Motherboard hooped?

[aleader]

Just dusted off my older Athlon 64 4000+ rig: DFI Lanparty UT NF4 MB, 3 GB Ram (only recognizing 2 GB though for some reason), 250GB Seagate SATA HD, 320MB 8800 GTS Vid, Win XP SP3. Hasn't ever been used much. Worked fine last time it was hooked up. We've moved a few times since. Anyways, I just fired it up and started having all kinds of issues booting it up.

I'd just get to the desktop and windows would reboot, then checkdisk would fix corrupted files, etc. I thought the HD might be done or windows corrupt. As a last ditch I moved the SATA cable from the 1st one to SATA 2. Voila, problems fixed. Then, tried the DVD drive (a newer AOpen drive, barely used), couldn't get it to eject, and when I manually ejected and put a DVD or CD in, it wouldn't recognize anything in the drive.

Thought it was done, so I swapped in another fairly new SONY DVD writer. This one ejects fine, but still won't recognize anything in the drive. Thought it was the cable maybe so I swapped that out with a new one. Didn't work, so I switched to the other IDE connector. Still nothing. I'm thinking about switching the drive to Slave and swapping it back and forth again on the connectors to see if that may be it. Otherwise, bad IDE connectors? Tested both drives and they work fine on my other, even older PC.

Also, none of the USB ports (2 on the front, 4 on the back) will recognize any of my USB sticks (tried 4 different ones, 2GB - 4GB - all work fine on my laptop). Actually, windows does recognize them (just as 'Removable drive g:'), but says that they are not formatted and would I like to format them now? I have to think it's the MB, unless maybe it's a corrupt Windows install? Do you think formatting may help? Not sure how I would do that if I can't get a CD drive to work though. Frustrating problem.

 

[denis280]

Welcome to the forums aleader. do a clear CMOS

 

[aleader]

Thanks! Tried that, didn't work. Still no access to the USB sticks or the CD/DVD.

 

[John Connor]

I would reinstall Windows. You could try to boot Memtest86+ to see if the drive works outside of the OS. You could also try a repair install. What kind of OS? I'm assuming XP? http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operatingsystems/ss/instxprepair1.htm

 

[Ketchup]

Or at least do a fresh install of the chipset drivers.

 

[John Connor]

I had a problem back in Aug with Windows XP 64 not seeing my USB devices. Not sure about the DVD drive becasue I never used it, but I just said screw it and installed Windows 7 and everthing is fine. So it has to be Windows related. Installing the chipset drivers again may be the trick. I never thought of that before.

 

[sm625]

Maybe one of your caps leaked and took out your southbridge. Actually it wouldnt even require a leaking cap. It could be that simple temperature cycling caused one or more BGA solder connections to break or become intermittent. What kind of temperature extremes has the machine faced during its storage?

 

[aleader]

It's XP SP3. I'd like to install Win 7, but I'm not sure how to do it if I can't get the DVD drive to recognize the DVD. I also thought about reinstalling XP, but I've had issues in the past trying to do a format through DOS. I don't know that I even have a proper boot disk anymore. Also, I could never get setup to run off of the XP CD (in DOS). I'll try the chipset driver reinstall thing first as that's an easy one...if I can find a driver for that board. DFI (dfi.com) doesn't even have that board on their site anymore, or am I at the wrong site?

Temps have been consistent the whole time it was in storage (inside in the very dry basement), although dust could have been an issue. It was real dusty when I cleaned it before firing it up here.

 

[aleader]

Tried the chipset drivers (I still had them on my other drive), didn't work.

Interesting, I found this review at newegg for my MB (from 2007?! - now discontinued):

"Pros: Great board for any OS other than Vista x64, not sure about the x86 version.

Cons: with Vista x64 the USB Ports will not recognize ANY USB 2.0 ports. I recomend a nice ASUS Board I purchaed the AN32-SLI Deluxe from here for just a few dollars more and it came with a much more intense stock cooling system for the opboard chipsets

Other Thoughts: Wouldn't purchase this board again If i Had known about these issues, The manufacturer gives no support on bios updates. BUY ASUS!"

