Solved 1st Build - Major help needed

[ChrisPbass]

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.

s:shock:rry to type so much. maybe a little too much caffeine

I have not. I am currently stuck in the Sys repair/restore loop. I think I need to take the board out and see if I can run Win w/o it installed. There have been so many common problems that have surfaced over different OS', installs of OS' and different HDs which leads me to believe that the common denominator must be the problem. The board. This thread prompted to rethink that premise.

I've had TONS of problems since I put this PC together to the point that I started to ignore restarts and bizarre anomalies and just assume they were part of this PC; however they should NOT be resurfacing over and over again.

And...I can't even boot to the DVD. Tells me to Reboot w/proper boot media. I have the manual and I'm going to read it again to see if I can operate this BIOS correctly. I've never seen a BIOS like this and I don't understand it :-/

The prompts about the board made me remember that when I installed the board I had to use some force to get the I/Os to push through the back of the case. The metal tabs that get pushed/moved when they hit the I/Os were pretty stiff. I had to put the board in place with one hand and then screw into a standoff w/the other hand in order to the keep the screw hole lined up w/the board. I will say again that I was as careful as I could be, but maybe that's wasn't careful enough.

In summary, my plan ....
Taking out the board.
reconnecting everything and putting it back in (mem/SSD (only)/DVD/front panel connectors etc.)
Clean the SSD
Format completely the SSD
boot to DVD
complete reinstall
Install 1 HD w/win
Boot to gpart
anihilate 100mb partition
reboot and hope it starts up.

This PC does NOT like any change in hardware. Almost any hardware change causes this:
can't start
repair
restore
reboot
problem/restore
boots to windows.

WIN updates did this frequently w/the spinner but less frequently w/the SSD
update
restart
problem
restore
OK . boot to Win.

 

[TVeblen]

In summary, my plan ....
Taking out the board.
reconnecting everything and putting it back in (mem/SSD (only)/DVD/front panel connectors etc.)
Run Memtest - at least 3 passes http://www.memtest.org/ Acceptable = 0 errors
In BIOS: Load Optimized/Failsafe defaults
In BIOS: Set SATA Mode to AHCI
Clean the SSD
Format completely the SSD
boot to DVD
complete reinstall
Install 1 HD w/win
Boot to gpart
anihilate 100mb partition
reboot and hope it starts up.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

If you remove the mobo then just be extra diligent to count up all the mobo's mounts and positions to double check the case mounts installed. Once you wipe the SSD and re-install W7 in the AHCI mode I think you'll be off to the races. Then you can erase the OS off the spinner. Don't for a minute dispare with your first build all of this process is learning and will serve you later for your future builds. For me I would only attach the SSD and the optical for my first boot to OS install. Good advice from all here and we're always ready to help.

 

[ChrisPbass]

In summary, my plan ....
Taking out the board.
reconnecting everything and putting it back in (mem/SSD (only)/DVD/front panel connectors etc.)
Run Memtest - at least 3 passes http://www.memtest.org/ Acceptable = 0 errors
In BIOS: Load Optimized/Failsafe defaults
In BIOS: Set SATA Mode to AHCI
Clean the SSD
Format completely the SSD
boot to DVD
complete reinstall
Install 1 HD w/win
Boot to gpart
anihilate 100mb partition
reboot and hope it starts up.

I ran memtest a month ago for about 10 hours and it came out clean. Memtest kept running more tests and I didn't know I was supposed to stop it!

BIOS - Yes...optimal, however the bios thinks Onchip SATA should be set to IDE. I will force it anyways. I'll hit optimal, though I already did yesterday, and then switch SATA to AHCI.

 

[ChrisPbass]

Took it out of the case
There are 5 standoffs and 5 screws. I'm almost positive they are the correct screws. They don't overlap the circle where the screws go. Circle being a white circle drawn around the screw hole. Like I said earlier, one corner of the motherboard is not supported because there is no standoff there. The board is small and is not floppy and it doesn't move at all. It feels secure to me.

Power on with only monitor hooked up, can't get into BIOS.
Power on with monitor AND kb hooked, go into BIOS. lol...took me 5 times before I realized the kb wasn't hooked up.
Set to Optimal defaults and Onchip SATA to SATA. (IDE is the optimal default apparently)
Plugged SSD into SATA 0, booted to "something has changed, insert Win disc'.
Plugged in DVD, went into BIOS
Set it to boot to DVD, I get Reboot and select proper media.

