Keyboard error but keyboard works fine on other computer!

[NAC]

Sorry this post is so long, but without the details I'm not sure if anyone will be able to help. You can skip to problem #2 if you want:

I built this computer last week, and have had nothing but problems. The latest one leads me to believe something is wrong with the motherboard:
PIV 1.6A
Abit BD7
256 DDR 2700 Samsung
GeForce2 Pro
Generic Ethernet card
MX300 Monster Sound (aureal chip)
Plextor 8*4*32
IBM 40 gig HD
Enermax 350 watt PS

The computer started up fine. Installed Win98, no problems. Everything worked - sound, ethernet, video. Overclocked it to 2 ghz. No problems. It didn't post at 2.4 ghz. I then ran it at 2320. Prime 95 had an error during a stress test overnight. The computer didn't always post when overclocked - sometimes it needed to be started twice. I think that is a common problem, and I didn't want to push the computer until I replaced the black thermal interface material for the stock HSF with some arctic silver. Temps had been ~45-55 when overclocked. So I brought it back to 1.6 ghz.

Problem #1:
After the brief overclocking experiments, everything was running fine at stock levels. Posted on first try consistantly. Then, it didn't Tried over and over, it kept freezing with post code AF on the motherboard. The code wasn't in the manual. Couldn't find it online. I started removing devices. Cleared the bios. Nothing after another 6+ tries. Then it booted normally! Huh. Tried again, and another 6+ times and got the AF code each time. I reseated the memory. And it booted normally. And it booted normally several times after that. Problem seemed solved.

Problem #2:
The computer was working normally Saturday. I turn it on Sunday. The lights on the keyboard are blinking, and the computer beeps some. Windows boots up displaying a keyboard present error. The mouse also isn't working to click okay. Checked the connections - they seemed fine. Rebooted with different keyboard and mouse. Same problem. Tried them- both both sets of keyboard & mouse work fine on my other computer. Tried booting with just a mouse, or just a keyboard. No luck. Cleared the bios. Next boot I can't get past the first boot screen with 1.6ghz and memory displayed because I need to hit F1 to continue once the bios was cleared. I switch the keyboards back and forth, and discover that the computer recognizes them differently, and it seems to be degrading with time. Like this: One keyboard isn't recognizable at all I can't hit F1, can't hit Delete to enter bios, & the computer beeps quite a bit, and beeps when keys are pressed. The other keyboard is functional for a while, and then beeps more and more and doesn't work. So I can manuver around bios, change some settings, but 5-10 seconds later every keypress is responded by just beeping. I struggle to change things quick enough to save changes and exit. I change the bios setting for keypress repeat delay (forget what it is called exactly) to disable. Boot again the problem remains. At this point, I don't think I can even hit delete once with either keyboard - it just beeps. And the screen says a new error that I didn't write down and don't have with me write now. Something like Incorrect CPU settings detected. Default settings used. Please enter SoftMenu I. I never was able to change anything in bios other than the keyboard repeat key setting.

I don't know what it could be other than the bios, M/B or keyboard connector, or CPU. What stumps me most is that the computer was working fine, and I don't think I made any changes between it working fine and not working. Also, the fact that it seems to degrade with time is strange. Any ideas?


THANKS in advance!!!

 

[NAC]

I think it is a temperature problem. I can't enter the bios to check the hardware monitor. But at some point I removed the HSF, and then put it back on - without replacing the stock black thermal interface material. I know you aren't supposed to do that. I'll try to borrow some arctic silver in the next few days, and see if that fixes the problem.

Should help me run it smoothly overclocked too

 

[NAC]

PLEASE HELP!

Arctic Silver did lower CPU temps: was at about 40C. But didn't solve the problem! They keyboard and mouse were both acting up, and the longer the computer was on - the worse the problem got. When I first turned the computer on, everything was fine for about 10 minutes. Then the mouse pointer started moving around the screen and moving and opening things randomly on its own. The CPU temp just prior to that was fine: 40C.

Next reboot - could manuver around bios, disable things, slow settings down. I saved, but by the time Windows booted - the mouse and keyboard were not recognized. Third boot - the beeping started again - and I could enter bios, but barely move around because the keys were only recognized with beeps - not movement on the screen. Didn't try a fourth boot - instead switched the keyboard and monitor to my other computer, and now I'm typing this.

