Solved 1st Build - Major help needed

[ChrisPbass]

First of all I'd like to say that this is a GREAT forum and I've already received lots of help from a few choice individuals. Thank you sandeeP and TVeblen.

2nd, I will probably make this way too long. I apologize but I can't think of any other way to relate what has happened.
I tend to think my problems are because of the MB.

This is my first build. Desktop ~

• AMD A6-3500 Llano 2.1GHz (2.4GHz Max ...
• GIGABYTE GA-A75M-DS2 FM1 AMD A75 (Hudson ...
• Rosewill R363-M-BK Black Ultra High Gloss Finished ...
• G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) ...
• Seagate NAS HDD ST3000VN000 3TB 64MB Cache ... x 2

The memory is not on Giga's approved list but memtest said they were fine.
I replaced the PSU that came w/the tower w/a Corsair CX500. (MUCH quieter) I also think the PSU was faulty. I had a lot of bizarre automatic reboots.

Originally I installed WHS using a retail disc. The board is, apparently, not compatible with WHS. I had tons of problems. The USB 3 on the board is not compatible w/WHS either. Nevertheless, I kept on installing. Common problem was using Win update and upon reboot having to go through System Repair. Then it would boot. Random restarts.
Ran the board outside the case, put it back in, would seem stable and then I'd get random restarts. I figured that this board just did not like WHS. I ran Fedora from a USB stick and it worked fine. Could not get it to crash.

Decided to put Win 7 pro on it. 3tb spinner and eventually I added the 2nd 3tb spinner. Had a copy from a laptop that died. It seemed to work OK. Did the massive Win update. Sometimes when I restart the PC it goes into Sys repair and I have to restore (while in Sys repair). Then it starts up and works just fine. This happened fairly often. Didn't really know what else to do so I just kept updating. Eventually it was stable.


I didn't do much with the PC. I have an extra SSD so I installed Win 7 on it. Awesome. Works. Did the billion updates. Occasionally I'd have to restart and I'd get the Sys repair/restore/restart/seems OK thing that had been happening before. Minimal software installed. Firefox, Samsung Disk utility and Crystal Mark.

Stable...on my LAN...using it as a small file server while I put SSDs in 2 other home PCs.
Seems OK.

There have always been 2 3TB Seagates in the tower. I plug in the SATA connector for 1 (NOTE: this HD did have Win 7 installed on it). I did not touch the SSD. Restart, go into BIOS to make sure it's booting to the SSD. Let it load. 'Reboot and Select Proper Media.
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware...reboot-select-proper-media-4.html#post2630622 <-----7forum thread about this this problem.
I assume the spinner w/Win on it is messing up the boot. I plug in a SATA dvd so I can use gparted to nuke the 100mb win partition on the spinner. I'm assuming this will let the SSD boot.
System repair! Hardware change! Run system repair. 'sorry can't fix'. Shuts down.
Restart. 'Reboot and Select Proper Media..
Unplug everything but the SSD.
Sys repair.
Restarts.
Repeat about 3 times.

I'm told to change the on-chip SATA to AHCI. For some reason it's on IDE.
Change it to AHCI and then reinstall Win 7.
No....I go into a massive System repair/restore/reboot/cycle.
Eventually Win loads.
Plug in the DVD.
Hardware change and back into the System repair/restore/loop

Go into BIOS and hit 'load optimal settings'
I have no idea what to do so I move the SSD from SATA 0 to SATA 1 and it boots.
However...it's supposed to be in SATA 1
The BIOS has changed 'on-chip SATA' back to IDE. I'm not sure why that's optimal.

So I just rebooted the system again and SYSTEM REPAIR. It's going to the do the restore thing again and after a couple rinse/repeats it will boot normally. Eventually it will boot and go into System Repair. That's just what it does.

There are updates so I install them. It BSOD upon reboot. Go into System Repair/restore/cycle and after doing that 3 times and BSOD'ing (hardware change) I'm back in Windows again.

I've installed WHS and Win7 at least 4 times. I've installed HDs and SSDs and have had the same type problems.

Is it the BOARD!? I am no expert (duh) but I'm not completely clueless. I put SSDs in my wife's laptop and my laptop and got everything back working successfully but this tower is just kicking my butt.

Memory/cords are seated. I don't think the board is shorting out. New PSU seems to be fine. What could be going wrong. HOW can I install Win incorrectly when I'm using the DVD and basically just letting the system do it 's thing?
I did align/clean the SSD before installing Win on it.

I'm really at my wit's end here. All I can think of is taking the board out of the case and putting Win 7 on the SSD again but anytime I make any change to the board I get System repair and a system repair and then maybe it will boot correctly.


EDIT...and it just BSOD AGAIN. I did not touch it.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Is your Gigabyte mobo rev.2 or rev. 3?

