MSI Pro2A - Wont post - Wierd D-LED output

[mindslash]

Just got the new board and hooked it up with a Duron600 w/ standard AMD-approved hs/fan. Booted fine the first few times and after installing windows 98 (don't ask), it wont get beyond checking memory. The only hw I have installed is a new hd, new cd, new floppy, 256mb (pc133) RAM and an ancient video card. The LED array shows Green, Green, Green, Red. Can't quite tell which end is the start but the two possibilities are 'Testing RTC' and 'Assign IRQs to PCI devices'. Is this a CPU problem, a mobo problem, 'juggle the card(s)' problem or what? BTW, since I have't yet attempted to overclock the setup, there is no grease applied. Help!

 

[rempe]

Did the hsf have thermal tape on it? did you remove the tape? what are youre temps in the bios?

 

[rominl]

try to put the video card in anothe slot. go to bios, under peripherals, go to plug and play OS and choose yes.

 

[GT1999]

If you didn't apply any grease to the HS/F and CPU, then you might have a dead CPU on your hands. A l w a y s have some sort of thermal compound, grease, paste, or pad between the CPU and HS/F, this will ensure your CPU gets proper cooling.

As for the LEDs, check the "LED Guide" that came with your motherboard. In a little plastic bag that came with your motherboard you will find this, and you can check to see what the different LEDs mean when they are different colors. Imagine that, the LED feature comes in handy. Go MSI.


G|T

 

[mindslash]

Couple of details I need to clear up:

1) There was some sort of tape on the heatsink/fan. Once removed, it revealed a yellowish pad. The pad I left on 'cos I thought that was what the cpu touched. No other thermal coolant/grease was applied. Was grease essential even if there was no overclocking and the hs/fan is supposedly AMD approved?
2) I cannot get as far as the bios -- if I hit DEL to enter bios it hangs -- if I don't, it still hangs -- the farthest I get is the memory check complete. I repeat -- I CANNOT get into the bios -- that's what has me freaked. Any suggestions? I will try the video card in a different slot just to check -- I'll post any updates then.

Thanks for the feedback so far, people.

MD/mindslash

 

[dcdomain]

Since you don't have any thermal compound or what not applied, is the CPU hot to touch? I'm not sure how hot the Duron's run... or if it will even get that hot before you get into the BIOS screen... If the CPU is indeed hot after your unsuccessful bootups. I suggest putting some thermal compound there. But it shouldn't really get that hot before you enter the BIOS screen.

 

[rbV5]

You would likely never been able to install win98 if you had no termal tape, paste, grease or what ever. I would try shorting with the jumper and clear your cmos and start again.

 

[Jamey]

Ditto, I had a similar problem, but it was with LED code G,R,G,G signalling it was memory. I simply shorted the pins to reset the bios, move the pins back to the normal place, and the computer booted fine. If this works you will of course have to reset your bios the way you want it.