past couple of years and have never had to move any kind of jumpers to get into the bios, so you shouldn't have to adjust them (especially if they are set to 'normal').

These are my thoughts about the slow start:
- In BIOS there is usually a setting for fast boot (yeah, I know you are having a hard time getting in, but if you do, you can look for this)
- Maybe a bad ram chip is slowing it down, try with only one piece and see if that helps (assuming you have more than one chip)
- Try updating your BIOS to the latest revision

As for the new unknown hardware, have you installed the motherboard drivers that came with it? I think that solved it for me once.

I hope any of this helps...

 

[Noubourne]

Your BIOS shouldn't hang before/during POST like that. Something is wrong. Take out what you have plugged in one device at a time and then reboot it and see if removing one device doesn't solve your problem. It COULD be related to the "unknown device" that Windows is detecting, but not necessarily. Until you know better, consider that a separate problem to be handled once you have the booting issue solved.

So start by removing all but 1 stick of RAM. Remove additional hard drives. Remove optical drives. Remove any add-in cards - sound card, etc. Do this 1 at a time. If taking 1 out solves your booting problem, then kudos. Then, if it's still not solved, consider flashing your BIOS. You'll have to look online to see how it is done for your board. If that "fixes" it, then see if you still have your unknown device issue. Start plugging stuff in one item at a time and check for the uknown device issue. If it shows up after plugging something in, then you'll know you found it.

Good luck.

 

[AMCRambler]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
Your BIOS shouldn't hang before/during POST like that. Something is wrong. Take out what you have plugged in one device at a time and then reboot it and see if removing one device doesn't solve your problem. It COULD be related to the "unknown device" that Windows is detecting, but not necessarily. Until you know better, consider that a separate problem to be handled once you have the booting issue solved.

So start by removing all but 1 stick of RAM. Remove additional hard drives. Remove optical drives. Remove any add-in cards - sound card, etc. Do this 1 at a time. If taking 1 out solves your booting problem, then kudos. Then, if it's still not solved, consider flashing your BIOS. You'll have to look online to see how it is done for your board. If that "fixes" it, then see if you still have your unknown device issue. Start plugging stuff in one item at a time and check for the uknown device issue. If it shows up after plugging something in, then you'll know you found it.

Good luck.

Noubourne knows his stuff. Exactly what I would try too.

 

[unevendozen]

Hey all,

thanks for the info. Nothing seems to be helping. To make it even more confusing, the system will start up with no hang at all. I would say one out of every 4 times.

I have tried both sticks of ram individually with no luck. I flashed the BIOS with the most recent verison from Intel's website. And I have removed everything that I can.

No idea where to go next... other than buy a new board that is... =(

 

[savvy]

Maybe ask the manufacturer for a new chip?

 

[unevendozen]

Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a last ditch effort I reflashed the BIOS a second time, reinstalled ALL drivers again, and then took apart the system. I started from the beginning as if it werea fresh build, except for reinstalling windows. It started right up once........ twice..................... three times................................ I am at about 10 reboots and installing programs left and right. No issues to speak of!!!!

Thanks for everyone for your help!

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: unevendozen
Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a last ditch effort I reflashed the BIOS a second time, reinstalled ALL drivers again, and then took apart the system. I started from the beginning as if it werea fresh build, except for reinstalling windows. It started right up once........ twice..................... three times................................ I am at about 10 reboots and installing programs left and right. No issues to speak of!!!!

Thanks for everyone for your help!

what mobo was this..?

Originally posted by: unevendozen
Intel DP965LT

There were some other numbers in front of that when listed on Newegg but thats whats on the box.

thank you :thumbsup:

 

[unevendozen]

Intel DP965LT

There were some other numbers in front of that when listed on Newegg but thats whats on the box.