Thinking of sending my K8N Neo2 Plat back

[st3]

This is the first MSI board I have ever owned and it isn't leaving the best taste in my mouth.

I finally put my board in last week and it has been one problem after another trying to get this thing to work. Initially I tried using my old windows install, but because that used software RAID on my old ASUS it didn't work. I had a backup image on an external 1394 HD which I imaged onto a SATA drive I set up as a standalone (unhooked the RAID array) the old windows install proved to be unstable and problmatic (not too huge of a suprsise) so I decided to reinstall last night. About halfway though the install where it asks for info (name, key etc) I had to borrow a PS2 KB/mouse from a friend because the USB ones weren't working. Finally get windows up and working with my USB KB/Mouse, install the mobo drivers and reboot, now windows won't finish loading, it just sits at the splash screen. I have tried different ram and ran memtest, so I know the memory isn't bad. If I have to send the board back I have to call tomorrow. Any input is apreciated.

-Pete

 

[Heinrich]

First of all everything that you list up until the point about windows not loading is completely normal. Sometimes the USB mouse/keyboard simply doesn't work until Windows loads. It's supposed to, I know - but I have the same experience with Abit, Shuttle, Chaintech mobo's. Ironically, this MSI board is the first one I used where my USB keyboard/mouse worked fine in BIOS and while working with installing Windows...

anyway, I wonder if you are being impatient. That first boot into Windows - and the initial install - is painfully slow as the OS copies files and reads devices. I wonder if maybe you are being impatient thinking it will load up as quickly as under a normal boot.

 

[Fenuxx]

You have to change the BIOS settings to support USB keyboards and mice. Mine work fine on that exact same mobo. If you change those settings, you should be fine.

 

[st3]

Originally posted by: geforcetony
You have to change the BIOS settings to support USB keyboards and mice. Mine work fine on that exact same mobo. If you change those settings, you should be fine.

Did that, didn't seem to make any difference.

I got windows to load for the first time (as I stated in my other post) but once I installed the chipset drivers windows won't load again, it just sits at the splash screen.

 

[Icepick]

I've got a similar problem where Windows is hanging at the splash screen from time to time. About 2/3 of the time I can get into Windows. I have a feeling it might be driver related. Right now I'm using the drivers that came with the MSI CD. I'm going to download the latest nForce chipset drivers from the nVidia site and install them tonight. If it fixes the problem I'll post back and let you know. If you want to try that here's a link to the drivers.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce_udp_winxp_5.10

 

[Icepick]

Well, I fixed my problem tonight. Turned out to be a hardware issue. After I unplugged my ancient DVD ROM there were no more crashes. Try disconnecting your hardware one at a time and see if it makes a difference.

 

[nealh]

did you install the raid drivers by hitting F6????

this has caused issues for some people

 

[st3]

Originally posted by: nealh
did you install the raid drivers by hitting F6????

this has caused issues for some people

I installed the RAID driver.

I tried unplugging my primary IDE (where the optical drives are) and the system is unstable at best. I have gotten a few DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

I can't think of any thing else to try, fresh windows install, both the drivers on the cd and the ones I downloaded don't seem stable, and this is without anything else installed!