NEW SYSTEM -WON'T BOOT

[CHRIS HALL]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
Master Geeks - Please help

I am building a new system (for the first time) using;

Abit BD7-Raid Mainboard
P4 sct478 processor with thermaltake volcano 478
2 x 256MB (184 -PIN DIMM DDR PC2100 UNBUFF.) Crucial Memory
2 x IBM 60XGP 40GB Hard Drives (1 set to master, 1 to slave in IDE port 3(raid))
Asus V8200 Geforce3 AGP graphics card
Aopen H600A P4 ATX Case with 300W PSU (+ 4x Thermaltake case fans)
TDK Cyclone 24x 10x 40x (with DVD Rom in primary IDE port)
Sony 16x DVD Rom
Sony floppy drive
Creamware Pulsar II V3 PCI soundcard
Diamond Supra Express 56iPRO PCI modem
logitech ps2 keyboard and mouse
Iiyama 451pro 19" monitor

I have connected all of the devices following the instructions that were shipped with the mainboard and before booting up for the first time I checked and re-checked all of the connections. On booting up, the system got stuck on POST code A7 and the case speaker omitted a long beep repeatedly (ThePOST code sequence is C0,C1,A0-A7). I have subsequently removed the sound card and modem only to greeted with the same response. I then removed the AGP graphics card (with the same result) and then the memory which responded with an E3 POST code. I then replaced the memory and graphics card and cleared the CMOS using JP5. On booting up the machine it will now pass POST code A7 the first time but it will go back to it and get stuck this time with no beep (The POST code sequence is C0,C1,A0-AF,C0,C1,A0-A7). I then inserted a system disk into the floppy drive which did not help and the floppy drive didn't light up or appear to work (a floppy drive from another computer similarly didn't work). I Have also tried connecting the hard drives to the primary IDE channel with no change.

The POST code A7 doesn't appear in the mainboard manual and I have searched the internet from Award Bios POST codes and cannot find mention of it anywhere.

I would be extremely grateful if you could point me in the right direction and advise me how to get the machine to work.

A prompt reply would be greatly appreciated as I am about to pull out the last strand of hair from my head.

[ski]

Connect just the power supply module, motherboard, CPU, and case speaker, and place the MB on a piece of cardboard instead of installing it in the case. If you hear a beep or see a POST code, then install the memory. If the same beep and/or code occurs, then the memory, CPU, or MB is bad. If the beep or code is different, install the video card. Smae beep or code, the card is bad.

[ski]

Also, try just one stick of memory at a time. Perhaps one is bad.

[CHRIS HALL]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
THANKS FOR THE ADVISE I GIVE IT A TRY

[ski]

Also, try one stick of memory at a time. Perhaps only one stick is bad.

[CHRIS HALL]

STILL NO CHANGE BUT THANKS AGAIN http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[CHRIS HALL]

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

THE PROBLEM WAS THE RAM NOT BEING SEATED PROPERLY - I CANT BELEIVE THE FORCE THAT IT TAKES (I NEARLY BROKE MY THUMBS OFF.

IS IT OK TO HAVE CDRW AND DVD INSTALLED IN THE PRIMARY IDE CHANNEL - MY HDD ARE IN IDE PORT3(RAID)

THANKS AGAIN TO SKI FOR YOUR HELP http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[ski]

You may get slightly better performance if the CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives are installed on different IDE channels.

[ski]

And you are welcome.