STABLE mobo?

[Travis McGee]

Ok, I've spent 2 weeks trying to load XP on my K7N2 Delta
Platinum...............trying with sata (tried everything) and now with a
IDE HD. Dang mobo is flaky! Won't auto detect and I think ver 1.0 is crap.
It's also 2 years old or more.

OK, I'll scrap out the parts, AMD 3000, and Crucial 184 pin mem, but would
like to use the Sata drive. It's a maxtor 80 gig, first gen.

IS there a stable mobo out there that I can use and doesn't need drivers for
sata to boot? Or do they all need them? I'm sick of trying to get this thing
to work!

Thanks!

 

[Pecos]

Ok, I've spent 2 weeks trying to load XP on my K7N2 Delta
Platinum...............trying with sata (tried everything) and now
with a IDE HD. Dang mobo is flaky! Won't auto detect and I think ver
1.0 is crap. It's also 2 years old or more.

OK, I'll scrap out the parts, AMD 3000, and Crucial 184 pin mem, but
would like to use the Sata drive. It's a maxtor 80 gig, first gen.

IS there a stable mobo out there that I can use and doesn't need
drivers for sata to boot? Or do they all need them? I'm sick of trying
to get this thing to work!

Thanks!

Hello Travis,

It could be your mobo, but I have found that it is more often the BIOS
that is flaky. Before you scrap the thing, you could look for any BIOS
updates and try flashing them using the manufacturer suggested
directions. Flashing a BIOS can be a dangerous process if you aren't
careful, so it isn't recommended unless you can get some real benefit
from doing it. That doesn't sound like an issue in your situation. If
you are careful and follow all manufacturer directions, flashing a BIOS
can become *almost* routine.

You could also have a component connected to the motherboard going bad.

I haven't bought a motherboard needing SATA drivers or even heard of the
need for them (RAID drivers yes), but I am relatively new to the hardware
world. You *should* be OK with all new motherboards.

If you decide to get a new motherboard, take a look at the customer
reviews at Newegg.com before your purchase, especially if it is a brand
new bleeding edge mobo. Any flaky BIOS issues should show up there. I
have found for the three mobos I have experience with that Foxconn was
the best. ABIT was also good. Don't even ask me about ECS.

 

[Travis McGee]

Hello Travis,

It could be your mobo, but I have found that it is more often the BIOS
that is flaky. Before you scrap the thing, you could look for any BIOS
updates and try flashing them using the manufacturer suggested
directions.

Yes, already flashed it. However, Win will load onto the sata, but will not
boot from it.

Same thing with the IDE, but after I tried it WITHOUT f6 and installing the
sata drivers, then it does work now. I turned off the sata controllers.


I've used MSI before, but this thing was bleeding edge with everything on
it. Firewire, IR, 1394, sata, etc.......must be too much for the bios to
handle.

I've used Asus in the past, but lately they have had troubles.

I'll try a Foxconn soon for my other hardware.

Thanks, again!

 

[Jon Danniken]

Ok, I've spent 2 weeks trying to load XP on my K7N2 Delta
Platinum...............trying with sata (tried everything) and now with a
IDE HD. Dang mobo is flaky! Won't auto detect and I think ver 1.0 is crap.
It's also 2 years old or more.

OK, I'll scrap out the parts, AMD 3000, and Crucial 184 pin mem, but would
like to use the Sata drive. It's a maxtor 80 gig, first gen.

IS there a stable mobo out there that I can use and doesn't need drivers
for
sata to boot? Or do they all need them? I'm sick of trying to get this
thing
to work!

Did you do an extended test on the RAM with memtest86? Did you test the
stability of the CPU with prime95? Did you test it with a minimum
configuration?

Jon

 

[Yes Baby]

Ok, I've spent 2 weeks trying to load XP on my K7N2 Delta
Platinum...............trying with sata (tried everything) and now with a
IDE HD. Dang mobo is flaky! Won't auto detect and I think ver 1.0 is crap.
It's also 2 years old or more.

OK, I'll scrap out the parts, AMD 3000, and Crucial 184 pin mem, but would
like to use the Sata drive. It's a maxtor 80 gig, first gen.

IS there a stable mobo out there that I can use and doesn't need drivers
for
sata to boot? Or do they all need them? I'm sick of trying to get this
thing
to work!

Thanks!

i can fully recommend an Intel D975XBX2.............manufactured I believe
by Foxconn.

I recently built an ASUS A8V system for my son and had that driver dilemma.
Even if you want to run a Windows Repair you gotta load the driver disc
before it sees the SATA's.

Recently built a system with the above board and no problems at all with
SATA's it aint cheap though.............but you get what you pay for.