Looks like it probably is a Windows issue. Anyone know where to get a boot disk these days? I'm rusty on reinstalling XP. Must is the best way to format the whole drive and start again?

 

[aleader]

Ok, ordered Win 7 home premium 64 OEM and a new ASUS Sata drive from newegg. There's nothing wrong with my current drives (other than one not wanting to eject properly) but I know that Sata connectors on the MB work, so I'll hook it up an try to get Win 7 installed.

If I install that OEM version on my system though and then want to upgrade it, I can still reinstall that OEM version on my new system right? Or would I just pull the drive and hope the new board recognizes and boots from it? I read somewhere that you can't transfer an OEM from one system to another.

 

[aleader]

Update to anyone who's interested. I received the new SATA DVD drive, tried it, still didn't work ('please insert CD'). So, I had the brainwave to remove the HD (SATA Seagate Barracuda 250GB) and put it into my other computer, boot it as the slave drive and reformat it through the disk management tool in XP. There are 3 partitions on the drive, I formatted 2 of them (the other has stuff on it that I'd like to keep, but I don't have enough room on my other old Maxtor 60GB drive (the system drive of the other computer) to transfer everything.

Did that, tried it in the computer again, get the error 'NTLDR not found, press CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart'. Did some research, the drive needs some system files (something like the FORMAT c: /s that I used to do under DOS??). So I put the required files on the HD, now it can't load some windows file that it's looking for. All I want to do is get to a command prompt so that I can re-install XP on the drive. I've tried booting from the XP CD, doesn't do anything, just reverts to the error messages. Works fine when I boot from it on the other machine (that has XP on it).

Of note, when I hooked the Seagate drive up to the old comp (before formatting it, as the main system drive) it still would not recognize anything in the DVD drive. This leads me to believe it's either the HD that's bad (boot sector?) or the XP install that's on it and not the motherboard. But why would it not recognize and boot from the XP CD then??? Only other thing I can think to try is a new HD? Any ideas?

 

[Steltek]

Update to anyone who's interested. I received the new SATA DVD drive, tried it, still didn't work ('please insert CD'). So, I had the brainwave to remove the HD (SATA Seagate Barracuda 250GB) and put it into my other computer, boot it as the slave drive and reformat it through the disk management tool in XP. There are 3 partitions on the drive, I formatted 2 of them (the other has stuff on it that I'd like to keep, but I don't have enough room on my other old Maxtor 60GB drive (the system drive of the other computer) to transfer everything.

Did that, tried it in the computer again, get the error 'NTLDR not found, press CTRL-ALT-DEL to restart'. Did some research, the drive needs some system files (something like the FORMAT c: /s that I used to do under DOS??). So I put the required files on the HD, now it can't load some windows file that it's looking for. All I want to do is get to a command prompt so that I can re-install XP on the drive. I've tried booting from the XP CD, doesn't do anything, just reverts to the error messages. Works fine when I boot from it on the other machine (that has XP on it).

Of note, when I hooked the Seagate drive up to the old comp (before formatting it, as the main system drive) it still would not recognize anything in the DVD drive. This leads me to believe it's either the HD that's bad (boot sector?) or the XP install that's on it and not the motherboard. But why would it not recognize and boot from the XP CD then??? Only other thing I can think to try is a new HD? Any ideas?

Download the Seatools for DOS bootable ISO from the Seagate support website for your hard drive model and burn it to a CD. Re-install the hard drive in your other computer, boot it from the burned CD, and test the hard drive for faults. Doing this would at least let you know for sure whether the hard drive is defective.

 

[aleader]

Thanks for the idea. D/L now.

