New Build - Big Problems

[WackyWRZ]

Hello everyone, I am having serious problems with a new system build and I am hoping for some help. Everything is new except for the RAM and the PS - which is I think a couple years old, but has not been used much. The specs of the system are:

Asus A88X-PRO FM2+
Athlon X4 760K
Sapphire 7770 1GB
Antec Neo Eco 520c
2x4GB Gskill Ares 1600
2x Seagate 7200.10 750GB

I got to the point of getting Windows 7 x64 installed last night, and was having serious issues with Windows Updates failing, so I decided to re-format. Now I am not even able to get Windows re-installed. Usually I get to the point where it says "Expanding Files" in the initial setup and it crashes. It was crashing on the "Load Driver" for the RAID but it stopped that. When it crashes the screen just goes black and the fans all spin up. I also notice the 2-digit readout on the board changes to 00 when this happens. The only way to get it to reboot is to completely power off and restart. If I press the reset button the fans go into a loop high/low/high/low... I am idling at about 32 degrees in the BIOS and am at all stock settings.

I have tried tons of things that give me the same result. I swapped out everything I have a spare for - swapped the video card with a known working one, tried only one HDD in AHCI mode (no driver needed), tried different install media, reseated power connectors, reseated RAM, reseated CPU. I checked the 12V and 5V with a DVOM and get 12.28V and 5.12V. I ran Memtest86+ from my UBCD overnight and got no errors. I don't have any of the TPU or EPU stuff on the Asus board turned on either.

I would be grateful for any suggestions anyone can give me!

 

[WackyWRZ]

Update:

Swapped power supply with a known good unit. Also tried to download a new ISO from Dreamspark and run install from USB. Same result, gets to expanding files and about 1 minute in and just goes to black screen. The diag numbers switch to 00 and the fans all slow down.

Pressing the reset button produces the same result, but I did notice that the fan that is going up/down rapidly is the video card fan. I also noticed that in conjunction with the fan speed the 00 leds also cycle bright/dim. I replicated this with another video card as well. I have to conclude that either the MB or CPU is faulty.

 

[Virgorising]

Get the free version of Whocrashed and run it.

http://www.resplendence.com/whocrashed

I doubt it's yr CPU, and prolly not yr board. Might be the drive.

Which Seagate R U trying to do the installation on? Do you have dual boot?

Edit: just saw you have RAID setup for yr Seagates. Someone more familiar with RAID than I will have to arrive.

I would undo yr RAID and see if you can install Windows on one drive.....but that's just me. But if you can, we can rule many things out including yr chip and yr board.

Afraid to ask, but which RAID setup do you have?

 

[WackyWRZ]

I actually decided to disable RAID and go with regular single drive since this is such a problem. Its a Barracuda 7200.10 750GB drive. I found a 2.5" Hitachi laptop 500GB drive I have sitting around and threw it in - exact same result.

It looks like that program you linked needs to run under Windows, I can't even get it to install at this point.

EDIT:

Was running BIOS 0602. Updated to 0904 BIOS, same results.

 

[Virgorising]

I actually decided to disable RAID and go with regular single drive since this is such a problem. Its a Barracuda 7200.10 750GB drive. I found a 2.5" Hitachi laptop 500GB drive I have sitting around and threw it in - exact same result.

It looks like that program you linked needs to run under Windows, I can't even get it to install at this point.

EDIT:

Was running BIOS 0602. Updated to 0904 BIOS, same results.

Yes, sorry, I posted the link before I realized you were doing RAID.

So, at this point, re yr new build, you have never been able to install Windows? did you remove any existing paritions on the drives and reformat?

Are your bios settings configured properly?

Is your RAM, which you say, unlike yr other components is not new compatible with yr board? Did the sticks function normally in another system?

Have you tried other SATA ports on the board?

Looks like fine PSU, but when was the last time you knew it to function normally?

 

[WackyWRZ]

No problem, I appreciate any help!!! I did have Windows installed once last night, but it was acting strange - it kept having random freezeups and the windows updates kept failing. It did install without a hitch though.

