Problems with new computer

[Guest]

I just built a new computer from scratch and now i have a couple problems
with it.
Here are the specs on the hardware in this computer:
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2800+ 2.083GHz 333MHz FSB Socket A
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512MB) 184pin SDRAM
nVIDIA GeForce MX 4000 AGP 128MB DDR Graphics Card
Samsung 60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Maxtor Maxline Plus 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
HP DVD Writer dvd630 4x Write
HP DVD-ROM

First off, i have no sound. The sound card i have is nVIDIA nForce Audio
and all of the drivers are installed and digitally signed. The speakers are
inserted into the correct port and the sound is not muted on any volume
control.
Second, Windows sometimes fails to boot up unless i unplug the power supply
from 1 or both of my optical drives. The power supply is a brand new Antec
400W SmartPower 2.0.
If you need anymore information please ask and thanks in advance for any
help.

-Frew

 

[Andrew]

I just built a new computer from scratch and now i have a couple problems
with it.
Here are the specs on the hardware in this computer:
ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2800+ 2.083GHz 333MHz FSB Socket A
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512MB) 184pin SDRAM
nVIDIA GeForce MX 4000 AGP 128MB DDR Graphics Card
Samsung 60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
Maxtor Maxline Plus 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
HP DVD Writer dvd630 4x Write
HP DVD-ROM

First off, i have no sound. The sound card i have is nVIDIA nForce Audio
and all of the drivers are installed and digitally signed. The speakers
are
inserted into the correct port and the sound is not muted on any volume
control.
Second, Windows sometimes fails to boot up unless i unplug the power
supply
from 1 or both of my optical drives. The power supply is a brand new
Antec
400W SmartPower 2.0.
If you need anymore information please ask and thanks in advance for any
help.

-Frew

You seem to be pretty clued up otherwise you would be asking why Windows
does not recognize your SATA drives. But, just to be on the safe side check
your BIOS settings for on-board sound. If the sound card is showing in
Control Panel - System - Hardware then this isn't an issue and I would look
to check that the Windows Audio service is running in Control Panel - System
Administration - Services.

Try connecting the optical drives to different outputs from the PSU. It
sounds like the PSU is not providing enough power and could be faulty!

Andy

 

[Guest]

You seem to be pretty clued up otherwise you would be asking why Windows
does not recognize your SATA drives. But, just to be on the safe side check
your BIOS settings for on-board sound. If the sound card is showing in
Control Panel - System - Hardware then this isn't an issue and I would look
to check that the Windows Audio service is running in Control Panel - System
Administration - Services.

Try connecting the optical drives to different outputs from the PSU. It
sounds like the PSU is not providing enough power and could be faulty!

Andy


Thanks for the quick response. I switched the outputs from the PSU and was able to boot windows with one of the optical drives connected but not both. The boot process freezes at the Windows XP splash screen when both are connected.

As for the audio and Windows audio service; the sound card is listed in the
Device Manager and is working properly and the Windows Audio Service is
enabled and started. Thanks in advance, Frew.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

As for the audio and Windows audio service; the sound card is listed in
the
Device Manager and is working properly and the Windows Audio Service is
enabled and started. Thanks in advance, Frew.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Whoops, cat on keyboard, apologies for the blank post from Sebastian.

Do a double check on the jumpers at the rear of the optical drives...
otherwise it's a trip to the store for a larger PSU.... 400w is a bit on the
small side nowadays! Try 550w.

 

[Andrew]

Whoops, cat on keyboard, apologies for the blank post from Sebastian.

Do a double check on the jumpers at the rear of the optical drives...
otherwise it's a trip to the store for a larger PSU.... 400w is a bit on
the small side nowadays! Try 550w.

Cari,

I would be surprised if a good quality branded 400 W PSU could not power the
system the OP described. Before you spend any more cash check out the amps
that your curent PSU can supply on the 12 V rail; you really need a PSU that
can supply >16A on the 12V rail.

Andy

 

[Guest]

Cari,

I would be surprised if a good quality branded 400 W PSU could not power the
system the OP described. Before you spend any more cash check out the amps
that your curent PSU can supply on the 12 V rail; you really need a PSU that
can supply >16A on the 12V rail.

Andy

The Antec PSU should not be the problem. I have the same m/b, cpu, nvidia
mx5200 agp, 80Gb hdd, 300GB hdd, dvd+/-rw and dual layer dvd+/-rw running
with absolutely no problems on a Antec 400w psu and case.

 

[vassik]

I do not know if this will help you but I had a similar problem when I
built my computer, no one could find the answer and I even took it to a
computer repair shop and they told me I needed a new MB ...then by
sheer luck my eye caught that the switch in the back of the brand NEW
PSU was set up to 240 instead of 110 and as soon as I switched it to
110 all was solved!