Having Problems Building New machine

[NobleNick]

Hi folks,

I need some help:

I got an excellent deal (or so I thought) on a package of a Core2 Duo CPU (6600, IIRC) and an MSI 945P Neo3 mobo. I put them together with 2 GB DDR2 RAM that was hand-picked to match the mobo, an X1600 Pro graphics card, and a 160GB SATA HDD. I have a high quality 500W+ Antec power supply.

First problem: I always get a message as follows:

Drive error. A:
Press F1 to continue

After I press F1 the boot process continues.

Second problem: Could not boot up at all. Finally ran memtest86+ and found that I was getting memory errors, which was resolved if I removed one stick RAM and went with only 1GB. Both sticks work, but only one at a time. I had the two sticks both in the green slots (DDR1 and DDR2). The manual claims the mobo handles up to 4GB.

Third problem: Until I got Windows installed, I got a message that said my BIOS was not fully Windows compliant, and would I please download the appropriate BIOS. If needed, I may reboot and press F6 (or F7, I forget) during the HDD driver load question to force boot up.

Not Windows compliant?? Excuse me?? Isn't this supposed to be a brand-spanking-new mid-grade Windows compliant mobo made by a reputable manufacturer with an Intel chipset ?? If I had wanted to be abused I could have paid $60 for a piece of junk that came with a manual done by someone using english as a second language, and been done with it. I have been pressing F6/F7 to get booted up to install windows. What gives here?

Fourth problem: Now I have Windows XP Pro installed (Finally!), but my machine will not recognize the internet nor the router to which it is connected. The computer does not seem to realize it has an off-board port at all, even though I have an active cable plugged into its RJ45 jack. I have a small home network and a Netgear router that interfaces the home LAN to a cable internet connection. All computers interface directly to the router.

I've been to the review sites, and the user reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive for this mobo. Nobody is having major problems except me. Did I get stuck with a dog, or am I just getting stupid and lazy in my old age? I've built/re-built well over a dozen machines in the last decade. I usually have to wrestle a bit to get it right; but I was really hoping that somewhat quality parts would help me avoid the headaches I've had the last 2 weeks. Help, anyone?

[belson]

I'm no pro, but I'll do my best to throw my ideas out here. I apologize if you've already tried this stuff (considering you have more experience than me). Most of the time its just the stupid little things that trip you up, right?

First problem: I always get a message as follows:

Drive error. A:
Press F1 to continue

After I press F1 the boot process continues.

Do you have a floppy drive? If no, you can just disable it in the bios. If yes maybe theres a bad disk in it or the drive is dead.

Second problem: Could not boot up at all. Finally ran memtest86+ and found that I was getting memory errors, which was resolved if I removed one stick RAM and went with only 1GB. Both sticks work, but only one at a time. I had the two sticks both in the green slots (DDR1 and DDR2). The manual claims the mobo handles up to 4GB.

I remember hearing that someone had to increase their voltage to get their stuff to work. Try 1.9v for the ram and then maybe 2.0v. This page describes the same problem when it says "Due to the High Performance Memory design, motherboards or system configurations may or may not operate smoothly at the JEDEC (Joint Electron Device Engineering Council) standard settings (BIOS Default on the motherboard) such as DDR2 voltage, memory speeds and memory timing. Please confirm and adjust your memory setting in the BIOS accordingly for better system stability. Example: Kingston HyperX DDR2-800 PC6400 operates at 2.0V, 4-4-4-12. For more information about specification of high performance memory modules, please check with your Memory Manufactures for more details."

Third problem: Until I got Windows installed, I got a message that said my BIOS was not fully Windows compliant, and would I please download the appropriate BIOS. If needed, I may reboot and press F6 (or F7, I forget) during the HDD driver load question to force boot up.

Not Windows compliant?? Excuse me?? Isn't this supposed to be a brand-spanking-new mid-grade Windows compliant mobo made by a reputable manufacturer with an Intel chipset ?? If I had wanted to be abused I could have paid $60 for a piece of junk that came with a manual done by someone using english as a second language, and been done with it. I have been pressing F6/F7 to get booted up to install windows. What gives here?

The same page I linked above says "Because of the limitations of chipset, this MB does not support Win98/ME." Thats probably what it meant. I think there are bios now that fix this in case you need them.

Fourth problem: Now I have Windows XP Pro installed (Finally!), but my machine will not recognize the internet nor the router to which it is connected. The computer does not seem to realize it has an off-board port at all, even though I have an active cable plugged into its RJ45 jack. I have a small home network and a Netgear router that interfaces the home LAN to a cable internet connection. All computers interface directly to the router.

Did you install the drivers for the port? I had the same problem. Frustrated me for a while till I remembered to install them (and mine was on the mainboard).

I've been to the review sites, and the user reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive for this mobo. Nobody is having major problems except me. Did I get stuck with a dog, or am I just getting stupid and lazy in my old age? I've built/re-built well over a dozen machines in the last decade. I usually have to wrestle a bit to get it right; but I was really hoping that somewhat quality parts would help me avoid the headaches I've had the last 2 weeks. Help, anyone?

It seems to me that the more we advance in technology, the more complicated it gets, and the harder it gets to make it work (and easier it is to screw things up!)

Anyways, good luck and enjoy the computer.

[NobleNick]

Do you have a floppy drive? If no, you can just disable it in the bios. If yes maybe theres a bad disk in it or the drive is dead.

Yep, disabled the phantom A: drive. That fixed it.

I remember hearing that someone had to increase their voltage to get their stuff to work. Try 1.9v for the ram and then maybe 2.0v. This page describes the same problem when it says "Due to the High Performance Memory design...

More simple than that. After very, very carefully re-reading the manual, and doing my best mind-reader imitation, I realized that it just MIGHT be telling me to put my memory sticks in slots 1 and 3 (instead of 1 and 2). That fixed it.

The same page I linked above says "Because of the limitations of chipset, this MB does not support Win98/ME." Thats probably what it meant. I think there are bios now that fix this in case you need them.

My Bios is version 3.2. The stuff available to download is 3.3. After reading all the complicated instructions on how to flash the bios and the dire warnings about what happens if you don't do it letter perfect, I decided the 3.2 is good enough for now...

Did you install the drivers for the port? I had the same problem. Frustrated me for a while till I remembered to install them (and mine was on the mainboard).

Bingo. You nailed it. I installed drivers and things started working. Imagine that...

Hey, thank you so much for the help. I appreciate it!

[belson]

More simple than that. After very, very carefully re-reading the manual, and doing my best mind-reader imitation, I realized that it just MIGHT be telling me to put my memory sticks in slots 1 and 3 (instead of 1 and 2). That fixed it.

It figures. It always ends up being the simple stuff that the manual doesn't even tell you about. Glad you got everything working.