asus p4c800 deluxe

[SeanEd]

i just got this mobo today, and i'm having trouble with it. i can't get it to start up my hd. (i'm an idiot when it comes to computers), i think it has to do with jumpers or something... the front panel switch won't work becuase theres no way i can hook it up to my mobo, the hook ups are diff :\. anyways heres my specs

asus p4c800 mobo
1 gig pc3200 ddr ram
radeon 9800 pro
creative labs audigy 2 platinum
p4 1.6 ghz
maxtor 40 gig hd
an xcase 500 w power supply

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

I am a bit confused. You say you are an "idiot" when it comes to computers, but you installed a motherboard today? I also don't understand the thing about the front panel power switch. It should fit on an ATX board if it is an ATX case. Are you sure you are looking at the right connector? You certainly can't power up without a switch, although there is a way to do it by momentarily shorting the pins. I wouldn't advise that long term however.

Are you powering it up and, if so, how. What is the problem with your hard drive? If the hard drive was already formatted and has an OS on it, it may simply need to be configured for what is now a new computer.
Please tell us more detail, the more we know the more we can help....

[SeanEd]

when i said i'm an idiot i meant compared to most ppl here. but i know what to do with computers and such, i know the problem, its my case, the connection going from the front pannel button doesn't have anywhere to hook up to on the mobo (it looks like a small hdd ide cable). i was just wondering if there was any way the mobo, once it turns on, can start up the hdd as well. it looks like i'm going to have to get a case :\ have any recommendations on a case for the asus? (something that won't cost an arm and a leg)

[Budfred]

I am guessing you have a brand name computer that you are upgrading??? The kind of connector you are talking about sounds like the kind that some companies use in their proprietary systems that then limits your ability to upgrade. You may be able to rig a fix, but you are probably better off with a new case. Here are some nice options at Newegg. (http://www.newegg.com/app/manufactory.asp?catalog=7&DEPA=1)

[SeanEd]

thanks for your help

[Budfred]

Did you see any you liked?? We can give you specific recommends if you have trouble finding one. I know they have some good prices on some...

[SeanEd]

i'm looking at an antec lanboy, cheap and kinda stylish

[jmjones162]

I just went for and Antec Soho File Server Performance II. Very functional and very stylish case. It cost about $80.00 if I remember correctly.

[Budfred]

Those are both very nice cases!!:)

[SeanEd]

i got the case today, and got everything installed, but when i try to run it i get an error, it says the hard drive can't be found, i have the hdd hooked up correctly... i think, got it hooked up to my power supply, and hooked up to the ide connection. do i need a new hdd?

[Budfred]

Is the BIOS saying it can't be found or something else? How do you have the jumpers set on the hard drive? It probably needs to be Master, Cable Select or no jumper depending on the drive and whether you have anything else on the cable. I would try all three and a different cable before I started thinking about getting another hard drive, especially if it is being seen by the BIOS....

[SeanEd]

actually i get many errors, but i don't know what they are cause it shuts down immediatley. these were some old errors, cmos settings wrong, cmos date/time not set, overclocking failed, chasis intruded, no hdd detected. i reset the cmos, and put a jumper on to disable chasis intrusion error, and now the computer just shuts down. i try to get into the bios, and it loads for a second, then it displays some errors and shuts down imediatly, so fast i can't see what the errors are now. i'm pretty sure chasis intrusion isn't an issue anymore, dunno about the cmos, is there anything i can do? i'm pretty sure everything is connected right, i've gone over it all day today, read the manuel plenty of times, and tried different jumper settings. i have no idea what the problem is.

btw, i used several ide cables for the hdd, the one that came with the hdd, and the 2 that came with the mobo, none worked.

[Budfred]

I would try resetting the BIOS with the Clear CMOS jumper and try again. If that doesn't work, I would go back to a minimal boot and see if you can get POST and BIOS on the screen. If you can, the next step is to start adding drives one at a time. I would start with the floppy and make sure you can boot into DOS with a Startup disk. You will want to figure out the problem by process of elimination, so if you then attach the hard drive and it doesn't work, the hard drive is the problem.

Did you try the hard drive with no jumpers??? I think Maxtor would be Master or Cable Select, but it is worth a try...

[SeanEd]

i'm getting a no bios installed error now :(

[Budfred]

It is possible that you fried your BIOS. You can probably still flash it by going to the motherboard manufacturer site and downloading the flash BIOS file. You have to set up a floppy though and it may not be possible without the BIOS to boot into the floppy....

Try this, check the battery on the board. There have been a few people lately saying that their battery came bad on the board. They are only a couple of bucks, so it is cheaper than buying a new BIOS chip. If you do need a new BIOS chip, check out Badflash. (http://www.badflash.com/)

Edit:

First thing I should have asked... Did you put the Clear CMOS jumper back in the right position???

[SeanEd]

yes