My first problems - need help please

[Tarmenion]

Ok, it looks like I got everything done (the main hardware) and I am ready to bootup. Actually I already did and it still saying no HDD, floppy and cdrom detected but I am thinking thats because I have to put the start up disk in, not sure yet I have to read alittle more, anyone know?

Also they said to put in your keyboard and mouse now (pc mechanic guide) but the thing is I have a logitec wireless mouse and keyboard, so do I need to use a regular keyboard and mouse? or I can use the logitec? reason I asked is because you need to put a CD in to load the Logitec and I am not sure if that will work just yet so what should I do?

By the way I still get that 1 beep when I start up.

I have to do a few things so I will check back later and I am not sure if I will be able to continue until tommorow but will see.


Also I got the option to use USB ports, what are they and do I need them?

[Tarmenion]

Ok Per PC mechanics guide I need to put a Start up disk in except I dont have one. The only thing that came with the MOBO is a disk that says:

Promise IDE RAID Driver
Version: 1.30 build 60
G72-RDOM121

And a CD that gives me some upgrades but no boot up disk for drive A as PC mechanic states. The Mobo manual puts me right into the BIOS section so I am guessing this is what I now have to do (seems really complicated).

Also Do I have to put all the other diskettes in such as Monitor, Vid card, etc...

Thats it for now.

P.S. Please respond to my last post too

[Smoke24]

Your cordless keyboard and mouse should work. Just install batteries and hook'em up. The software disk is for the functions up like you want them if it is the same as mine. USB is the two little vertical ports next to, or actually below, your mouse and keyboard plugs and if I were you I'd save them for later use with maybe a printer, camera or card reader. I use mine for my digital camera and the memory card reader for it.

[HAL9000]

If you are going to install Windows98, WindowsME, Or Windows2000, go into your BIOS and set the boot order to CD-Rom, C, A. The reason for this is they are bootable CD's and, well, I don't know about you, but I'm too impatient to wait on a computer to boot from floppy and booting from the CD is much quicker.

[Smoke24]

You should be able to set the boot sequence in the bios to make it boot to the CDROM and won't need a floppy start disk. Wait till you get Windows installed to load any other software or drivers. It will ask for the ones it needs when you boot to Windows for the first time.

[glc]

Mount your hard drives with the shiny side up, circuit board side down. Jumper them both to CABLE SELECT because the color coded IDE 80 wire cable determines the position - BLUE to the controller, BLACK to master, and GRAY to slave. Leave that tape ALONE. Forget about RAID for right now, let's just get the thing working.

You can use the wireless keyboard and mouse to get things started as long as you use the PS/2 ports for them, not the USB, and you hit each "connect" button a few times after putting the batteries in. You do not need any drivers just to have them work and provide basic function. Worry about USB later.

Windows should come with a startup disk - if not, you can boot from the CD. Put that on the secondary IDE channel with a standard 40 wire cable, and jumper it to MASTER.

If no CD, floppy, or hard drives are detected, you did something wrong. Check all your connections.

[Tarmenion]

Ok, I now iam in the AMIBIOS simple setup ultility, should I be here?

Also GLC I fail to type the correct info, it say that Floppy and the other stuff needs to be booted is all.

I am so lost, maybe because I am tired hehe I am not sure what should I do next. What should I do? just pop in the 98se disc? I didnt configure anything yet though and I dont know how without messing things up.

Sigh, I am such a newbie

[Tarmenion]

Ok, I hit the BIOS setup and I am alittle lost because I am going by PC mechanics guide and ALOT of stuff isnt matching up, some yes but there asking me to check things that arent even there on my screen also some of the things they want me to do my BIOS doesnt give me the option.

So now what? I basically need a guide on how to set up the BIOS

Also my Temperture for the System is 35 degrees and the CPU is 42-43

[Xayd]

Those temps are good, if you got into the BIOS without any difficulty or lockups you should be in good shape.

For now, all you need to do is set your date and time, set your drives under standard/CMOS setup to auto, and save. If you're installing an OS from scratch, boot to the CD. Find the boot sequence, probably under advanced chipset features, and set it to CD ROM first, pop in your CD, and exit/save.

Xayd

[Tarmenion]

So your saying just to basically skip the BIOS (except from what you stated) and boot up my PC with window 98se? (one I am using)

What about setting my CPU speed and such?

