Marakesh

Hello All - I need some help - my experience with Raid Controllers is limited and I think that the RAID Controller could be stopping me getting into OP System. I have a Microstar 6398 Motherboard, Intel 4 processer and 512 MD of DDR2. When I switch on the computer - The MSI Splash screen is shown with 2 options (TAB to post and DEL to enter BIOS) Both have no effect. The computer then has a Fasttrack Promise header and tells be that it is "SCANNING IDE Channels". Afetr 15 secs the mesage no array is defined is shown with 2 options. Press CTRL-F to enter Array Set up or ESC to continue booting. The ESC just restarts the computer. The CTRL-F goes to a blue menu thta tells me to check power and data cables ( ALL OK) and says it cannot find drives. All options are to do with Fastbuild and only have one effect !!! ALL BUTTON just restart.
All I want to do is get into the BIOS to reset to optimesed settings. I have cleared the CMOS with JUMPER and Battery removal - No difference.
Can someone please help !!!!!

manic

What kind of keyboard do you have? If its usb get a ps2 converter
and see if that helps.

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Marakesh

Ithought the same thing - I am using PS2 Mouse and Keyboard. The CTRL-F function works so I don't think it is a keyboard issue. Any more ideas ?

manic

Make sure the jumpers on the board are in the run position not the
clr position. When you first boot are you tapping the delete key?
Alot of times it will blow by bios entry by just holding it down.
Make sure caps lock is off and num lock. If you select to view post
will it do that?

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Marakesh

Hi , tried tapping, holding down and throwing it thru the window !!!!! I am getting very much fed up with this computer - could the Motherboard have blown ????

Marakesh

It won't veiw the post either ....

manic

Are you sure the keyboard is plugged in the right spot? Ive done that
had the keyboard and mouse switched..
If you have more than one drive unplug one of them.
Or just unplug the drives totally and see if you can enter bios.

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Marakesh

Keyboard is in the correct hole - as when in the other , it does not work at all - not even CTRL-F. I have tried booting with no memory and without HDD connected. I have also disconnected the floppy, dvd/cd drives. I am sure it has something to do witht he bios settings - just cannot get into Bios. I have even downloaded the board manual and read it from cover to cover, but no luck.........

manic

Im at a loss here, do you have a extra ide hdd laying around?
Plug that in and see if you have any better luck. On some boards
there is a set of separate slots for raid.,promise controller. And if
you want to use the sata as a ide config there is 2 separate slots
for that. Your system seems to be hell bent on searching for a
raid array, and I agree if you can get into bios you can fix that.
Me dont know!

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dai

check the m/board for leaking or swelling capacitors
try another power supply in it

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Marakesh

Thanks - I will try another power supply tomorrow - too late to find one today. Also I will check out Caps and things

Marakesh

I am now back - the new Power Supply does not make a difference and the alternative HDD does not allow me to get into the BIOS - I am at a loss now - can someone advise what to do ?

dai

the hard drive has nothing to do with you accessing the bios
turn the computer off
remove the power lead from the back
take the side off
remove the cmos battery
move the cmos jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pin 2 and 3 and the back to pins 1 and 2
replace the battery
put the side on
replug in the power lead
boot the computer

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Marakesh

Thank-you Dai - but I have just tried what you instructed and all I get is the SCANNING IDE DRIVES, then it finds nothing ......... Anymore ideas ?

Marakesh

Is there anyway of disabling the RAID parts of the Motherboard so it doesn't search for them. I am not using the RAID Options - just got 1 HDD and 2 x DVD ROMs connected to Motherboard

dai

you turn raid off in the bios
you enter the bios by tapping the delete key usually during the post screens
one of the post screens will say what key

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Marakesh

This is what I have been trying to do - but cannot get into BIOS. Either by Tapping DEL or TAB or F2 or another key. The computer will not POST or go into BIOS. If there are no more answers then I will just have to scrap it. Thanks for your help.

dai

disconnect all the ddrives and see if it posts or you can access the bios
was the power supply you tried a higher wattage than the one in there

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