New P-4 SiS/ECS P4S5A ???

[Chain777]

Does anyone out there have any experience with this MOBO/CPU combo? P-4 1.7/ECS P4S5A. Based on the SiS 645 chip (supports DDR-266 and 333 memory). I know it's a new board, and chipset, so I haven't had much luck searching for answers on other sites.

I put the system together, posted o.k., but it won't recognize my hard drives, or any IDE drives. I have two HD installed. One Maxtor 30GB and one Maxtor 40GB (both 7200rpm, 30GB-ata-66, 40GB-ata-133). I have the 40 set as master and the 30 set as slave.

I also have a TDK 12x10x32 CD/RW on the second IDE channel set as master.

I've triple checked the connections, but can't seem to find a problem.

Can't get past the post, no drives detected??? Anyone have any suggestions?


Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Chain777]

^ bump

 

[Pabster]

Orcish? Is that really you?

Check the drives physical connections and jumper settings again. Then go in to the BIOS and make sure both IDE ports are enabled.

 

[Wingznut]

Anybody else have a clue as to what Orcish was trying to say? (Have another drink, Orcish!)

Anyway... Are you using the 80-wire ATA-66 cables?

 

[chansen]

<< Ecs is goddamn of a company >>


Goddamn, that's funny. I haven't a clue what it means, or even why it's funny. But I'm laughing.

 

[yaethom]

uh oh, ECS better be a goddamn good company, cuz I ordered the P4S5A, but haven't set it up yet with my 1.7 cpu. I really hope this all works.

 

[MoleX]

the board is wide make sure not making contact with drives or bare metal
checked all Jumpers on mobo?

next step falsh that puppy if no go RMA

YMMV

 

[Jerboy]

P4S5A must be K7S5A's little brother.

I hated its big brother and when stupid motherboard like K7S5A mess with me, this is the result..

K7S5A is nuked

 

[Chain777]

Thanks for the info eveyone. Believe me, ECS was NOT my first choice in MOBO's. I had no choice, because a needed a SiS 645, and currently they're the only ones selling one (plus is was only 88.00). I took a gamble, figuring I'd probably swap the board out for something better (a RAID board based on an intel chipset (DDR no RamBus here), when/if they ever come out.

It is a wide board, but fits nicely in my Antec 635 case without any clearance problems. You've got to love those Antec cases with thier removable drive bays and snap in fan mounts! Anyway, this is my first complete build from scratch. I probably jumped in a little too deep by going with a questionable MOBO, but I went to their website (what a mess), and downloaded what I hope is the right bios update (it even mentioned a problem with auto detecting the IDE devices).

Can someone give me step-by-step instructions on updating/flashing the bios. I've never done it on a MOBO, only CD drives and other components. And lets just say ESC's support...sucks?

Thanks for helping out a "new" builder.

Edit: By the way, yes I am using 80 wire ata-100 cables, triple checked all connections, jumpers, etc.

 

[md300]

well i have done two of them mother boards and they worked fine if its just the mother boatds not being reconized then check allcables , setting for hard drive do one first and check setting in bios ect then try that I love this board and its great !!!!!!!!!

 

[hkctr]

I had the same problem and the solution for me, and I hope you, is very simple. On the Standard CMOS Setup page in the bios, you have to hit the F3 key to have it automatically identify all drives. I spent over an hour trying to figure out what was wrong, checking cables and connections, replacing cables, etc.. Finally I noticed at bottom right of the screen it says "F3: Detect all drives". Working fine since.

 

[Biochem101]

Bios Flashing 101

Get a copy of the Bios XXX.rom
Get a copy of your flash utility for your chipset.
Format a floppy and copy your system files to it (make it bootable)

Copy the bios and flash util to your floppy.

Boot the computer to safe mode(precautionary-you really shouldnt have to worry about this, but I do it for extra measure) with the FDD as the 1st boot device.

a:><flash util> XXX.rom
pray you dont have a power outtage and poof, your bios is flashed.


There are easier ways, but this is the one that will most always work with any OS.

~

 

[Chain777]

Thanks hkctr for the advice, but I already tried that...didn't work. I'm almost positive a bios upgrade is in order, especially after reading the info on ECS's website regarding bios updates on this MOBO.

Biochem 101, thanks for the detailed instuctions on flashing the bios. Only problem is ECS's site doesn't have a flash utility listed for this MOBO; got the bios update, but can't find a utlility to match my chipset (SiS 645) to flash it. I already contacted ECS: waiting for a reply.

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[Chain777]

I really feel stupid asking this, but I never had to do it before. Biochem101, or whoever else, how do you make a "bootable system disk"? If you mean a startup disk, like on win98, I did that, but it won't boot from the A: drive. It says it can't find the boot files. I know this disk works OK, I've used it before when I reinstalled win98 it on my other computer that I've installed win98 on before...several times on a freshly formatted hard drive. This new system build is driving me crazy. Tell me I'm just making a simple mistake...please.

OK, now all you techies out there can stop laughing. Tell me what I'm doing wrong.

 

[Chain777]

^

 

[Biochem101]

Bootabel system disk in win98 as follows....


Format a floppy, search for and copy io.sys and command.com to this newly formatted Floppy.

This disk is now bootable.

 

[Chain777]

OK. I got the bios updated. Thought that would solve my problems (won't detect IDE devices). Wrong. Still have the same problem.

Everything is ok to post, then the bios tries to auto detect the IDE devices ( hard drives/CD drives)...not installed.
I tried manually doing it through the setup, but still won't detect any devices.

I know the drives and cables are good (checked them in another system), and i re-checked all connections and jumpers. Even tried starting with just one hard drive installed as master, still no go.


Any ideas????

Thanks for all the feedback...from a frustrated first time builder.

 

[rockhard]

If you look in your bios there should be an option "F5 for setup defaults" or something similar?
Select this, save bios settings and then see if your HD's get detected.
IIRC on my K7S5A there is an option somewhere in the bios to disable IDE channels - be worth checking how this option is set also?
If you still cannot get things working after getting a third party to double check the connections/cables etc for you RMA the sucker before you lose your rag with it.
Also triple check that the jumpers on ALL the HD's/CDR's are set properly as having 2x masters or 2x slaves on the same channel can also prevent detection.

Hope you get it sorted,

rockhard =)

 

[hkctr]

Looks like you got everyone stumped here Chain777. Rockhard covered all the essentials and if that doesn't work there is one last thing to try and then I'm out of ideas too. Boot up with your floppy boot disk to the DOS prompt. Check to see if your hard drive is spinning by listening to it or touching it to feel the vibration. You can also push the eject button on your CD drive and see if tray slides in and out. This will let you know if power is going to the drives. Sometimes those molex connectors aren't shoved in all the way. Colored stripe (red, black or blue) on the IDE cable is always closest to the power connector on the drive when plugged in correctly.

 

[Chrono]

I have an ECS P4S5A w/ 1.8ghz P4
it am r0x0rs even with the SDRAM I'm using.. DAMN I need DDR333 ram now! HURRY UP AND CIRCULATE AMONG THE RETAILERS/OEMer's already!
;o



awesome choice I might add

SiS is kickin' ass