I recently built together a high end gaming system that I thought wouldn't
give me any problems. I've got a 2.8C processor on an Abit IC7MAX3 and am
currently using my SATA as my first boot device. I've got like 2 other IDE
hard drives for storage purposes. I did a clean format and install of
Windows XP and for some reason the system hangs (if I try to open IE or my
computer nothing happens) on bootup when the system tray icons are popping
up, for like a minute and then its up and running flawlessly. I can
actually hear the SATA drive making all the activity noise, then it stops
for a minute, and then resumes booting up windows. I didn't notice until
after I installed my antivirus and firewall software, so I figured it might
have been one of these programs that was causing it to hang, since it
appeared to happen when the system tray icons were coming up. But then I
did another clean install without installing any software and noticed that
this problems still exists.

Are there any known problems with running a SATA drive as the primary boot
device on the Abit IC7MAX3?

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 21:10:56 -0600, "Rollin 4 Eva" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I recently built together a high end gaming system that I thought wouldn't
>give me any problems. I've got a 2.8C processor on an Abit IC7MAX3 and am
>currently using my SATA as my first boot device. I've got like 2 other IDE
>hard drives for storage purposes. I did a clean format and install of
>Windows XP and for some reason the system hangs (if I try to open IE or my
>computer nothing happens) on bootup when the system tray icons are popping
>up, for like a minute and then its up and running flawlessly. I can
>actually hear the SATA drive making all the activity noise, then it stops
>for a minute, and then resumes booting up windows. I didn't notice until
>after I installed my antivirus and firewall software, so I figured it might
>have been one of these programs that was causing it to hang, since it
>appeared to happen when the system tray icons were coming up. But then I
>did another clean install without installing any software and noticed that
>this problems still exists.
>
>Are there any known problems with running a SATA drive as the primary boot
>device on the Abit IC7MAX3?
>

With the system booting all the way to the desktop you problem isn't
relatied to having an SATA drive, or having it as a boot device.

Had the system been working properly for (how long?) or is this a
completely new configuration, so far never being stable?

Random speculation would be to check CPU temp, voltage levels, and power
supply adequacy. Run http://www.memtest86.com for a few hours.

If you've changed any BIOS settings, change them back or reset to defaults
(Clear CMOS). You might try running with a bare minimum amount of
hardware, ie- CPU, heatsink fan, 1 memory module, 1 hard drive, keyboard
and mouse... see if the problem persists before adding back components one
at a time, retesting.

"kony" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 21:10:56 -0600, "Rollin 4 Eva" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >I recently built together a high end gaming system that I thought
wouldn't
> >give me any problems. I've got a 2.8C processor on an Abit IC7MAX3 and
am
> >currently using my SATA as my first boot device. I've got like 2 other
IDE
> >hard drives for storage purposes. I did a clean format and install of
> >Windows XP and for some reason the system hangs (if I try to open IE or
my
> >computer nothing happens) on bootup when the system tray icons are
popping
> >up, for like a minute and then its up and running flawlessly. I can
> >actually hear the SATA drive making all the activity noise, then it stops
> >for a minute, and then resumes booting up windows. I didn't notice until
> >after I installed my antivirus and firewall software, so I figured it
might
> >have been one of these programs that was causing it to hang, since it
> >appeared to happen when the system tray icons were coming up. But then I
> >did another clean install without installing any software and noticed
that
> >this problems still exists.
> >
> >Are there any known problems with running a SATA drive as the primary
boot
> >device on the Abit IC7MAX3?
> >
>
> With the system booting all the way to the desktop you problem isn't
> relatied to having an SATA drive, or having it as a boot device.
>
> Had the system been working properly for (how long?) or is this a
> completely new configuration, so far never being stable?

This is completely new configuration.

>
> Random speculation would be to check CPU temp, voltage levels, and power
> supply adequacy. Run http://www.memtest86.com for a few hours.

I'll give memtest a shot. CPU temps seem a big high for the stock Intel
heatsink. They're around 50C idle. But I think that's becase my case only
has two outtake fans and no intake so the circulation doesn't seem that
great. I've got a 450 watt Vantec power supply so I'm thinking power is
sufficient.

>
> If you've changed any BIOS settings, change them back or reset to defaults
> (Clear CMOS). You might try running with a bare minimum amount of
> hardware, ie- CPU, heatsink fan, 1 memory module, 1 hard drive, keyboard
> and mouse... see if the problem persists before adding back components one
> at a time, retesting.

I'll let you know how this goes Thanks for the help.