Boot Problem

[jeb2112]

I am very impressed with the knowledge and help I have seen you folks provide here on this site and I hope you can offer me some guidance ... I am building a new machine, (except CPU-although that may be the next purchase if needed) but having trouble getting it to boot smoothly.

Specs.:
New 350 watt Power Supply
New ASUS P5QL-EM MBO
Salvaged P4, 540 w/ HT, 3.2 Ghz, with corresponding original heat sink/fan, all worked fine previously (last week), all cleaned up with no visible defects
New DDR2 800 Mhz 2MB memory stick

Here's what I've done so far:
Installed the CPU and heat sink/fan assembly, plugged in the CPU fan power wire to the MBO. Installed RAM. I plugged in the monitor to the onboard VGA connector. I plugged in a PS/2 keyboard. Connected the case's power switch connector. While out of the case on the MBO's cardboard box I plugged in the 24 pin main power connector and the 4 pin one.

Here's the problem(s):
After pushing the power button the CPU fan starts running fine, but there's no video output initially showing on the monitor. After about 35 seconds (consistently) of the power running the CPU fan starts to run faster then the ASUS screen comes up, POST starts, but cannot find the keyboard. The system progresses through the POST then of course hangs when it cannot find a drive. I tried hooking up the floppy drive with a boot disk and found that it progressed normally to a command line - but of course without a keyboard I cannot do anything else. I have tried resetting the RTC RAM in CMOS. But I still have these 2 problems:

1) it seems wrong for the machine to take so long to enter POST after powering on, and
2) the missing keyboard is annoying and downright debilitating.

Thoughts? Go get a new CPU?

Thanks in advance!

[minsonngo]

I don't think your motherboard supports that processor.

[minsonngo]

Nevermind my previous post. It looks like it is supposed to since the 0314 version of the BIOS.



What is the make and model of your PSU?

[not important]

Try a different keyboard. Be certain that everything is seated properly. Try different RAM.

[jeb2112]

Thanks guys for your help.

The PSU is from Central Computer (a local chain). See: http://www.centralcomputers.com/comm...wchesp350r.htm
I am going to return it and try the $80 Antec 550w. Then I'll try another RAM stick.

I'll let you know what happens ... thanks again.

[jeb2112]

Tried a new Antec EA-650 PSU ... no difference, boot is still delays about 30 seconds everytime. And now the floppy doesn't work. The LiteOn DVD works and the system eventually boots to the the Windows DVD. Called ASUS and they said that the delayed boot is a BIOS setting, but by default it should be off.

As for the keyboard problem, I tried a different keyboard. Still not found. Do I need to load a keyboard driver?

I have a MS IntelliType Pro 2.2 CD but I thought drivers only apply to an OS, i.e. they would only be used by Windows - which I have not installed yet. And since the keyboard is still MIA I cannot enter BIOS setup to check the delayed boot problem.

Any further thoughts? Help!

[not important]

The keyboard does not need any extra rivers to make it function. I would try disconnecting the floppy and optical drive..use 1 stick of RAM and see if it will boot to the Bios.

[kpa2727]

do it the correct way, pull all ur drives, ram, just leave ur moniter and power supply connected, try boot to bios. if it works add things back piece by piece till it happens again. i say add ram try a test , then add hd, test, then cd drives and test. but i'd pull it all then retry one by one cause could be a bios update needed or maybe a bad motherboard. i'm just going by what it seems like though.

[minsonngo]

Try leaving the HDD disconnected and see if the problems still occur. Post the results.

[TPTKD]

Use wire keyboard and mouse . If you read the manual for Microsoft Wireless keyboard and mouse,it states
clearly that you must have working keyboard/mouse and install drivers first.