Please Help: A7V8X-MX w/ Barton 2500+ Random Resets

[mikec]

Hi Everyone,

I just picked up a new system but I'm having a serious problem with it
randomnly reseting back to the BIOS screen and I can't seem to figure
out what the problem is. It seems to happen a lot when I'm loaded in a
application and at the same time using Windows Explorer to view files,
etc.

Also, another interesting thing that might be related...currently, I
have a hard drive plugged into the primary master the my CD-ROM into
the primary slave. I have the secondary disabled. If I remove the
CD-ROM (physically disconnecting it), the system doesn't boot. It
seems to wait and wait at the opening BIOS screen and, finally, the
"Detecting IDE..." prompt comes up but it just sits there. I haven't
really left it for more than a few minutes so who knows if it will
eventually boot. When I reconnect the CD-ROM, it boots with no
problems.

I decided to do a reinstall after a number of crashes and it even
crashed when only Windows XP and the VIA 4-in-1 was installed so I can
pretty much rule out any application problems.

I guess I'mm trying to figure out if this is a motherboard, cpu or RAM
issue. Is there any software out there that can do a hardware test?

Here's my system:

Asus A7V8X-MX
AMD Athlon 2500+ Barton
512 MB RAM DDR-400 (runs at 333)
ATI Radeon 8500 LE 120 MB
Western Digital 80 GB HD
LG CD-ROM 8322B
Windows XP
VIA Hyperion 4in1 4.51v

Any help would be great.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Tim]

Mike,

If this is the condition you picked the unit up in, then send it back & tell
the supplier you want it configured correctly and 100% stable.

- Tim

 

[JimBob]

hi,
I assume you have the hard disk set to master and the CD-ROM to slave. When
you disconnect the CD-ROM do you also pull the connector on the hard drive
that sets it to master?

 

[mikec]

Hi Tim,

If this is the condition you picked the unit up in, then send it back & tell
the supplier you want it configured correctly and 100% stable.

I took it back yesterday.

 

[mikec]

Hi JimBob,

I assume you have the hard disk set to master and the CD-ROM to slave. When
you disconnect the CD-ROM do you also pull the connector on the hard drive

The jumpers were set properly. It's a drive that I took out of an
older, P3 system and added into the new one. The drive was always set
to master (I've never changed it).

Again, if there's nothing on the slave, BIOS doesn't see it. If I add
somethng to the slave, it shows up. The HD now has the same problem in
my other P3 system (it didn't before). The only way the HD is
recognized is if I put the jumper on cable select. I think I might
just RMA the drive since it's still under warrranty.

 

[JimBob]

Hi,
You said you were using a Western Digital 80GB hard drive. I only commented
because earlier WD drives said to set the jumper to the neutral position of
a ten pin type drive if it was the only drive on the IDE. I just installed a
new WD 80GB drive which is labeled with the master and slave position. On
the new drive it says to leave it jumperless if it is the only drive on the
IDE. In my previous post I called the jumper a connector I hope that didn't
cause any confusion.

 

[Tim]

Let us know how you get on.
- TIm

Hi Tim,


I took it back yesterday.