Hello
I just built my first PC and of course there is a problem.
My motherboard is an Evga 680i SLi, Power supply is 850 watts. I have a Dvd burner and a 500 gig sata HD , Nivida 8800 GTs video card and 2 gigs of ram.
Problem is when I turn it on for the first time it turns off after 30sec. the time gets shorter after that. The error code on the first page is floppy disk fauilure [40].

Any suggestions would be helpful.

thanks
grumpybear

Can you enter the BIOS setup at all?

Have you tried replacing the CMOS battery? resetting the BIOS to defaults (remove battery and/or the jumper)?

I got into the bios once but before I could do anything it shut off.

I can replace the battery on the MB.
what jumper are you talking about.

thanks
Grumpy

There is a 'reset' jumper on the board, somewhere...it should be labeled in the manual. It probably has two positions...Run and Reset...make sure it is in the Run position.

thanks MJC:D

will look tonight.

grumpybear

If its giving you a floppy drive error disconnect the floppy drive.

Sounds like a possible heatsinking problem with the CPU.

Check my post(#4) in this thread (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=61724).

The fact that it runs OK for 30sec or so at 1st fire up, then stays on for less and less time after that fits the thermal curve for an overheating CPU perfectly.

- The CPU is nice and cold when you turn on the PC.
- The CPU gets hotter and hotter and after 30sec or so, passes the threshold and shuts itself off to cool down.
- You fire it up again, and the same thing happens, but it takes less time then before, as the CPU is still hot from the last time.

It could also be a faulty power-supply, but at 850W, it should have enough power to run just about anything.

I just posted a similar issue and as I am also a 1st time pc builder I'll say that installing the heatsink/fan was/is the more challenging/uncertain task of the whole process. With all the sophistication going into pc components I am shocked at how poorly designed the stock Intel heatsink/fan fasteners are and how worthless the install guide is.