New builder, help with prob!

[fivesmellydragons]

Ok I bought all my components that I need for my first build. Put everything together and started it up. It runs fine in the beginning, no probs. At this point I am trying to setup my new computer with an OS, Windows XP Pro. The computer prompts me to hit delete to setup or f1. However for some reason when I hit the correct keys on the keyboard nothing happens. I've tried taking it out and plugging it back in, no fix. I've tried a different keyboard, nothing happens.

I do have a message that reads floppy disk(s) fail (40). I have no floppy drive in there and that's why that error message comes up. I have another message below that, possibly in conneection with the floppy, that says "CMOS checksum error - Defaults loaded." Does this have anything to do with my keyboard failure? Also do I need to install a floppy drive to setup my drivers for the mobo to recognize my keyboard? I can do that, but just wanted to ask first.

Here's my system: Antec SLK2650 - BQE case, AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 3800, Lite-On DVDRW Shw disk drive, OCZ 1g Ram, Maxtor 250g Sata HDD, EVGA 7800gt video card, and EVGA Nvidia nforce 4 mobo.

Thanks!

[Cricket]

What kind of keyboard are you using? PS/2 or USB?

Did you try a different keyboard yet?

Cricket

[USMDude]

I saw a CMOS error similar to yours in another thread (can't remember which one now), but it sounds like your CMOS battery may be bad. If you can try replacing the battery with a new one (you can probably pick up a replacement at Radio Shack) see if the error goes away. It's possible that your keyboard isn't working because the settings keep getting reset. If I'm wrong Cricket, please correct me.

[fivesmellydragons]

Originally Posted by Cricket What kind of keyboard are you using? PS/2 or USB? Did you try a different keyboard yet? Cricket

PS/2. I'll try the battery for the CMOS and see what happens with that. I'll let you know soon, thanks!

[fivesmellydragons]

Alright I got a new battery for the bios, and replaced it in. No change so far. I went ahead and tested the battery on a volt meter and it reads ok. I also checked the old battery on a volt meter, it's good also.

I checked around the internet alot and found a lot of posts about the same problem that I am having. I have reset the JBAT jumper on the board several times. Nothing. I also have taken out one of the sticks of RAM, becuase some of the posts suggested that a stick of RAM could be bad. No change either. I have thought about taking the BIOS chip out, but it doesn't seem to be coming out easily so I won't try to do it. I am considering calling EVGA about the board and I'm sure that they will send me a new one, we'll see what happens.

If anyone has any other ideas please let me know. I'll keep this thread updated to let people know what works and doesn't.

[rsinfo]

If the motherboard is in warranty, I would return it would repair - seems like motherboard problem.

[glc]

Are you sure you haven't plugged the keyboard into the mouse port?

Reviews that I've seen indicate that the quality control on this motherboard isn't very good - you very well could have a defective one.

Strip it out of the case and follow the steps here, with the addition of connecting a keyboard:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

Are you using a proper ATX 2.0 24 pin power supply with all connectors in the right place?

[fivesmellydragons]

Definitely sure about making sure that the keyboard is plugged in the right place. The colors are different so it makes it a little easy. I've also tried the keyboard on the PS/2 slot just to see if something was wired wrong. Nothing different.

As far as the mobo is concerned I was a little reserved about getting it becuase I couldn't find any reviews on it anywhere. I bought the mobo with my video card, it came as a combo deal for $360. I knew that somehow if the mobo turned out to be bad that at least I wouldn't have spent $100 on a motherboard, plus I knew that the viedo card matched the board well and the mobo mentioned that it supported AMD 939 Dual Core, which is exactly what I wanted.

One interesting thing about my build, I had trouble trying to find out where to put the power switch and moved a small yellow pin out from the JBAT, which controls the CMOS. When I was getting some help from a friend, we got it all in and as soon as it turned on and the temp on the board started reading we saw a small spark shoot up from the area of the temp read out. None of us were actually looking at that exact spot where it happened so we couldn't figure out where it came from. I'm now suspecting that becuase I didn't have that yellow pin on the JBAT that it shorted it out, not allowing me get passed that part in BIOS. Of course I didn't call customer support and they have already closed for the weekend, so I'll have to wait until Monday to call.

I did go through the steps of setting up the board outside of the case and it doesn't get passed that first screen in BIOS.

I am using the 24-pin connector for the ATX power supply in the right place.

[doubledragon5]

From the sounds of it that spark probably shorted out the MB.. Time to replace it...

[fivesmellydragons]

Well that's what I thought as well, until I ran across something that I forgot to do when I was messing with the mobo. I looked at one of the installation steps and saw that there was a keyboard function enabled/disabled 3-pin. I looked at the pin to see what I had connected there and saw nothing. So obviously the mobo couldn't make the connection thinking that there was a keyboard there or not. I couldn't find the original yellow pin that I took out to try and orginally get the mobo started, I simply pulled another one from my parent's old computer and of course it booted right up.

It just goes to show you that if you take something out and don't know what the hell you are doing, make sure you put it back becuase it will probably be the one thing that was totally holding you up.

Thanks for the help people!