Need Help with A8N-SLI Deluxe setup

soulrev

Junior Member
Dec 19, 2004
14
0
0
So I'm having lots of issues.. Can't connect to the internet although WInXP says my network connection is working properly, and the LEDs on the network port show that it is connected and operating at 100mbps. I open IE and it can't connect.. It's not actually connecting to the internet. I'm using my old PC right now

Also having issues with my other 120 gig hard drive.. WinXP isn't recognizing it.. It shows both 120 gig HD's under the bios, and only 1 in WinXP (though is shows it under the hardware list in device manager) and I can't remember what I need to do (I haven't built in a long time and this is only my 2nd). Also my DVD-Rom isn't being detected at all, not in bios or XP.. Not sure why, it worked in my old PC just fine.

Specs

A8N-SLI Deluxe
3200+ Athlon 64
GeForce 6800 Ultra
Corsair PC3200 512mb (x2)
SeaGate 120mb HD's (x2)
Samsung DVD-R (which is detecting and working fine)
Samsung DVD-Rom (not working, but has power, will open and close just won't be recognized)

And 2 SATA drives that aren't currently hooked up..

Basically everything is brand new out of the box.. I built it, installed XP and the drivers from the ASUS cd (twice now), and this is where I sit, getting ready to sledge hammer my new pc in frustration Lol..

This new bios is foreign language to me and the manual that came with the MB will be stored for emergency ass-wipe, because that's all it's worth ;P I haven't changed any factory settings in the bios at all because I'm not sure where to start.

Seriously, a guide, someone who's willing to help me, anything would be great at this point.. Just want to get everything goin. Thanks guys
 

akugami

Diamond Member
Feb 14, 2005
6,210
2,551
136
Did you format your secondary HD? The Windows installer CD will format the drive you are going to use as the "C" drive. Go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management. Select drive and format. That should take care of that. Remember this when installing your two SATA drives.

Not sure on your DVD drive. Maybe you have to set a jumper in the back of it properly? Usually when people install two optical drives they are on seperate IDE channels. Both optical drives will be set to slaves while the HD's (assuming there are HD's connected) will be set to masters.

For your network problems, make sure that the router (I'm assuming you're using a router) is working fine. You said your older computer works so check each port of the router with the working computer and use the working ethernet line to do so. Assuming all is well, use the ethernet line from your newer computer to see if it's a faulty ethernet line that is causing the second computer to not be set up properly. I'm assuming all is well again. You can pretty much cross out ethernet wires and the router as the faulty parts.

The Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe has two ethernet ports. Have you tried using both ports to make sure one of them is not a faulty port?

If you installed the nVidia firewall software. REMOVE IT NOW. It sucks rocks. Disable Windows firewall if you have it on and remove any 3rd party firewalls also if you have installed any. See if that helps. If it does then something is screwy in the settings of one of your firewall(s).

Check your network settings. Most computers get an IP address assigned via DHCP from their routers. Check to see if DHCP is enabled in your TCPIP settings. You can get to them through the Control Panel > Network Settings and then choosing the appropriate connection. You can try to reset your network settings by going into Start > Run > type in "cmd". Type in "ipconfig /flushdns" then "ipconfig /release all" and last "ipconfig /renew" and see if that helps your connection status. You can type "ipconfig" by itself to see your IP number and other stuff. Type in "ipconfig /help" for help information.
 

soulrev

Junior Member
Dec 19, 2004
14
0
0
Ok I got the other 120gig drive to work but still can't connect to the internet, and I can't get my SATA drives to work.. Getting very frustrated :(

I tried resetting my network settings several times, even tried installing an ethernet card into a PCI slot, still can't connect.. So I'm still using my old PC to get online..
 

marciorr

Member
May 19, 2005
100
0
0
Are you using nVidia firewall? If so, uninstall it, everibody says it has a lot of problems with this.
 

soulrev

Junior Member
Dec 19, 2004
14
0
0
Ok everything is working, except my internet connection.. Still can't figure out for the life of me why the hell I can't connect.. I know it's in the correct port, etc etc. I'm not using any firewalls right now and still can't connect..
 

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
I had lots of trouble connecting to the internet at first, I think mainly because of driver incompatabilities with XP SP2. What fixed it for me initially(Dec) was using the Marvel lan port and disabling the NV lan, and using the Marvel drivers downloaded from the Asus website not the ones off the disc that came with the mobo(even though the dates were the same?).

I have since gotten the NV lan to work using the updated drivers that came with the 6.53 nvidia standalone kit from the nvidia website. I also found a driver update for the Marvel lan dated 5/6/05 through the windows update website that fixed a sporatic problem that I had with the marvel lan occasionally droping for a few seconds then reconnecting.

1. Try the nv lan with the drivers from the 6.53 standalone kit
2. Run widows update and download the driver for the Marvel lan and try that.

Hope this helps, and welcome to Anandtech:)