I may have no choice but to return the motherboard - but it was working fine earlier in the week. ARGH!

PLEASE HELP!

 

[nihil]

how many beeps do you get when it posts? use the manual that came with your mobo to try to diagnose the problem.

 

[cholley]

you might have a flakey super I/O chip on your board, it controls both kybd and mouse

 

[NAC]

Any way to check the I/O chip Cholley? Is it possible that I fried it with an electro-static discharge without realizing it? Like many people I'm a bit careless to make sure I have no charge - but I have no carpets, and always touch the bare metal case before reaching in, and I know that there was never a visible "spark" (or one to feel). Could the I/O be overheading? Perhaps the northbridge is overheating? (there is a heatsink on the northbridge, I haven?t touched it)?

nihil ? the only times it didn?t post were when I had cleared the bios, and it requested to hit F1 to continue after anouncing the bios had been cleared. On the warm boots ? after the initial fine boot: there was some beeping that seemed random, and it would beep when I pushed a key ? and it would start to beep more and more as time passed. Once when I was in bios ? I could barely move around. Pressed the key 40 times, and maybe it would beep 39 times and move me once. Left the room ? left the computer on. Returned 10 minutes later, and pressed a key ? only response was constant beeping. Powered off for the night

It?s hard to describe.

Thanks for your help guys. I might try again a little bit when I get home today. But I can only stand to try a few times before getting frustrated. I really thought the arctic silver would help.
:disgust::disgust:

 

[NAC]

Can an overheated CPU short the board out?

 

[Bleep]

the only times it didn?t post were when I had cleared the bios, and it requested to hit F1 to continue after anouncing the bios had been cleared.

How did you clear your BIOS that gives you this kind of message???? Are you saying that you set the bios to default??
Bleep

 

[NAC]

I cleared the bios settings by setting the jumper into the clear position, and then setting it back.

 

[Bleep]

Well that is the CMOS that you reset. You should not do this with the machine on or the power supply plugged into the motherboard. What happens is that the cmos is powered by the battery when the machine is not connected to the power supply this is to retain the settings. When you reset with the jumper all this does is remove the battery from the circuit thus discharging any special settings in the CMOS if the machine is on or there is power to the MB the battery is not being used thus it will not be reset.
Bleep

 

[NAC]

The power supply was turned off (the switch in the back) when I cleared the CMOS.

Still haven't figured out what the problem is, if I can fix it. Reluctant to plug everything back in - such a pain since I expect that I'll learn nothing. I guess I'll return the MB early next week if I don't figure something out.

 

[NAC]

I let the computer sit for a few days. Put it in the time out corner. It better behave - OR ELSE.
So, after the few days, I plug it in again. Figure - okay, I'll try it out, and see what happens.

Boots up. No problems other than an error like "incorrect CPU settings - see softmenu I" Not sure why - it was set to default.
I set the bios to the "fail safe settings" anyway.

Get into windows, everything seems fine. I start prime 95, and closely watch the temperatures. After about 8 minutes, the mouse stops responding. The keyboard is fine. I run prime 95 overnight. This morning - prime 95 is still running, there were no errors, the keyboard is still functioning - but the mouse still isn't. Temps are stable at about 34 for the system, and 46.5 for the CPU - same as they were after 20 minutes of prime 95 yesterday. The room is cooler today than it was earlier in the week - perhaps that is why the errors are less extreme - only losing the mouse. I'll run it during the day.

Time to call technical support.

 

[NAC]

Several consequtive boots with the keyboard working fine, but the ps2 mouse not being found. I plugged in a usb mouse, and everything is working 100% Very strange, to say the least. Now I?m contemplating whether to return the board. Everything is _currently_ working ? so I think I?d rather keep it than roll the dice again. I'll look into what the warranty is - and if I have 6 months I'll keep it and see.

Gonna hold my breath and start overclocking again.

 

[HdwGuy]

Since you have it working I am reluctant to mention this but when you cleared cmos did you set the bios to defalts when you first entered them? You can get very weird problems after upgrading bios or clearing the cmos if you do not do this! Also did you disable all the stuff on the mother board you do not use like onboard sound, ect, ect.