Also I would disconnect the spinners for the moment and deal with the OS on the one HDD separately later.

 

[ChrisPbass]

Is your Gigabyte mobo rev.2 or rev. 3?

rev 2

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I would also boot into bios and set it up for it's default setting and see how it handles that. Then check the current bios version it against the latest bios download available just to have that info (don't update bios till you have that plan completely sorted beforehand).

 

[ChrisPbass]

I would also boot into bios and set it up for it's default setting and see how it handles that. Then check the current bios version it against the latest bios download available just to have that info (don't update bios till you have that plan completely sorted beforehand).

I have set it up for optimal settings. I maybe have even set it for default.
The latest BIOS update is older than my laptop. I assume mine was more recent and I may have checked (pretty sure I did) but I'll look again.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

This being a Micro ATX mobo are you sure you have just the right number of stand off's in place and not too many?

If need be there should be a bios reset or clear button or jumper but if not what also works is removing the bios battery for say 30 seconds and re-installing. Then boot to bios and reset date and time and have a good look around. Set SSD to AHCI and 1st or second to the optical in boot order and then accept changes and boot.

 

[ChrisPbass]

Actually it's version 3. My BIOS is the same as the one on their website.

 

[ChrisPbass]

This being a Micro ATX mobo are you sure you have just the right number of stand off's in place and not too many?

That was asked on another forum and there are no additional standoffs. The only anomaly is that one corner, where the SATA resides, is not supported. The stand off is 1/2" away. I just put my finger on the edge of the board when I plug/unplug the SATA.

Also, ONLY the SSD is hooked up at this point.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

OK that's good about the bios version. Let us know how the rig is responding to the default settings?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Also when you installed W7 on the SSD was the drive set in the bios for IDE or AHCI?

 

[ChrisPbass]

Also when you installed W7 on the SSD was the drive set in the bios for IDE or AHCI?

It must have been IDE because I never touched it and that's where it ended up.
When I changed the BIOS to Optimal Settings it reverted to IDE.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I will reset the bios.

 

[ChrisPbass]

OK. Reset the BIOS. Changed the OnChip SATA type IDE to SATA.

Straight into my all time favorite screen! Sys repair.
Restore/attempting repairs...
Walked away. I assumed it finished and tried to reboot.

Reboot and select proper media....

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I think you may be headed towards a SSD wipe and re-intall of W7 in AHCI mode. Otherwise I think the rig may like booting to the SSD in IDE mode.

Headed out for a funeral so I hope others can step in .....good luck, I think it's going to be something simple so just hang in there !

 

[Layback Bear]

You have got some great help from linnemeyerhere.

You posted this in your first post. You did not tell us if the problems were gone when the system was out of the case.

Ran the board outside the case, put it back in, would seem stable and then I'd get random restarts. I figured that this board just did not like WHS. I ran Fedora from a USB stick and it worked fine. Could not get it to crash.

In my opinion I would do the build outside the case using the SSD until everything is working correctly. Standoffs can be ever so slightly out of position and cause all kinds of problems and I have seen where I/O panels shorting and causing problems. It's somewhat worry some that part of your motherboard is not supported completely.
Do all the screw holes in the motherboard have a standoff so you can install all screw? Over tightening the screws can also cause problems.
Also make sure you are using the proper screws installing the motherboard. If the heads of the screws are to large they can make contact outside the designated area.
Note: No washer should be used mounting the motherboard. At least I have never seen it to be proper.
These are just some things I have run into.

 

[Layback Bear]

Are you using the Forum Tutorials to install your UEFI bios motherboard with Windows 7
By arkhi:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...e-firmware-interface-install-windows-7-a.html

or

By Gregrocker:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

What is (WHS)?

**** I strongly agree with linnemeyerhere; DO NOT update the bios at this time.

 

[TVeblen]

FYI (Everyone's):
http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware...t-reboot-select-proper-media.html#post2626762

 

[Layback Bear]

Thank you very much for the information TVeblen.
That thread is very revealing.

 

[ChrisPbass]

Thank you very much for the information TVeblen.
That thread is very revealing.

What does it reveal?! That I should never build another PC?

I think I need to take it out of the case.

Only reason I don't want to is because the SSD ran fine UNTIL I plugged the 1st spinner in.
This being my first build I was VERY careful when installing the board. I was paranoid I was going to break it.
THe I/O ports did not go out the back of the case as easy as I would have liked.

Start from scratch.

I have to run out but I think I'm going to take it out of the case.

 

[TVeblen]

Have you deleted the 100/200MB System Partition from the 1st spinner yet?

If you have a second System Partition introduced to the system you should not be surprised if it chokes. Delete that partition and C: and you just have a data drive and you should not have any problems adding that drive or more.