[SOLVED] First time start up

-Z- · 08-09-2008, 06:50 PM

Hello,
I just finished getting all my components intalled in my new system (my first build) and just had a few questions before I plug this thing in and get myself in over my head:
Instructions weren't particularly clear on the first boot. Just insert the CD for the mobo and power on?
I am still waiting on my OS software to show up. Is there anything I can get set up without the OS, or should I wait for the software to arrive?

Sorry about the rookie questions. I am excited (and nervous) to plug it in to see if everything is working right, but I don't want to get ahead of myself.

Any other advice on first time startups would be most welcome.

Thanks.

mlabre20 · 08-09-2008, 08:38 PM

You won't be able to do much until the OS disc comes. And if you turn it on without a disc in, it will just tell you to power off and put a boot disc in, so there is no problem in turning it on to see if it powers on fine.

**manic** · 08-09-2008, 09:57 PM

As mentioned, turn it on see if it boots. If it does, hooray! If it does
not you have time to get things figured out. You will install the os
first, then mobo drivers.

-Z- · 08-10-2008, 11:01 AM

Ok, tried starting everything up. Everything looks to be blinking and spinning like it is supposed to be, but I am not getting the "boot disc" message mentioned above. In fact, I am getting the "No Signal" message on my monitor. Connections are all tight, video card is seated, card fan is spinning and lights on the card are winking.
Is this normal since I don't have an OS or any drivers installed?
Or should I start worrying?

**manic** · 08-10-2008, 12:38 PM

Did you make sure that all of the stand offs are in the proper place.
The board cannot make direct contact anywhere on the case.
If there is a additional power lead for the video card is that plugged in.
Is the 4 pin or 8 pin connector for the cpu plugged in. Have you
cleared cmos. Maybe you should post system hardware specs, including
power supply wattage and brand.

-Z- · 08-10-2008, 12:54 PM

Figured it out.
Went through the system again and had my memory paired wrong. Shifted one of the modules over to the other channel and the system booted up just like listed above.
Now I just need to wait on that OS to arrive!

Thanks for the assistance.

**manic** · 08-10-2008, 01:17 PM

Thats great, glad it was something simple.

-Z- · 08-13-2008, 04:47 PM

Ok, needing some help again. Received the OS and attempted to install but it wouldn't recognize my HDD. I turned it off, switched the SATA slot that it was plugged into, started up again and went into the BIOS to check and it showed up. I hit "save and exit" (having not changed anything) and immediately received the "no signal" message on my monitor again. Haven't been able to get it back since.
Checked video connections, card is seated, no beeps on startup, lights and fan are working on video card. Standoffs are all in place. Tried removing and re-seating my RAM again (since that was the issue last time). The light on the monitor stays yellow on startup.

I saw from the advice before that "clearing CMOS" was a troubleshooting step. I am not sure what this is or how to do it.

System specs:
ASUS P5Q Mobo
Corsair TX750W PSU
OCZ 2GB x 2 RAM
E8500 Processor
Seagate 7200rpm 250GB HDD
9800GTX video card

Starting to sweat here a bit. Any advice would be most welcome.

**manic** · 08-13-2008, 04:55 PM

Make sure raid is diabled in bios. Set the boot order to cd first.
Treat the sata drives in bios like ide, not sata.

-Z- · 08-13-2008, 05:05 PM

Can't get to BIOS because the monitor isn't getting a signal. I suspect the something happened when I hit "Save and Exit", although I know I didn't change anything in there from default.

-Z- · 08-13-2008, 05:25 PM

I reset the CMOS per the mobo manual, and everything "seems" ok again. Thanks for all the quick replies manic, your help is much appreciated!

**manic** · 08-13-2008, 05:46 PM

You must have saved something bios didnt like, do just what you did
this last time, clear cmos and start over. You should go through
your manual to make bios changes, if you have a question on one of
the settings ask here. If can and is very confusing. Most stuff will
be ok set to manual, but there are a few settings that must be
made manually, as per your system specs..