I hooked the single Seagate I am working with now up to another computer and wiped the drive. Also ran Seatools and came back good. I have tried 2 other SATA ports and cables as well.

BIOS is all at stock settings, except I turned on the CSM / Legacy boot since I am not using Win8. No OC/XMP/etc... Tried downclocking the RAM to 1333 - same result. Tried a CMOS clear, nada.

Ram is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231546 - from what I can tell it should be compatible. It was just removed from my old HTPC which was an AMD A4-3400 system along with the PSU. That PC was working fine, but I went with a different solution. Grabbed a brand new PSU this evening and just got done trying it - no dice.

EDIT:

Just tried booting from my UBCD that has Linux based Parted Magic on it - that crashes out just like the windows install with the black screen and fans slowing down.

 

[denis280]

Reading all above.and it sounds like a bad Mobo.

 

[coolpurplefan]

Have you tried running the video through the rear panel?

 

[Virgorising]

Reading all above.and it sounds like a bad Mobo.

Most often, if Denis the NINJA says mobo, it's mobo.....but I think, still very hard me to believe new components can be as messed up as I have learned here they sometimes are.

 

[Virgorising]

No problem, I appreciate any help!!! I did have Windows installed once last night, but it was acting strange - it kept having random freezeups and the windows updates kept failing. It did install without a hitch though.

I hooked the single Seagate I am working with now up to another computer and wiped the drive. Also ran Seatools and came back good. I have tried 2 other SATA ports and cables as well.

BIOS is all at stock settings, except I turned on the CSM / Legacy boot since I am not using Win8. No OC/XMP/etc... Tried downclocking the RAM to 1333 - same result. Tried a CMOS clear, nada.

Ram is: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231546 - from what I can tell it should be compatible. It was just removed from my old HTPC which was an AMD A4-3400 system along with the PSU. That PC was working fine, but I went with a different solution. Grabbed a brand new PSU this evening and just got done trying it - no dice.

EDIT:

Just tried booting from my UBCD that has Linux based Parted Magic on it - that crashes out just like the windows install with the black screen and fans slowing down.

All this troubleshooting is brilliant and should win U a Ferrari. I mean it.

That Denis says board....means something. Even tho as I posted, I will never get my head around so many new components, and good ones... are messed up.

Pls wait for Denis and Ketchup79 to weigh in.

Again, Bravo re yr pro activity, smarts, tenacity. We will get to the bottom of this.

 

[Ketchup]

I see you have two sticks of RAM. Try running one stick at a time and see what happens.

BTW, sorry if this was already mentioned. I was scanning pretty quickly.

 

[Virgorising]

I see you have two sticks of RAM. Try running one stick at a time and see what happens.

BTW, sorry if this was already mentioned. I was scanning pretty quickly.

:thumbsup::biggrin:

I only got to asking if his sticks were compatible with his new board, cause unlike his other components, they are not new. He said he is pretty sure they are.

Cant' wait to learn the results of the one stick at a time test!

 

[coolpurplefan]

:thumbsup::biggrin:

I only got to asking if his sticks were compatible with his new board, cause unlike his other components, they are not new. He said he is pretty sure they are.

Cant' wait to learn the results of the one stick at a time test!

Yeah, if he tried each stick of RAM individually and also the video through the motherboard instead of the video card. There's also sevenforums and techsupportforums.

 

[Virgorising]

Yeah, if he tried each stick of RAM individually and also the video through the motherboard instead of the video card. There's also sevenforums and techsupportforums.

Well I know all about seating single sticks, just did not get that in this event, and no way got he should try onboard/integrated video.

It takes....A VILLAGE!

But can't wait to find out wut happens when he disables his wi fi.

 

[WackyWRZ]

I want to thank everyone for the help and input. Its been a while since I have built my own rig, and I never had this much trouble! Also thank you Virgorising for the testing compliments. I have been waiting for 2 weeks to get this done with being busy with work and all - and I am anxious to get it done! Plus its keeping me from playing League of Legends .

