NVRAM checking hang-up

[notmydayjob]

I just bought a couple of ECS K7S5A Mbds and AMD duron/athlon chips and when I tried to get them working I got a checking NVRAM... hang-up. I have tried 3 different memory modules and several variations of hardware setups as well as both boards to no avail. The only thing I haven't done is use a different case. I am using a 250 watt Landmark case fairly new and I have noted computer stores are building with this size ps and a 750 duron which I am using. Any help appreciated.

[ranchdog]

Which type/style/flavor of memory are we talking 'bout?

A good 250W ps will boot-up for you with a basically bare bones system.

Luck.

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[notmydayjob]

Hi ranchdog thanks for the reply. The board uses sdram or ddr. I tried pc133 128 mb and 256 mb modules that I know work and also a new pc2100 ddr 256 mb I bought at the same time as the boards. Micron/spectek brand.

[mjc]

Check to see of the CMOS clear jumper is in the run position or that there is not a plastic srtip protecting the battery....


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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[notmydayjob]

This has proved to be an interesting upgrade project. I was just 'sure' it had to be the boards and in fact I was getting ready to return the boards when a thought crossed my mind.....there is one variable you haven't really satifactorily eliminated.....video card compatability. I had both a pci and agp I had tried and I knew both worked. Anyhow to make a long story short I tried a couple of other cards including the fx3d 3000 I had and lo and behold it booted. I have learned another lesson and hopefully others with this board experiencing checking nvram.. hang-ups will look at card compatability as the source of their problems. Thanks for giving me a place to struggle my way through.

[not_fred]

Funny you should bring that up...I just built up a system (on a KT266A board with a 1.4G T-bird) using an old PCI video card (ATI All-in-Wonder Pro based on their Rage Pro). With the video card as the sole PCI insert, the system boots & loads fine. When I add my Echo Darla24 sound card, the boot sequence hangs at the NVRAM check about 2/3 of the time. When it does manage to boot & load, the video driver is reported as "malfunctioning" by the OS.

Both boards claim to be PCI 2.1 compliant, but I'll bet it is the video card that actually is the problem. I have also had some difficulty in getting my transplanted PC2100 ram to register as well (5-6 insert/remove cycles required for success), so I suppose that may also be factor. Any other ideas out there would be welcome.

(Hey, don't pick on me about the video card...it was paid for three machines back. This machine wasn't intended for graphics-intensive work - mostly calculational.)

[ranchdog]

notmydayjob...

Thanks for the reply with your solution. The "old" fx3d 3K Voodoo is still a good unit. Use of the AGP model and the Detonator drivers really seem to be compatable with most any system.

not_fred...

ATI (PCI) cards always seem like they don't like to get along. Mainly IRQ issues. But folks with the AGP style ATI cards have joy.

Luck.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[not_fred]

If I had an AGP card (of any flavor), I'd swap in & try it. I did find that the NIC I put in today did not cause any faults, tho', so I'm still in the dark. Somewhat perversely, I was kinda hoping it would fail - then I might have been able to talk a few extra video card $$$ out of She Who Must Be Obeyed by looking like I had a likely culprit.