83 replies to this topic

[CantankerousV]

okay i'm very sorry.. ..... I am trying to become more computer knowledgeable. Ha ha ha The options I have there are as listed below.... None Auto User Type HDD CD-ROM LS-120 ZIP MO Other ATAPI Device

Edited by CantankerousV, 15 July 2010 - 08:36 PM.

[Doug]

Give it a try with "User Type HD" It may therefore ask you for details of your presently installed HD Mostly I want to see if that item gives you more options. _______________________ If not... consider the exit strategy of Load Default Settings and Exit

[CantankerousV]

When i Select it to be User Type HDD..... I have a listing as follows below Type: [User Type HDD] Tranlation Method: [LBA]<<< (can be change to LBA, LARGE, Normal, Match Partition Table, or Manual) Cylinders: [ 0] Head: [ 0] Sector: [ 0] CHS Capacity: [0MB] Maximum LBA Capacity: [0MB] Multi-Sector Transfers: [Maximum] SMART Monitoring: [Disabled] PIO Mode: [0] ULTRA DMA Mode: [Disabled] with the settings above.. I saved changes and exited the BIOS... then i tried to restart again with the XP CD in... I still received the same message stating that.... "Setup found no hard disk drives installed on your computer... ECT" If i take the disk out and start normal with out it.. i get to the windows screen and the computer automatically reboots, doing the reboot loop thing.. same goes for any safe mode, last know good config, and starting windows normally

[Doug]

If no joy with the above, please have a look again in ADVANCED

ADVANCED contains (list from top to bottom)
CPU speed [1300MHz] << (this can be changed to MANUAL, 1300MHz, 1733MHz, 2167MHz, or 2600MHz)
CPU Frequency Multiple [13.0x]
CPU External Frequency (MHz) [100/33]
Memory Frequency (MHz) [auto]
CPU Vcore Setting [auto]
CPU Vcore [1.65v]
CPU Level 1 Cache [Enabled]
CPU Level 2 Cache [Enabled]
PS/2 Mouse Function Control [auto]
USB Legacy Support [auto]
OS/2 Onboard Memory > 64M [disabled]
Instant Music [disabled]
Instant Music CD-ROM [Lite-ON Combo SO]
>Chip Configuration <-- Do you have any options here, or does it take you to a deeper level panel that has options?
>I/O Device Configuration
>PCI Configuration

If you do have options in the above indicated item, see if any of the options relate to SATA

[Doug]

Don't forget to place the previously changed option back to how it was originally...

The options I have there are as listed below....

None
Auto <-- set as AUTO and then Exit Saving Changes
User Type HDD
CD-ROM
LS-120
ZIP
MO
Other ATAPI Device

I'm going to have to break for a while, and maybe the rest of the night to work on a local machine, and some other responsibilities.

I'll ask for assistance from other Techs.
Perhaps a fresh set of eyes will see what we are looking at but not finding.

[CantankerousV]

After I select that the chip configuration is as follows below...

Chip Configuration
SDRAM Configuration [by SPD]<<< (can be changed between User Defined, or By SPD)
SDRAM CAS Latency [2.5T(DDR)]
SDRAM RAS to CAS Delay [3T]
SDRAM RAS Precharge Delay [3T]
SDRAM Active Precharge Delay [7T]
SDRAM 1T Command Control [Auto]<<< (can be changed between: Disable, Enable, or Auto]
SDRAM Bank Interleave [Auto]<<< (can be changed between: Disabled, 2 Bank, 4 Bank, or Auto]
Graphic Aperture Size [64MB]<<< (can be set to: 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, or 1024MB]
AGP Capability [Auto]<<< (can be changed between: Auto, 1X Mode, 2X Mode, 4X Mode, or 8X Mode)
AGP Performance Control [Disabled]<<< (can be changed between: Disabled, or Enabled]
AGP Fast Write Conrtol [Disabled]<<< (can be changed between: Disabled, or Enabled]
Video Memory Cache Mode [UC]<<< (can be changed between: UC or USWC]
DRAM Burst Length 8QW [Disabled]<<< (can be changed between: Disabled or Auto]
Rank interleave [Disabled]<<< (can be changed between: Disabled or Auto]
S2K Bus Driving Strength [Auto]<<< (can be changed between: Auto and Manual]
AGP SKEW (Byte 14) [00]<<< (can be changed between: 00, 01, 10, or 11)



I am very, very sorry, but i do not know if any of these are related with SATA or not

[CantankerousV]

It is fine if you have other things you need to do I have other computers running in the house, so this is not life or death.. ha ha ha... It is just something that is completely boggling my mind .. HA HA I recently purchased Sims 3 and none of my computers working computers will run it, because of CPU Speed. That is why I'm trying to get this beast up and running. I have a friend with the same ASUS motherboard I am working with now, and is able to run the game.. I just want to get this computer running and for it to become my gaming computer.. Any and all help is greatly appreciated when it comes to getting this soon to be gaming computer up and running smoothly

Edited by CantankerousV, 15 July 2010 - 09:23 PM.

[Doug]

Nope.
None of those is what we are looking for.

what we need is something that reads : OnChip IDE Device - Press Enter

After pressing Enter, we are looking for an item that reads: OnChip Serial ATA Mode - IDE
Then we need something that read similar to: Serial ATA 1 Mode = IDE-3-Master

You might find it "under" one of the unexplored items in BIOS.
I really don't know where to look, or even if it is actually there.