I did try again with one stick (tried each on their own) and got the same results. I read in other places possible grounding issues, so I took the board out and ran it out of the case with the same issue. I am not able to run video through the rear panel as I have an Athlon not an APU and no onboard GPU. I popped the spare laptop HDD in the wife's laptop and did a successful install of Win7 on that just to make sure I didn't have corrupted install media.

I think I am going to just chalk it up to a bad board and/or CPU. I am really getting frustrated with it. Luckily it came from Amazon so it'll be an easy return / exchange.

 

[Virgorising]

Thanks everyone for the help and input. Also thank you Virgorising for the testing compliments. I have been waiting for 2 weeks to get this done with being busy with work and all - and I am determined to get it done! Plus its keeping me from playing League of Legends .

U R very classy guy....beyond the original compliments (celebrating goodies in yr fellow humans when you find them is big joy), and the compliments were EARNED.

Absolutely, if playing League of Legends is yr thing you deserve to be able to play it!
Wuteveah it is, I mean:sneaky:.

But how come March Madness don't trump playin League of Legends? March Madness....is not VIRTUAL.

And U bet, that carefully chosen, new components arrive messed up is becoming the norm is a very serious thing. A nausea-making thing. Outsourcing made that inevitable. How anyone failed to see that inevitability, is scary. It's DISGUSTING.

Re boards, where the caps are made now impacts bigtime. Pathetic we have to chase that info....but it seems we do.

Keep us updated!!!!! And hang in!!!

 

[Virgorising]

PS: Before you decide anew re a replacement vs a whole other board, reading some of these reviews may help:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813132056

I favor Intel chips so I have nothing to offer first hand on yr board. Maybe you can find out where the caps are made. Again, so sad anyone has to.

It seems U want Japanese all solid state caps. Should that info be part of the specs for any board? YES.

 

[WackyWRZ]

Eh, not much of a B-Ball guy... Now when College FB starts that's where I'll be . There seems to be a real lack of site reviews on these FM2+ boards because they're so new. I got this board because of good reviews and because they say they use Japan solid caps. Maybe I just got a dud, or maybe because they're so new there's too many bugs?

I wouldn't mind an Intel, but for < $200 for CPU/MB it pretty much limits me to i3, and that's not really appealing to me. Plus I would want a "i5-K" so I could OC and play around a bit, and that pushes me way up in price.

I've got a previous old thread in the General Hardware section that I will try and get some input on a new board. Thanks again to everyone for the assistance!

 

[coolpurplefan]

I know this may not be the case and you probably do something this naive but did you install the standoffs on the motherboard?

 

[WackyWRZ]

Yep, all 9 of em.

 

[Virgorising]

Eh, not much of a B-Ball guy... Now when College FB starts that's where I'll be

I was just playin with the whole "game" thingy.

There seems to be a real lack of site reviews on these FM2+ boards because they're so new. I got this board because of good reviews and because they say they use Japan solid caps. Maybe I just got a dud, or maybe because they're so new there's too many bugs?

I like you are wondering about this. Since the board comports with what we know to look for re caps......why would anyone with AMD chip not think this would be an excellent choice? Bet I would.

 

[XavierMace]

What's the manual say about the 00 error code? If that code's changing after post, that's not a good thing.

 

[WackyWRZ]

It says 00 is "not used" so that even shows more something was wrong with it. Starting it out of the case was interesting. I noticed during post that both video cards I tried the fan acted really strange. It was like it was surging or turning of/on rapidly until it showed the BIOS splash screen. Also noticed the post code led flickering in brightness during that time which was odd too.

It is on its way back to amazon now so I'm trying to decide between the MSI A88X-G45 or Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4. I should be up and running by the weekend!

 

[Virgorising]

It is on its way back to amazon now so I'm trying to decide between the MSI A88X-G45 or Gigabyte F2A88X-UP4. I should be up and running by the weekend!

Yay!!!!! I am no kinda expert re boards, but I am rabidly interested in everything, so, when I delve, i see many negative comments about GB boards. Not sure why, but I did make note over time.

 

[denis280]

All Board are good.when they work. But the msi is a good one.but am still a asus fan.