 

[Virgorising]

When I need to check on the health of a HDD, I first do the easiest, fastest thing: I use SMART online diagnostics in (free) Speed Fan. It is immediate, remarkably detailed and yields a clear impression of the health of the drive.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/speedfan.html

 

[Steltek]

When I need to check on the health of a HDD, I first do the easiest, fastest thing: I use SMART online diagnostics in (free) Speed Fan. It is immediate, remarkably detailed and yields a clear impression of the health of the drive.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/speedfan.html

It is possible for a drive to fail without tripping SMART. A couple of years ago, I had WD Raptor drives failing right and left (an even half dozen total, one after another) in a RAID0 array and not one of them ever threw a SMART warning. In most instances the manufacturer diagnostic tools, while less convenient (having to boot a CD), are far superior in testing hard drives.

 

[Underclocked]

What is you power supply providing for voltages?? I'm suspicious of your power supply.

 

[Virgorising]

It is possible for a drive to fail without tripping SMART. A couple of years ago, I had WD Raptor drives failing right and left (an even half dozen total, one after another) in a RAID0 array and not one of them ever threw a SMART warning. In most instances the manufacturer diagnostic tools, while less convenient (having to boot a CD), are far superior in testing hard drives.

They, the Mfg diagnostics absolutely WAY better! As I shared, I check out my drives once in a while using SMART, to just monitor changes.

 

[aleader]

Ok, ran the tests (short and long) and both passed, so I assume the drive is fine. Rebooted with the XP Pro CD in the drive (boot to cd of course) it says 'boot to CD', I see the light come on for a split second on the DVD drive, and then I still get the 'NTLDR is missing' error and my only option is to reboot and repeat. I'd suspect that the CD is missing the file, but that makes no sense as I've used that CD for several reformats of the same systems, and it boots from it fine on the other computer. Does there have to be any system files on the HD in order to get to the setup menu to install XP? (i.e. is the Windows CD checking the HD that quickly and determining there isn't the correct files present?). Could it be some setting in the BIOS messing things up? Very weird.

 

[aleader]

Little more digging, found these people having the same issue...six years ago:

vasu says
03/01/2007 at 03:15

i have only a completely new hard drive in my lap top and no OS and i am trying to install windows XP home frm the cd however the ntldr error appears when i boot frm the hard drive as well as thee cd rom drive. i can therefore only go as far as into the bios and switch the boot types around. this has no effect i cannot access the cd and the harddrive is new (so there is no point booting from an empty hardrive)

Reply
Apasijgaldg says
14/02/2007 at 18:40

I have this same problem

i have only a completely new hard drive in my lap top and no OS and i am trying to install windows XP home frm the cd however the ntldr error appears when i boot frm the hard drive as well as thee cd rom drive. i can therefore only go as far as into the bios and switch the boot types around. this has no effect i cannot access the cd and the harddrive is new (so there is no point booting from an empty hardrive)

PLEASE HELP
thanks

No solutions unfortunately. Also found this guy having same issue: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/278643-45-fresh-windows-install-ntldr-missing

His final assessment is that his MB was failing (at least the RAM slots were). Could a failing MB cause this kind of error though? It detected and ran the Seagate tools ISO DVD flawlessly.

 

[aleader]

What is you power supply providing for voltages?? I'm suspicious of your power supply.

That's something I've never checked, but that power supply is almost brand new (OCZ 600W I believe). Don't even know how to check that. In the BIOS under the power management?

 

[aleader]

Ok, I guess I lied somewhat. Took the drive out and put it back on the other computer, disconnected the system drive and put the XP CD in, tried to boot from it, get the missing NTLDR error there too. It must have switched before and booted from the system HD the last time I tried it. I checked the CD though and it loads right up to the setup on my laptop (autoruns) and NTLDR is there on the CD as it should be.

Either the CD is corrupted or something is directing it to the wrong spot on the CD. I have the Win 7 OEM DVD that I ordered, but I don't want to put it on this system, or this drive. I'd like to save that for a new system build and have this computer for the kids.

