computer won't go past f1/del

[legend_018]

ok computer starts, fans are rolling. It's finds the one harddrive I have as master and the one combo cd/dvd as a slave. Than error floppy disk fail 40 - I don't even have a floppy drive. it comes up f1 to continue or del for setup.
So than I click on del to enter setup. I see some messages that say serial_cho no device twice. I'm assuming that might pertain to the pata. Note I have only an IDE harddrive and I'm using the correct IDE calbe that came with it. Than it just shuts off.

Any ideas on what might be going on here?

Note* I just unplugged and replugged the cmos cover off. That didn't help with anything. Except some new message about resetting the cpu information. The cpu information is found and comes up still when I start the computer though. It is definetely find the cpu and all the harddrives.

Another Note* In the front where the power button is. there are 2 lights. One to the left which i sgreen and one to the right which is red "when turned on". Now If I choose F1 to continue although I have nothing on the drive yet - it says verifying dma pool data - says successful and than shuts off.

[Kov-Ice]

This is a new build, yes? Try starting from your most basic configuration: mobo, cpu and heat sink, psu, one stick memory, and video card (or your mobo's onboard video if that's what you're using). You can even have that much laying on the table outside the case. Then see what happens. If it picks everything up in BIOS, then you can start adding a part at a time before rebooting and testing it.

[minsonngo]

What are your system specs?

[legend_018]

It only has the basics:

It's a case/motherboard that came together with 300 watt power supply. I'm getting a new power supply soon but it should be sufficient for now.

It has a 3.06 G Processor on it. It finds this - you can tell when the system first boots
It has 512 megs of ram. It finds this - you can tell when teh system first boots
It has 1 harddrive in it and 1 combo cd/rom.
It's using the onboard video and sound.
That's it.

Not sure what I'm suppose to do if the basics are all there.

[minsonngo]

Double check and make sure everything is jumpered and installed correctly.

How are your drives setup? The HDD as master and the CD/DVD drive as slave? Or if you are using CS (cable select) the HDD is on the connector at the end (usually black colored) and the CD DVD drive is connected to the middle one (usually gray colored).

A faulty or overloaded PSU can cause random problems too.


***In your first post you mentioned that "error floppy disk fail 40" issue. That error usually comes up when you have a improperly installed or bad floppy drive, floppy cable, or floppy controller. Since you don't have a floppy drive, see if you can disable it in the CMOS/BIOS setup.

[legend_018]

Wow is this turning into an all day project "lol".

Somehow I got it to go further. I reset the bios a few times and reseated the memory. That's about it. I got to disable the floppy in the bios. First in the bios if I hit F10 to save, it seems like it saves however it just shuts the machine down. Not sure if that is normal - it doesn't try to restart it. The bigger problem is I put my xp cd in it and it boots to it. It than says inspecting your computers hardware configuration and than it shuts down. Sometimes I have to shut it down for a little while before it will get that far again. This cd works fine in another computer. So recently I kept it shut down for a good few minutes "no longer than 5 minutes and after it said inspecting your computers hardware configuration, it seemed like it was starting to go through the check because I saw the blue screen come up saying press F6 for something. Than it shut itself down again.

oh and yes the HDD is on the connector at the end (usually black colored) and the CD DVD drive is connected to the middle one (usually gray colored).
help : (. I'm getting real frustrated)

I have read posts and other people using this motherboard definetely has the specs I have. I have very basic specs in this machine.

[minsonngo]

I still think you need to try a better power supply first.


When you are in your BIOS/CMOS setup, what are your temperatures?

What is the brand and model of the memory installed in your system?

[legend_018]

Kingston is the memory.

[joshrogoff]

I just got a sparkle for my new build and let me tell you, this is a quality piece of work. It weight on this thing is crazy, weights more than some 500+ watt PSU i've handled. And so far so good, this thing is solid. I've tried the Inexpensive PSU, and they have died in a matter of days. Point being, like the previous poster said, get a quality PSU.

[legend_018]

I tried another memory stick. Same problem.
when I go into the biso it said cpu shut down temp 85/185, cpu smart fan temp 6/140.
Than I click on PC Health Status. I see it says 26/78 for system and for cpu temp it's blank - no value is there. I have to look quick because when I click on PC Health Status it shows the screen for 2 secs and the system then shuts down.

[minsonngo]

Is your heatsink/fan installed securely and the fan power connector hooked up to the appropriate motherboard header?

[legend_018]

I am on my 2nd heat sink and fan. I don't know what the deal is. I can't get this thing on and off right. I'm not so sure if it was ever on there tightly. So I couldn't for the life of me get one of the sides off. My husband even tried. So I finally get it off and the prong is broken. SO I got a another heat sink/fan that i have. I had one side tight and in securely. The other side just wouldn't go in. So I tried to get the whole thing out. once again even after "unlocking" all 4 sides - it wouldn't come out. My husband tried again. I saw one of the white prongs bent a little. So finally my husband got it out and one of the prongs is broken again/a piece of it. The prongs being the white plastic thing on all 4 legs.

I mean how tight does it have to be? Shouldn't it at least work even if it was in there good but not tightly!

oh and one side the prong "white plastic" isn't broken but the black thing in the middle is pushed down further than the other ones and even though I can unlock and lock it, it won't move up or down "in my hands'. I have the heat sink/fan in my hands.

edit: at one point earlier in this game of putting this machine together - that heat sink and fan was on there pretty darn tight - except maybe one corner. How I know is because when I went to go take it out 1 or 2 of the 4 sides came out fairly easily and the other 2 was pretty tight well actually jam tight.

Also in all the steps in putting together a computer - it doesn't sound like the heat sink and fan absolutely has to be jam tight in order for everything to work.

[legend_018]

ok finally got the heat sink and fan on there securely "all 4 corners" and guess what -it's working. oh my goodness after all that. I broke a heat sink and fan through this ordeal "lol". Good thing it wasn't the motherboard. Windows xp is formatting the disk now. Seems to be working good so far. Thanks for your help. Now if only I can find my windows xp key that i had. I think I left it in work. Well that's ok - I got to pick up my 4month old daughter from her nanas house now anyways.