Can't get MSI MB to post

[thepep]

Hello. Unfortunately this is my first post here and it is because of a problem. I am building a computer for a friend and ordered all new components. The system is built around an MSI K8T800 Neo motherboard (http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8T_Neo-FSR&class=mb). I just got this motherboard yesterday and installed it with the following brand new components:
Aspire X Dreamer II case w/ 350 watt power supply
Athlon 64 3200+
512 MB Corsair PC3200 Value Ram
eVGA GeForce 6600GT video card w/ 128mb ram
Samsung 17" LCD monitor
Seagate SATA hard drive
cd/dvd drive

Hooked everything up, turned on computer with Windows XP in cd drive. The cpu and case fans turned on, heard hard drive spin but that was it. No post. I read the D-Bracket 2 diagnostic LCDs and they were one green in upper left and the rest were red. This is the second code listed in the manual and means Early Chipset Initialization. There is no progression after this. I don't know what this means. Here is what I did to troubleshoot:

- disconnected everything accept cpu/fan and memory and tried restart. I was looking for the diagnostic codes to go one step further. same result
- reseated memory and power supply connectors. same result
- removed motherboard from case to isolate it from potential short. no change
- tried Antec Neopower 480 watt power supply from my computer. no change.
- tested cmos battery. good at 3 volts.

Any suggestions? It appears to me that the motherboard is bad. I have no way to test the cpu although it was brand new. If it was bad, I believe I would have 4 red LCDs on the D-Bracket 2 as this is the first code listed.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Cybercraig]

Default the CMOS and try again. You should do that automatically with a new build anyway. Hopefully it will work. PS: You did plug in the 4 pin CPU power plug, right?


Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Cybercraig on 03/19/05 10:19 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[thepep]

I took out the cmos battery for about 15 minutes to test the voltage so that counts as resetting to default correct? No change after doing this. Yes, I have both the ATX connector and the 4 pin power plug connected. Also switched power supplies and still nothing. I called my local PC Warehouse and they charge a minimum of $50 for diagnostics.

 

[pat]

I could advice you to return the board and getting anything else but MSI or Asus, but that will end up on an useless bashing thread, so I wont.

that being said, I had to get 4 or 5 MSI motherboard to finally have one that lasted for more than 4 days.. MSI quality seem not being constant, so that might be the problem.

Problems with fast stock board is, they often run on the edge of stability, as their component are thightly timed. if it happen that one get out of spec, then the whole thing fail. That why I rather buy more current motherboard and tune them manually.

You cant try to boot it up holding the INSERT key or DEL key, just to see... sometime, that bypass the current BIOS setting, allowing a safe POST to finally get into BIOS.

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[thepep]

Well, I confirmed it was definitely the MB that was bad. I bought another MB locally (as I will be building another computer for my Dad in about a month). Put in the same Athlon cpu, video card and memory. Fired up like a charm. Already sent email to see what return procedures are. Thanks for all who replied!!!

 

[pat]

same brand or different one??


-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[thepep]

I don't know what more you could possibly do. I tried everything that a person can do at home and NOTHING WORKED or changed the symptoms so if thats not confirmation enough for you...what more would you do?

 

[thepep]

Same brand but slightly different model as I couldn't find the exact model in stock. Got a K8M Neo-V.

 

[pat]

being a MSI, I would say yes, it is a confirmation. he got another one thou... might post back later too..

How come I hate MSI board like that...

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Rugger]

You're not alone in the "I don't like MSI" boat...

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[pat]

What about my new sig?

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware, UNLESS YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A MSI BOARD !!!

 

[Rugger]

*ROFL* I LIKE!

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[Rugger]

I noticed it last night - 20 MINS! SHEESH!

__________________________________________________
<font color=red>You're a boil on the arse of progress - don't make me squeeze you!</font color=red>

 

[Cybercraig]

That's mean, dude. I'll have to e-mail that to MSI. They've been pretty good lately but I think everybody has an "MSI blows!" story to tell.

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot