Help with install & build

[DocBrown]

A lot of us have re-read this thread many-many times. So I am posting the specs we know again.

Below is the setup:​

Motherboard: Biostar TA790GXE 128m
CPU: AMD Athlon II x2 255 Regor 3.1ghz am3
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 sata 500gb drive
DVD: Sony optiarc 24x DVDR sata model ad-7240s-ob
Mem: OCZ 4gb (2x2g) 240 pinn DDR2 SDRAM 1066(PC2 8500)​

DVD & HDD are hooked up using SATA cables.
20" Hanns-g monitor hooked up via HDMI​

Win 7 x64 professional install disc​

Is there any way we can try another Brand of DVD drive other than Sony ?​

Also how about a standard VGA cable from computer to monitor or another monitor with a VGA connection? ​

Also what is the Video card ? ​

 

[thefabe]

Seems like just about everything has been suggested in this thread. I would remove the DVD drive cable. And just use the usb stick.Also have only the minimum of components. CPU. 1 stick of memory,Video card, 1 hard drive, wired mouse and keyboard. If it fails again I would be inclined to think it's incompatible memory. I just checked and for this MB OCZ is not listed as supported . BIOSTAR :: TA790GX XE :: Memory Support But we all know that just because it isn't listed doesn't mean it won't work, however their are OCZ 2 gb kits on Newegg that have had a lot of bad reviews with compatibility. So knowing the exact modules model #'s would be nice to know. Maybe could borrow a stick of different memory to try from a friend. Your board has Led error indicators led 01 and 02 off abnormal CPU/chipset error>led 02 off led 01 on memory error>02 on 01 off VGA error>both on normal. If the speaker is hooked up then on page 45 in the manual it gives the beep codes. Page 46 Trouble shooting guide. Could be something as simple as a bad SATA cable. Somewhere or some how your data is not being transfered correctly from your image.Your MB site link BIOSTAR :: TA790GX XE :: Specification I know some of this has already been mentioned but thought I'd put in my 2 cents worth. good luck. Fabe

 

[Jacee]

I have a question about the DVD you burned. How fast did you burn it? If it was too fast, then it's possibly corrupted.

Also, this is how my BIOS (setup) reads (Win7 Ultimate x32)

Use Automatic Mode
ATA/IDE <NATIVE>
Configure SATA as <IDE>
S.M.A.R.T. <ENABLE>

SATAPort 0 -ST3500630AS - 500.1 GB
SATAPort 1 -Not Installed
SATAPort 2 -Not Installed
SATAPort 3 -Not Installed

Primary Master Lite-On DVDRW LH ATAPI
Primary Slave Lite-On DVDRW LH ATAPI

You might also click on Advanced/Peripheral Config/ secondary Sata Controller - "disable", if you are using only one hard drive.

 

[TJ1376]

A lot of us have re-read this thread many-many times. So I am posting the specs we know again.

Below is the setup:​

Motherboard: Biostar TA790GXE 128m
CPU: AMD Athlon II x2 255 Regor 3.1ghz am3
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 sata 500gb drive
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Green 500 gb drive
DVD: Sony optiarc 24x DVDR sata model ad-7240s-ob
Mem: OCZ 4gb (2x2g) 240 pinn DDR2 SDRAM 1066(PC2 8500)​

DVD & HDD are hooked up using SATA cables.
20" Hanns-g monitor hooked up via HDMI (Have also tried VGA)​

Win 7 x64 professional install dvd
Win 7 x32 home install dvd
Win 7 Enterprise install from USB (ISO downloaded)
​

​

Is there any way we can try another Brand of DVD drive other than Sony ?

Wouldnt the USB install rule out the DVD drive? Also, using www.bay-wolf.com and going to "How To" > "Flash from a bootable USB key," I installed a basic version of DOS from win 98 drivers... DOS boots right up from the USB drive.​

Also how about a standard VGA cable from computer to monitor or another monitor with a VGA connection?

Tried it to rule it out... I have been running a VGA connection since I read the "Install FAQ" on this board that recommended removing it.​

Also what is the Video card ?

Video card is onboard the Biostar Motherboard.​

 

[TJ1376]

Now the problem sounds like a hardware issue. So far, you have tested both hard drive and RAM.

How about the CPU, motherboard, and PSU? If you are overclocking, stop.

It is not very easy to test the motherboard, but if possible, try running Prime95 on your CPU.

How do I do this without an operating system?

I have been going over the Biostar specs for drivers. I wonder if the problem is my SATA drivers or Chipset driver. (SB Chipset is on version 4. Website lists version 8 as latest)

God bless newegg, but I am really frustrated. The build date on this Motherboard (found out how to read this from Biostar website) is almost 1.5 years ago (pre win 7). Even though the board is Win 7 compatible, it would have to have new drivers to support the advanced functions of Win 7. I want to rule this out, but how do I install new drivers for the motherboard with no operating system? Yes I now have DOS, but the Biostar drivers are made to be installed in Windows (not DOS).

Any thoughts on the onboard drivers causing the problem?

 

[TJ1376]

If it fails again I would be inclined to think it's incompatible memory. I just checked and for this MB OCZ is not listed as supported . BIOSTAR :: TA790GX XE :: Memory Support But we all know that just because it isn't listed doesn't mean it won't work, however their are OCZ 2 gb kits on Newegg that have had a lot of bad reviews with compatibility. So knowing the exact modules model #'s would be nice to know. Maybe could borrow a stick of different memory to try from a friend. Your board has Led error indicators led 01 and 02 off abnormal CPU/chipset error>led 02 off led 01 on memory error>02 on 01 off VGA error>both on normal. If the speaker is hooked up then on page 45 in the manual it gives the beep codes. Page 46 Trouble shooting guide. Could be something as simple as a bad SATA cable. Somewhere or some how your data is not being transfered correctly from your image.Your MB site link BIOSTAR :: TA790GX XE :: Specification I know some of this has already been mentioned but thought I'd put in my 2 cents worth. good luck. Fabe

If the memory was incompatible, wouldnt it have failed the memory test? I used some software (memtest86) off a FAQ on a sticky on this board for the memory test... I let it run for several hours and it passed w/o any issues. If the memory was incompatible, wouldn't we see a failure during the test?

Again, I appreciate any and all help on this. If someone can get me pointed in the right direction on updating the drivers for the Southbridge Chipset and the SATA drivers on the Motherboard, I would like to give that a try before sending the MB back to Newegg and buying something local that I know hasn't set on a shelf for 1.5 years.

 

[gregrocker]

Also what is the Video card ?

Video card is onboard the Biostar Motherboard.​

How about trying to insert the mobo chipset (including video) at the Load Drivers prompt on "Where do you want to install Windows" screen during install?

Unzip to a stick or CD, browse from prompt to make sure they are picked up by installer.

 

[TJ1376]

I have a question about the DVD you burned. How fast did you burn it? If it was too fast, then it's possibly corrupted.

Never used a burned DVD. Win 7 x64 Pro is a DVD from Microsoft. Win 7 x32 Home is a DVD from Microsoft. Win 7 x64 Enterprise was an ISO downloaded from Microsoft website and then installed on a USB (no DVD).

Also, this is how my BIOS (setup) reads (Win7 Ultimate x32)

Use Automatic Mode
ATA/IDE <NATIVE>
Configure SATA as <IDE>
S.M.A.R.T. <ENABLE>

SATAPort 0 -ST3500630AS - 500.1 GB
SATAPort 1 -Not Installed
SATAPort 2 -Not Installed
SATAPort 3 -Not Installed

Primary Master Lite-On DVDRW LH ATAPI
Primary Slave Lite-On DVDRW LH ATAPI

You might also click on Advanced/Peripheral Config/ secondary Sata Controller - "disable", if you are using only one hard drive.

Only difference between your BIOS and mine is that my DVD is SATA, and so the Primary master/slave is "Not Detected."

SATA 1 is HDD (there is no SATA 0)
SATA 2 is "Not Detected" (nothing plugged in)
SATA 3 is "ATAPI CDROM" with PIO and DMA mode in "AUTO"

 

[TJ1376]

How about trying to insert the mobo chipset (including video) at the Load Drivers prompt on "Where do you want to install Windows" screen during install?

Unzip to a stick or CD, browse from prompt to make sure they are picked up by installer.

I tried this before (off the CD that came with the MB) and Win 7 said no drivers found. After you suggested the idea, I put the DVD in my laptop and browsed around on.. It doesnt have any Win 7 drivers on it. The DVD file structure is broken down to \Driver\Chipset\RS780\ and then only XP and Vista.

But now that I know the DVD is 1.5 years old, I will download the new drivers off the Biostar website, burn them to a USB and try to find them in the Win 7 setup. EDIT: And now the Biostar website is down....

 

[gregrocker]

Or try the Vista drivers if there are no Win7.

 

[TJ1376]

Or try the Vista drivers if there are no Win7.

I moved the win 7 drivers to the USB stick and ran the install. Hit load drivers, then browsed for the USB drive. Windows comes back and says there are no drivers found.



I am currently using FDISK (god its been ages since I used this) to format the HDD in the new machine with a DOS system partition to see if it will boot. If it will boot, I would GUESS that we could rule out a Hardware problem and we can probably point the culprit at incompatible windows 7 drivers on the motherboard.

You guys agree?

I dont have a copy of XP laying around to install... What I would really like to do is install XP, upgrade the drivers on the MB, then wipe the drive and install Win 7. Does this sound like a good plan at this point?

 

[DocBrown]

A lot of other members have read this thread trying to analyze it for us also. We have bounced some ideas about in some of our other threads & messages. It's just Crazy, but somewhere there is a solution.

For the time being, do you have any other windows OS that could be installed just to see if they would install ? win98, XP, Vista ? I just find it hard to believe that the 1.5 yr old Biostar board can't accept win7. This box I am on right now is an ECS MB from Oct 2006, Bios never updated. It has had every Beta build of win7 on it since summer of 2008 ! Never had to use a MB driver disc on it.

On your MB Cd are the drivers extracted into various files or are they .exe install programs ?

I hope some others will bounce some ideas in here, because this is a tough one

 

[gregrocker]

You say you are formatting HD in "new machine." Is this another computer? It would be interesting to see if Win7 will install to that HD (or any other, for that matter) in another computer.

You don't need to do more than delete and format using the installer to start. See if it will install and run, then swap the HD back into problem machine to see if it will start up, swap drivers (requiring restarts) and run as has worked here many times with these tough cases.

 

[Jacee]

I bought the "For System Builders" version of Windows 7... No tech support available.

This was going to be easy... I am really bummed out that for whatever reason I am running into these difficulties.

This version needs to be installed using the system builder kit .... you've done that?

 

[TJ1376]

On your MB Cd are the drivers extracted into various files or are they .exe install programs ?

.exe install files... everyone of them

For the time being, do you have any other windows OS that could be installed just to see if they would install ? win98, XP, Vista ? I just find it hard to believe that the 1.5 yr old Biostar board can't accept win7. This box I am on right now is an ECS MB from Oct 2006, Bios never updated. It has had every Beta build of win7 on it since summer of 2008 ! Never had to use a MB driver disc on it.

I installed DOS on a USB drive and booted off the USB drive. For the past 2 hours, I have been trying to install this version of DOS onto the HDD and boot successfully. I have been unable to.

I used a FDISK and FORMAT /s command to try and get that to work on the HDD. This does work successfully, but on reboot I get an error after POST is finished.

My last idea was to use Partition Wizard to copy the partition off the USB key to the HDD. I then used PW to verify that the partition was copied and the bootable files were on the HDD... Rebooted the machine and got the same error after POST finished.

What does it mean if I cant even get DOS to install and boot from the machine? Is it possible I got two bad HDD's (what are the chances of that?) OR, am I doing something wrong? FORMAT D: /S was the command I used. The USB is listed as C: when I boot from it.

I dont have another OS to install (besides DOS)... I am trying to find someone who has Vista (as it has a trial period). This may take several days, but I am more concerned at the fact that DOS wont boot from the HDD.

Does this add any more new clues?

Failed to boot count now: Win 7 x64 pro, Win 7 x32 home, Win 7 x64 Enterprise, DOS (from win 98 drivers)

 

[gregrocker]

As stated, you need to extract your mobo drivers to USB stick or CD to have them be picked up by Win7 installer at Load Drivers link. An .exe file will not be read by installer.

Did you use the given standard methods to write ISO to flash stick?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html?filter[2]=General%20Tips
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOoGhm-jcI

 

[TJ1376]

You say you are formatting HD in "new machine." Is this another computer? It would be interesting to see if Win7 will install to that HD (or any other, for that matter) in another computer.

new machine = the machine I built (the problem child). I only have two machines, this laptop and the new one.

You don't need to do more than delete and format using the installer to start. See if it will install and run, then swap the HD back into problem machine to see if it will start up, swap drivers (requiring restarts) and run as has worked here many times with these tough cases.

I am going to see if I can talk our vendor into trying this for me. I have a good personal relationship with them, and it shouldn't take more than half hour 45 mins to install win 7 on my HDD (using their machine) to see if it will boot. Then I will take that HDD home and see if I can boot from it.

You guys seem to insist that I use a machine with the same # of cores. Is there anything else I need to be worried about? My machine is AMD.. the work machines will be Intel. Is that a problem?

 

[TJ1376]

As stated, you need to extract your mobo drivers to USB stick or CD to have them be picked up by Win7 installer at Load Drivers link.


Did you use the given standard methods to write ISO to flash stick?

the mobo drivers are all setup.exe files... Win 7 gives an error saying it finds no signed drivers when I attempt to browse to the location of the drivers.

Yes, I used the Windows usb/dvd tool to format the usb drive and create the bootable image on the usb disk. Using the tools and procedures described in the FAQ on this board.

 

[gregrocker]

the mobo drivers are all setup.exe files... Win 7 gives an error saying it finds no signed drivers when I attempt to browse to the location of the drivers.

.

Those setup files need to be extracted and then copied over to stick/CD to be detected and picked up by Installer. Note location they are extracted to.

 

[TJ1376]

This version needs to be installed using the system builder kit .... you've done that?

Huh? I just pop in the DVD and it does the rest. It DOES install successfully... It just fails to boot afterwords.