Tried the Win 7 dvd and it works and goes right into setup (so long as I hit a key, otherwise it goes to the HD and I get the NTLDR missing error). I seem to recall now having issues with this XP CD not allowing me to boot from it. Doesn't explain why I needed to switch SATA ports to get the system stable, but at least I know it's the CD now. How do I get to the command prompt so that I can run setup on this CD?

I have a boot disk from a while back that gets me to a command prompt (EBCD emergency boot disk), but when I switch the CDs out and put the XP one in, I cannot change directories, it just shows what was on the EBCD CD (doesn't recognize the XP CD).

 

[Virgorising]

That's something I've never checked, but that power supply is almost brand new (OCZ 600W I believe). Don't even know how to check that. In the BIOS under the power management?

Just to say, despite you seem to have nailed the issue is the disk, after reading threads here to learn (also to see if I might help), a leit motif via Ketchup79 is his posting over and over, to stay away from OCZ PSUs.

And clearly, he speaks from what sound like painful experience.

 

[aleader]

Well, when I bought it, it was based on good reviews at Newegg, price, and a rebate. The one I have has over 2700 reviews, 4.5/5 overall. From my experience with hardware (knock on wood) I have yet to have a single failure of any kind in 24 years of owning/building computers (only my own and for friends/relatives), other than one 200W power supply that died back in 2001, I suspect because I had it overloaded for about 3 years. Not an HD, MB, video card or single stick of RAM. The issues I've run into have all been software (usually windows) based. Some people however seem to have really bad luck with hardware, sometimes before they even get it out of the box. Having said that, what's the best way to test my power supply to see if something is wonky? EDIT: just ordered this: http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B005CTCD6S/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AXCMRJH8N3EOA

Just said screw it and I'm now installing Win 7. Of note, when I switched it over to my original computer, I first cleared the CMOS (removed the battery) and disabled APIC in the BIOS just to see if it had any effect. Windows would not begin the setup without an error saying some hardware must have changed and I had to restart. Enabling APIC fixed it. I had run it on the other computer to test it right up to the part where you start the install. but cancelled it. I then wondered if it's possible that during the 'Windows is loading files' initial phase that it detects all the hardware before it even installs anything?

 

[Virgorising]

Well, when I bought it, it was based on good reviews at Newegg, price, and a rebate. The one I have has over 2700 reviews, 4.5/5 overall. From my experience with hardware (knock on wood) I have yet to have a single failure of any kind in 24 years of owning/building computers (only my own and for friends/relatives), other than one 200W power supply that died back in 2001, I suspect because I had it overloaded for about 3 years. Not an HD, MB, video card or single stick of RAM. The issues I've run into have all been software (usually windows) based. Some people however seem to have really bad luck with hardware, sometimes before they even get it out of the box. Having said that, what's the best way to test my power supply to see if something is wonky?

Just said screw it and I'm now installing Win 7. Of note, when I switched it over to my original computer, I first cleared the CMOS (removed the battery) and disabled APIC in the BIOS just to see if it had any effect. Windows would not begin the setup without an error saying some hardware must have changed and I had to restart. Enabling APIC fixed it. I had run it on the other computer to test it right up to the part where you start the install. but cancelled it. I then wondered if it's possible that during the 'Windows is loading files' initial phase that it detects all the hardware before it even installs anything?

I totally respect how you decided on the PSU! I too read reviews on Newegg (and everywhere else) before I choose.

Gotta say, I send you props for hanging in in this mess....forget, remaining so calm! Very impressive.

Am sure someone here will tell you how you might test the PSU.

 

[aleader]

Ha, thanks! I used to get upset and 'throw things', but I sort of enjoy hunting down these problems now. Probably because in my early days I had no idea what to do or try, and internet really didn't exist. Working in DOS with floppies really sucked too. I recall having to squeeze and balance 640K memory just to get a game running...waaay back in the 90's! I spent far more time fiddling with DOS than actually playing anything. Now I find it a lot easier as you can just google everything and narrow it down from the experiences of others. Still baffled by the XP CD thing though.