Thanks

[Floppyman]

You wouldn't have to set your cpu speed etc., if it's autodetected. If it is check to see whether everything's set correctly. Otherwise go ahead and set your cpu speed, (consisting of multiplier, bus speed, and voltage), but only if you have to. Then find your boot order like Xayd mentioned and put cdrom first. Exit the Bios, and it should boot off your cd, (I'm assuming you're using win98). It will then ask you whether to boot off cd or harddrive, choose cd since you don't have an OS installed on your harddrive. Hope this helps.

[Tarmenion]

Ok, I have a problem, I think.

I pretty much have the BIOS set up, everything is auto detected.

I did what floppyman and Xayd said to do. I load the WIN 98 SE in and nothing happens.

It goes to a screen like it always does when I turn it on stating this at the bottom of the screen.

Searching for boot record from CDROM..not found
Searching for boot recrod from IDE-0..not found
Searching for boot record from Floppy..not found

Drive not ready
Insert BOOT Diskette in A:

I even tried to reinsert it and hit the space bard but I get the same message.

So what do I do?

[Tarmenion]

I am really stuck here, anyone out there??

[WJWheels]

Is this a windows98 FULL install disk? If so, give it another try. Hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete and let it reboot.

[Tarmenion]

Ok, I went over my wiring and everything and I can figure it out. One thing I did notice that was wierd but not sure if its the problem.

When I do auto detect it pulls up both my HDD and DVD/CDROM, I save and everything is fine until I get the message above. Then when I go back in I see the same set up but instead it states just CDROM and not DVD/CDROM like I saved it and I try to save it a few times but goes back to CDROM.

Then I am back at square one again and it doesnt detect certain things (read last post), I pop in the window 98 SE and nothing, I cant figure it out.

Could someone please help me, anyone?? what am I doing wrong?

[Smoke24]

Go back into your bios and look under each menu item until you find IDE HDD detection and choose it then hit enter and do that until it finishes detecting all drives including your CD's, then hit Esc and then choose save and exit. That should get your drives detected by the bios. Just because they show when you boot won't mean that the bios can see them. You usually have to go through the detection process in bios for them to be actually seen and read.

[LawyerRon]

Tarmenion,
The system's not finding anything to boot from.
I've never tried to boot from the cdrom, but I just now set my bios to cdrom, c, a, and put my WIN 98SE cd in and it wouldn't boot from it. I'm not going to say the other guys are wrong but try this: Go to www.bootdisk.com and download a WIN98 boot disk. Make sure you re-set the bios to boot from "A" first. The bios will then "seek" the floppy drive first to find a bootable disk. Then just go your hard drive and fdisk it, format it, then load Windows. It sounds like you're almost there.

[Tarmenion]

Wheels I did this like 30 times now and still nothing, I keep getting that same message that I high lighted in bold in my above post.

Sigh, I am stuck

[LawyerRon]

Correction: I was using my WIN98SE update disk, that's why it wouldn't boot from it.

[WJWheels]

Yes.. try a win98 boot disk. Get one like LawyerRon said, or if you're using a win98 system now, just make one. Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs and hit the StartupDisk tab.

[LawyerRon]

Tarmenion,
Even though you're detecting the drives, make sure you are hitting F10 to SAVE the changes when you exit.

[Tarmenion]

I am currently downloading the boot up disk, I will let you know the outcome.

[Tarmenion]

Still not working grrrrrrr

I been on this for almost 3 hours now and I cant figure it out, any thing else I can try? I hope there is?

One thing I dont understand is why wasnt I provided a startup disk? especially when they are asking for it.

[Smoke24]

Are you sure the drives are detected in the bios. It will give you a read out of the hard drive size when detected. Also are you sure the cable for your floppy isn't upside down, if so the drives light will usually stay on.

[Tarmenion]

I notice the floppy drive light is staying on I hope this is it checking cables now.

[Tarmenion]

WOOT!!!

That was it smoke!!


hehe please keep checking the boards stay with me guys

[WJWheels]

your cable is on upside down.. turn it around.
--------------------
Whoops! ya beat me smoke... yur pretty quick for a 'bama boy.

[Smoke24]

Will it boot to the A: prompt now? If so you should be ready to fdisk and format your drives and install windows.

[Smoke24]

Sorry Wheels,
I've been trying to help this guy since his first dream of building his own but I'm sure some of you guys have a lot more experience than I. I've only built about 18 or 20 before but most of them were with MSI, Soyo and Epox boards. Tarmenion is using MSI.

[WJWheels]

Go for it Smoke.. it looks like you're just getting to the "fun" part. <wink>