You may eventually discover that you need to get the machine up and running with your regular IDE ATA Hard Drive.
The "gaming speed" is not going to be that huge a difference (maybe 30mb/s vs. 45mb/s with SATA)
And most gaming is not that heavily dependent upon HD speed, though faster will give you an advantage.

If you get the machine up and running with IDE ATA Hard Drive, then you may wish to consider upgrading your BIOS/CMOS
I don't even know if there is an upgrade (flash) available.
And I won't be able to determine if it is, until the machine is running and I can have you run a couple of hardware inventories.

Might be worth a shot?

[CantankerousV]

I can put the IDE in to get it going, but It will be from another of my working computers. I do not want this to run on the IDE long term at all cost, because I do not have enough IDE hard drives to go around.. I will pull one out of another computer and throw it in this unit to figure out what we need to .. I have explored everything on the BIOS screens and can find nothing related to SATA... what will you need to do with the system one i have the IDE HD in the unit and running

[CantankerousV]

ok now i am am completely lost... i put the IDE HD in from another computer..normally when i do this, the computer starts no problems. But not there is a big problem.. this motherboard was fine with an IDE before trying things with the SATA drives, now it freezes at the ASUS screen, when i hit the restart button on the front of the unit it will go past the ASUS screen and go straight to the BIOS without hitting any keys on the keyboard, but once in the BIOS menu my keyboard in no longer be recognized. This is not a USB keyboard it is plugged right into where the keyboard goes... now i'm really really really lost... Any ideas

[Doug]

I would look at the IDE Controller Drivers
Plus Belarc Advisor
And maybe an overview Performance inventory such as PCPitstop OverDrive Full tests.

Then I would search Web regarding Chipset Driver possibilities and BIOS upgrading possibilities

If you have time...

run and post the PCPitstop Full Tests (takes about 3 minutes on most machines) we can get a pretty good look at the machine specs and some of the controller specs.
PCPitstop OverDrive is safe to run and post Results (doesn't give away any personal, licensing or proprietary info.

Run and copy/paste save Belarc Advisor (but don't post it just yet because it can give away some license and proprietary and personal ID information)

Then you could put the IDE ATA HD back into your other machine, pending possible future need to run any additional inventories.
_______________________________-

Please Run the PCPitstop.com OverDrive Full Tests

Here's how:

You must use your Internet Explorer for this procedure. (doesn't work so well in Firefox or others)

Go to: http://www.pcpitstop.com
Click on "Free Computer Check-up" listed below PC Pitstop OverDrive
In the User Login - Click on "Sign up FREE!"
You'll need to submit a valid email address and create your own password, then click - Create Account(button)

Now enter your email address and password to Log in, Select - Scan this system Now!(button)
You will then be asked to download an ActiveX component and allow it to install.
It is safe and does not compromise your privacy.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX and to allow the Full Tests to be run on your machine.

The Full Tests take about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on most machines.
When complete, a Results - Summary - Recommended Fixes will be displayed.

Please post the URL internet address from your Results, back here into this Topic Thread so that we can review the configuration and present performance levels of your machine.

Note: During the graphics 2D and graphics 3D testing, your screen will display some rapidly moving objects.
If you are sensitive to visual flashing, it may cause dizziness. Therefore, look away from the screen during that portion of the testing.

After reviewing the results we will be more informed and may be able to provide better recommendations for you to work towards improving your machine's performance.

Best Regards

Next:

Please Run and Save Belarc Advisor, but do not post your results here (for the privacy reasons stated above.)
http://www.belarc.co...e_download.html
Maybe copy/paste it to a document of .txt file and save it to a USB memory stick?
OR print it out on a printer?

Then later (probably tomorrow, we can have another look)
Plus by that time, maybe another Tech will have a look and offer a better solution.

Best Regards

[CantankerousV]

Could i put run these programs on Ubuntu?? I know i want windows on the system you are helping me with, but i have a friend who made a suggestion. They suggested since now i cannot even get a hard drive i know is okay to load windows with this unit, they loaned me a 6 GB (clean) hard drive and suggest i install ubuntu on it in the system temporarily, if those programs you suggested are ubuntu compatible... Could this be a possible temporary fix till we figure out what those program reveal?

[Doug]

Nope. Need a Windows environment for both. Pluse you must use Internet Explorer 7 or 8 And And if you will be running Vista or Windows 7 you must run IE "run as administrator"

[Doug]

A 6gb ATA Hard Drive would be barely enough to install XP and have a bit of room left over for operational functions. But that's gotta be a pretty old HD and will be running at maybe 10mb/s to 15mb/s max. But then you would be expecting "performance" you are only looking for "information". So it would probably work.

[CantankerousV]

Well since you said ubuntu is a no go.. i guess this is the only option i have at this point... I hope that it will possibly work. It is currently installing XP HOME on the 6.4 GB IDE hard drive. I will run the program that you suggested and post the details of them here, Well what you said to at least.. ha ha ha... I hope this fresh install works..Currently my Monitor is flash every few minutes throughout this install, but is still continues so i am crossing my fingers.. hopefully I will soon have this PC up and running on one of these SATA drives I have

Edited by CantankerousV, 16 July 2010 - 12:11 AM.