08-09-2008, 06:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	[SOLVED] First time start up Hello, I just finished getting all my components intalled in my new system (my first build) and just had a few questions before I plug this thing in and get myself in over my head: Instructions weren't particularly clear on the first boot. Just insert the CD for the mobo and power on? I am still waiting on my OS software to show up. Is there anything I can get set up without the OS, or should I wait for the software to arrive? Sorry about the rookie questions. I am excited (and nervous) to plug it in to see if everything is working right, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Any other advice on first time startups would be most welcome. Thanks.

08-09-2008, 08:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
mlabre20 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 145 OS: Windows 7	Re: First time start up You won't be able to do much until the OS disc comes. And if you turn it on without a disc in, it will just tell you to power off and put a boot disc in, so there is no problem in turning it on to see if it powers on fine.

08-09-2008, 09:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,249 OS: xp	Re: First time start up As mentioned, turn it on see if it boots. If it does, hooray! If it does not you have time to get things figured out. You will install the os first, then mobo drivers. __________________

08-10-2008, 11:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: First time start up Ok, tried starting everything up. Everything looks to be blinking and spinning like it is supposed to be, but I am not getting the "boot disc" message mentioned above. In fact, I am getting the "No Signal" message on my monitor. Connections are all tight, video card is seated, card fan is spinning and lights on the card are winking. Is this normal since I don't have an OS or any drivers installed? Or should I start worrying?

08-10-2008, 12:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,249 OS: xp	Re: First time start up Did you make sure that all of the stand offs are in the proper place. The board cannot make direct contact anywhere on the case. If there is a additional power lead for the video card is that plugged in. Is the 4 pin or 8 pin connector for the cpu plugged in. Have you cleared cmos. Maybe you should post system hardware specs, including power supply wattage and brand. __________________

08-10-2008, 12:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: First time start up Figured it out. Went through the system again and had my memory paired wrong. Shifted one of the modules over to the other channel and the system booted up just like listed above. Now I just need to wait on that OS to arrive! Thanks for the assistance.

08-10-2008, 01:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,249 OS: xp	Re: First time start up Thats great, glad it was something simple. __________________

08-13-2008, 04:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: First time start up Ok, needing some help again. Received the OS and attempted to install but it wouldn't recognize my HDD. I turned it off, switched the SATA slot that it was plugged into, started up again and went into the BIOS to check and it showed up. I hit "save and exit" (having not changed anything) and immediately received the "no signal" message on my monitor again. Haven't been able to get it back since. Checked video connections, card is seated, no beeps on startup, lights and fan are working on video card. Standoffs are all in place. Tried removing and re-seating my RAM again (since that was the issue last time). The light on the monitor stays yellow on startup. I saw from the advice before that "clearing CMOS" was a troubleshooting step. I am not sure what this is or how to do it. System specs: ASUS P5Q Mobo Corsair TX750W PSU OCZ 2GB x 2 RAM E8500 Processor Seagate 7200rpm 250GB HDD 9800GTX video card Starting to sweat here a bit. Any advice would be most welcome. Last edited by -Z-; 08-13-2008 at 04:52 PM.

08-13-2008, 04:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,249 OS: xp	Re: First time start up Make sure raid is diabled in bios. Set the boot order to cd first. Treat the sata drives in bios like ide, not sata. __________________

08-13-2008, 05:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: First time start up Can't get to BIOS because the monitor isn't getting a signal. I suspect the something happened when I hit "Save and Exit", although I know I didn't change anything in there from default.

08-13-2008, 05:25 PM	#11 (permalink)
-Z- Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 20 OS: Vista Home Premium 64	Re: First time start up I reset the CMOS per the mobo manual, and everything "seems" ok again. Thanks for all the quick replies manic, your help is much appreciated!

08-13-2008, 05:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,249 OS: xp	Re: First time start up You must have saved something bios didnt like, do just what you did this last time, clear cmos and start over. You should go through your manual to make bios changes, if you have a question on one of the settings ask here. If can and is very confusing. Most stuff will be ok set to manual, but there are a few settings that must be made manually, as per your system specs.. __________________