"Alb" said:
I have this MOBO from last december, my configuration is :
P4 3.2 GHZ HT
2 GB RAM
ATI 9600 XT 128 MB
CREATIVE SB
1) Often the computer does not start at the first time, I have to use
HW-reset button to start it
2) I have 3 HDD
a) IDE REMOVABLE DISK (for backup)
b) 80 GB SATA disk as system disk
c) 160 GB SATA disk as data disk
each time i change the removable disk the BIOS try to boot from THIS disk,
this is a SYSTEM DECISION beacuse I have not changed nothig (i have to enter
BIOS change BOOT sequence ecc ecc)
If I set the BIOS to start from 80 GB SATA and turn off the PC, remove the
IDE REMOVABLE HDD, turn on the PC, it try to start from 160 SATA DISK
(enter BIOS change boot sequence ecc ecc)
3) Overclocking, I have tried to overclock my system of a 5% via BIOS
configuration -> istability I have to go back
4) I have upgrade BIOS for 1.007 to 1.008 -> the PARALLEL PORT is no more
working
5) in few days I'll trow away this fantastic AI (Artificial Intelligence)
series MOBO, pherhaps too intelligent
that's all
If your hardware has a malfunction, you can go through the RMA
procedure, and get another board. It helps a lot, if you have
a second computer to use, during the two to three weeks it will
take to get a replacement board.
1) A computer that refuses to start at first, can be caused by
many thing. If you own, or can borrow, a PCI POST card, that
can help you determine whether or not the processor is
executing any instructions. For people who own fancy RAM, the
RAM with the LED display (like Corsair makes), you can actually
use those LEDs, to determine whether the processor is doing much
of anything. (Also useful if the computer freezes - if the LEDs
have stopped, then you know the computer is really frozen.)
The problem could be due to power (a bad power supply), a flaky
processor, a bad motherboard. Swapping components one at a time
is not a cost effective way to debug the problem. In some
cases, the problem is a bug in the BIOS. There are even cases
where the "monitor leakage" problem prevents a computer from
starting. Many Asus motherboard have an "AGP warn" circuit, and
if that circuit is defective, or the video card doesn't pull down
TYPEDET#, that will prevent the computer from starting. To
distinguish the type of problem, it is important to note whether
the fans are spinning, as that eliminates the AGP warn and
monitor leakage causes.
There are motherboards which had "cold boot" problems. I think
possibly the P4PE was one of those boards.
Your motherboard has Vocal POST, and you should connect amplified
speakers or your stereo, to the green Lineout connector on the
back of the computer. See if there is any error message when you
first attempt to use the computer.
The first part of solving any problem, is gathering enough
symptom information to make a diagnosis. Returning the
motherboard under warranty, is not a zero cost option, but
it does minimize the amount of time you will need to spend
on fixing it.
2) The BIOS design leaves a lot to be desired. Many people have
issues with the control of startup order on a number of
Asus boards, and AMI is to blame. Asus has fixed (or had AMI
fix) some of the more outrageous bugs in the boot order
control, but really the problem is, the philosophy in the
design is just wrong.
All I can suggest, is attempt to work around the problem.
The BIOS enumerates hardware in a certain fixed order. If
you can manage to put the removable IDE device on a storage
controller, which is enumerated after IDE or SATA, perhaps
that will help. Maybe if you use one of these:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=16-102-027&depa=0
3) Overclocking should not be attempted with any automated tools.
This should only be attempted manually, as you need to observe
the results of each experiment, and feed those results back
into the setup of the hardware. Some of the testing may reveal
that the processor or the RAM is not suited to overclocking.
(Some day, someone will make an automated overclocker routine,
that does a binary search on each control, crashing the computer
and automatically recovering after each experiment. Until that
technology is offered and perfected, the time tested manual
method is the one that yields results.)
4) Parallel ports are easily damaged. They have +5V pins, and if
the wrong pins touch something, destruction can be instantaneous.
The datasheet for the Super I/O chip says it has "enhanced
printer port back-drive current protection". So that reduces
the odds that it is physically damaged.
As I understand it, you should not "hot plug" a parallel port.
The computer should be shut off, before a printer is plugged
in or removed.
I guess you have tried the BIOS related fixes already.
Clearing the CMOS allows the BIOS to reload its data structures
and presumably find the parallel port hardware again. Flashing
the BIOS back to the previous version, would be returning the
machine to a known good configuration.
If that doesn't help, then it is time to RMA.
5) Don't throw it away, use the warranty and get it replaced.
Paul