BOOT option 1 is almost SURELY set to P1 ATAPI iHAS124 W which is my DVD. This BIOS makes me crazy as I'm not entirely sure how to move the boot items around but when the item is highlighted in blue that means it is the boot device; even if it's not at the top of the list.

I have no idea what to do next if I can't boot to the DVD.

I will go check out the manual until I get a response.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I'm not familiar with that bios either but you will somehow be able to define the 1st boot as the optical drive and then have the ssd as 2nd boot then hit F10 to save and exit.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I dig, but I'm completely stuck because it will simply not boot to the DVD.

Even if I hit f12 and tell it to boot to the DVD it won't.

Guess I'll ask again on the Giga board.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Or get out that pesky mobo manual !

 

[ChrisPbass]

Or get out that pesky mobo manual !

About to dig into it HOWEVER; I am going into the boot screen (prior to BIOS) and selecting my DVD player but it will NOT boot to it. I get REBOOT and select proper media.

:-/
Brick wall
impasse
stuck

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Try plugging the DVD into another sata port. Sometimes in the bios you can control which are activated or not.
Does the bios see the DVD ? Try a different cable as well.

 

[ChrisPbass]

Try plugging the DVD into another sata port. Sometimes in the bios you can control which are activated or not.
Does the bios see the DVD ? Try a different cable as well.

The bios sees the SSD and DVD. As far as I can tell there is NO reason that the DVD should not be booting.
Power is enabled on all four ports. I'll trying moving the DVD. The bios does see that it is in Port1 and the SSD in Port0.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I moved the DVD, with the power off and all, and booted back into it and the BIOS said it had been reset.
1 load optimized then boot
2 load optomized then reboot
3 go into bios

From experience I know I have to go into the bios because onchip sata has once again been changed back to IDE.

This is getting ridiculous. I just reset the bios back to AHCI, all boot options (boot order options) disabled except
SATA DVD
SATA SSD

and I'm still getting Reboot and select proper media.

Where is the bang your head into the wall smiley?

 

[TVeblen]

It sounds like the 3v battery is no good and the BIOS is not keeping the settings.
This symptom can also be caused if the ClearCMOS jumper is not on pins 1&2, or is missing, or is not pushed all the way down.
Also could be caused by a short circuit on the motherboard.

And it could be that it is a bad motherboard. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly, but if you are dealing with a defective board then there is nothing else you can do but bang your head.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install:

Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

In order for the system to boot to the dvd drive you must have the OS loaded in the tray otherwise it will boot past the dvd to the other drive.

 

[ChrisPbass]

It sounds like the 3v battery is no good and the BIOS is not keeping the settings.
This symptom can also be caused if the ClearCMOS jumper is not on pins 1&2, or is missing, or is not pushed all the way down.
Also could be caused by a short circuit on the motherboard.

And it could be that it is a bad motherboard. It sounds like you are doing everything correctly, but if you are dealing with a defective board then there is nothing else you can do but bang your head.

Battery tests @ 3v, CMOS has 2 little black things on the bottom. Is that the jumper??? I shorted it out a couple days ago and it did clear the CMOS.

I don't know what else to do. I doubt I can return or replace it. I got it from newegg months ago.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Likely will need to RMA to Giga.....I would call and discuss this issue completely with them they may have insights that we're not considering?

 

[ChrisPbass]

In order for the system to boot to the dvd drive you must have the OS loaded in the tray otherwise it will boot past the dvd to the other drive.

and it is and has been.

I've got a friend who's been in the IT business for decades. He's my last resort.
I appreciate all the help you guys have given me but there's only so much you can do across the web in a situation like this. Y'all have to assume I'm doing what I'm saying and not missing something obvious (like putting the DVD in the tray!)

Anyways, building this PC was meant to be a learning experience and I've probably learned a lot more than I would have if it had just run perfectly the 1st time.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

No disrespect intended as in many instances it's the dumbest things overlooked. Case in point on my 7th build I slammed an amazing build together only to have major problems. After changing out mobo, psu, gpu and other stuff I come to learn that I missed an extra standoff and it cost me one mobo and almost the second. Goes to show that it's normally something simple.

 

[TVeblen]

I had a build a few years back in which the Installation disk would not boot in the DVD drive, even though the boot order was set correctly. I did not get the usual "press any key to boot from DVD" message, and it just went straight to "select boot media and restart".

For some reason I just decided to try resetting (press the reset button on the computer case) and let the system reboot. Then the CD was recognized and I got the "press any key" message.

This was weird, so I tested it both ways a few times. And that DVD would only boot on a warm boot - never on a cold boot.

Might as well give it a try. Your mileage may vary!