my first mb - epox 8kha+ - and my first failed install

[sickasaparrot]

Hi there

I've bought my first mb and am attempting my first self build.

I keep reaching the same point:

The screen shows the following:
Award Modular Bios v6.00PG
11/02/2001 for KT-266/A DDR chipset
Main processor: AMD Duron 1000 MHz, FSB 200
Memory Testing: 131072K DRAM CLK: 1000MHz Type: PC1600

= = Magic Health = =
cpu temp: 24c chassis fan: 0 rpm Vcore: 1.77V Vbat: 3.08V
system temp: 21c cpu fan: 1339 rpm +2.5V: 2.65V 12V: 12.16V
vio: 3.31V Vagp: 1.52V 5Vsb: 5.42V
Press del to enter setup, alt + F2 to enter awdflash
11/02/2001 - VT8366 - 8233 - 6A6LVPADC - OO

{keyboard dead: pressing del nothing happens, pressing caps lock nothing happens, keyboards works on other machine.}
{light on floppy stays lit.}
{motherboard displays 6F which according to the manual is to do with initialising the floppy controller.}

If I disconnect and reconnect the power I then get:
Nvidia tnt2 model 64 vga bios
version 3.05.00.10.00
32.0 mb ram

{motherboard displays 26, also no beep}

Note also the memory installed is not pc1600 as it thinks, but pc2100 - I don't know if this is significant.

I've read comments about when the floppy light stays on to make sure the red line is on the side of the power connector which it is.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[jmorrell]

Not all floppy drives adhere to the same standard for cable orientation, so that word of advice on cable orientation may not be 100% accurate. If the floppy drive cable ends are keyed, and the keys on both ends are properly aligned with the connector, then the cable orientation is probably not your problem. If the cable ends are NOT keyed, try flipping the floppy cable over and reboot.

A lot of times assemblers don't properly install the motherboard into the case. Recheck the mounting of your motherboard to your case to be sure you haven't accidently grounded the motherboard. One way to check for grounding problems is to set the case on its side, remove the motherboard from the case, and lay the motherboard on the case edges on a piece of cardboard or some other type of insulator (the thin foam pad that the motherboard was shipped on works just fine). Plug in the keyboard, mouse, video card, floppy drive and hard drives to the proper connectors on the motherboard. Make sure the power switch from the case is connected to the motherboard as well. Turn on the power and see if you can successfully boot up. If so, you had a grounding problem. If you have fiber washers that came with your case hardware, put them under the heads of the motherboard mounting screws when you reinstall the motherboard into the case. Make sure no part of the bottom of the motherboard touches the case. Hopefully, you will solve your problem.

 

[PCHPlayer]

Based on all the information you posted it would seem that the memory and the CPU are working fine. It reports you memory as PC 1600 because you appear to be running a Duron at 100 MHz FSB ( (100 Mhz * 2) * 8 bytes). The motherboard does not report the capabilities of the memory, just the speed it is currently running at. There seems to be an issue with your floppy and/or your keyboard. It could be the keyboard and floppy part of the motherboard is bad. It would seem odd that both would be bad on one board. I would try the following.
1. Clear the CMOS by moving the jumper on the motherboard
2. Try another floppy cable
3. Try it outside the case as the prevous poster suggested
I'm sure what to tell you about the keyboard. If it works in another computer it should work here.

 

[Buz2b]

The keyboard problem could be just the connection. Sometimes when installing the board, the I/O plate can interfere or block full insertion of the cableing if it doesn't line up correctly. Taking it out of the case as suggested would enable you to see if this is what is going on. Also, as suggested, flip the floppy cable over and it should be OK. Is the light on the floppy drive staying on during the whole boot attempts? That is the sure sign of improper cable alignment.