A7N8X will not boot, Argh!

peterwilkes · February 27th, 2004, 07:07 AM

Hello

I have the following System

Asus A7N8X Deluxe Mobo
Barton 2500+ (stock speeds)
1x 512Mb PC3200 RAM module (approved for the mobo)
120 Gb SATA Maxtor HDD

Pc has been working ok for the last 6 months or so but when I switched on today it wanted to try and find a network connection to boot from!!!

Checked the boot sequence in the BIOS and it was set correctly Floppy, CD-ROM, DD-0 so I tried again and did the same. Also tried just with the HDD-0 and still does the same.

The built in SATA controller normally pops up a message during POST to display the HDD's it has found but for some reason it does not come up. It used to come up even just to tell me it could not find a HDD when I had my old HDD.

So I reset the BIOS using the jumper, still no luck, still not doing the correct boot sequence but when I exited the BIOS this time the was some garbage text about two thirds down the screen in various colours which did not look good. I had to hit the reset switch because nothing was happening. Still no luck, does not want to load anything.

Any Ideas? All components under warranty but I really do not want to be messing around sending stuff back.

Optimus Prime · February 27th, 2004, 07:10 AM

I had the same problem

It's just a really bad motherboard. Try reseating the ram.

All in my opinion, as usual, as it has ever been

JohnE. · February 27th, 2004, 07:22 AM

Quote:

I had the same problem It's just a really bad motherboard. Try reseating the ram.

It's unfortunate you've had problems but, because you had a/the same problem makes the A7N8X Deluxe a "really bad motherboard"? I don't follow the logic. If the RAM needs reseating, how is that a motherboard problem?

I've had my A7N8X Deluxe for almost a year now and not a single motherboard related problem. Problems with nForce driver installs, yes, but not with the hardware... best mobo I've ever owned.

Optimus Prime · February 27th, 2004, 07:42 AM

What does it actually say? I think it might have been the same problem. The best motherboard i've ever owned is probably the current one i have which is the MSI KT4AV, rock solid.

I had nothing but problems with that motherboard, so yes, it does make it a really bad motherboard if i had problems with it, doesn't it?

I temporarily fixed the problem by reseating the RAM, i had the problem again and reseated the video card, then it worked for abuot a month then just died and wouldn't boot up, i replaced it with the MSI KT4AV and haven't had a single problem once again i say, if IVE had a problem with it, IN MY EYES THAT MAKES IT A BAD MOTHERBOARD does it not?

All in my opinion, as usual, as it has ever been

peterwilkes · February 27th, 2004, 07:53 AM

Okay, I will try reseating the vid card and the RAM and see what happens. I DO NOT want to touch the processor though, That was a real pain to install with the HS and fan on top!

Nope, still no boot, still no mobo seing the HDD

Lets try booting from a CD or Floppy.

JohnE. · February 27th, 2004, 08:11 AM

No, it means that *you* had a bad experience with that particular motherboard. Your experience with that particular motherboard is not representative of the majority of users that are quite happy with the A7N8X.

If I was to use your logic I would have to say that the A7N8X is "the best, most spectacularily awesome" motherboard, seeing as *I* have had zero problems with it. Last time I checked though, the world doesn't revolve around me so I can't really state that as an actual fact, as others have experienced problems with this board. The best I can accurately say is that I haven't had any problems with it and that it's a good motherboard, IMO.

If "I" don't like apples (I do, of course), does that make apples bad? You see what I'm saying?

Optimus Prime · February 27th, 2004, 08:14 AM

It's an opinion, you should know that any post you see comments on, is an opinion, this website is infact, called Tech In My Opinion. So if I say the ASUS A7N8X is a bad motherboard, i mean it's a bad motherboard in my opinion. You cannot tell me that the ASUS is a great motherboard, as a fact, can you? No.

Sorry for the confusion

.

Optimus Prime · February 27th, 2004, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by peterwilkes
Okay, I will try reseating the vid card and the RAM and see what happens. I DO NOT want to touch the processor though, That was a real pain to install with the HS and fan on top!

Nope, still no boot, still no mobo seing the HDD

Lets try booting from a CD or Floppy.

Does it give any text when you are trying to boot up into your OS?

Mickwish · February 27th, 2004, 08:19 AM

SATA cables all in place correctly, including those fiddly little power cables?

If it does boot from CD-ROM or floppy, and still doesn't recognise the SATA HDD, have you got an old IDE HDD to try to connect to it? At least them you can verify the mobo will boot correctly. It's then a matter of determining whether it's a SATA controller, a SATA cable or a SATA HDD issue.

Good luck.

Cheers
Mick

JohnE. · February 27th, 2004, 08:39 AM

Quote:

You cannot tell me that the ASUS is a great motherboard, as a fact, can you? No.

Heh, my point exactly. Even though this is TechIMO, I think (my opinion) it's important to still make the distinction so we don't hurt anybody's (my) tender feelings.

I'm sorry the A7N8X didn't work out for you.