K8N Neo4-F "Initializing Floppy Drive Controller" problem

Hello there,
I read the other posts on this topic but the problem is that I dont even get as far as the BIOS.
I get to that looks a lot like something from a grfx card.
And then nothing. Initially I did not have the a FD connected but it is the same with it.
1. Old 350W ATX 20pin
2. 20 to 24 pin ATX
3. MSI K8N Neo4-F
4. AMD Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939
5. MSI NX7100GS (PCI-e grfx)
6. Corsair 512MB
7. Corsair 1024 MB
8. 2xPATA 80GB
9. 2xSATA 160GB
My previous mobo crashed and after some misunderstandings 2,3,4 and 5 are new and the others are old stuff.
Any help appreciated. I can probably get model numbers from the rest of the components. Let me know if you need it (just did not think it was relevant and yes I am quite lazy)
"A forum is not a Christmas tree - please skip the animated avatars"

Quote from: Grayone on 21-March-07, 04:53:26
Have you tried another power supply?  Most 350 watt power supplies do not produce enough 12volt power to run Athlon 64 processor based systems.
I was afraid of this ... the previous processor was an Athlon 64 2800+ but an AGP gfx card. might be the problem ... could anyone confirm this before I buy a new power supply?

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    http://www.fsp-group.com.tw/english/02_products/01_pc_power_supply.asp?modelid=166&modelname=FSP400-60THN
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    Hi,
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    Posted by: keymaker
    hmm......try takin out all of thec computer parts out of the computer case and this time only reseat the following devices: case, motherboard, cpu, ram, and videocard.
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    Posted by: Talannon
    It still freeze the same way with only cpu ram and video card on mobo...
    Posted by: zach1288
    Try leaving your battery out longer, Some CMOS batteries can take up to 8 hours to clear.
    Posted by: linderman
    Welcome to TSF:
    two items for consideration
    A) what is your power supply and specs / this is by FAR the most underated overlooked component that plays such a vital role / the generics PSU just plain cant cut the mustard / they rely on cheap price to lure sales not performance / it doesnt take much of a fluctuation in power to send the newer systems baulking.
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    regards
    joe
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    It could still play a role if I go back in bios and the settings seem to be back at normal? (like the FSB at 200 instead of 400 mhz like I tried to change at first.
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    Posted by: Talannon
    Ok, one other I will add is I noticed a trend. If I start the computer I can usually go all the way and start windows installation but it will stop working right after I hit enter to actually start windows installation. If I reset it will always hang at the beginning and unable to even get into the BIOS...
    If I put the ram in dual channel setting it won't even start on first startup. But if it's on single channel it will at least let me go to the bios and such (but never recognized the floppy). Dual channel take more juice to run?
    With this in mind is it possible that the mobo and/or cpu still be the cause of the problem?
    Anyway I think I will try to get a power supply of at least 450W to test it. Just for testing purpose, can I get any power supply even if it's not antec or enermax as long as it has high voltage? I can test it and if it's working I can always return it and go buy a real power supply from antec or enermax where there is one.
    Posted by: ginger6
    I dont think it is your power supply, the power supply you have should handle what you have got no problem, the problem will be your memory...... are the 2 memory sticks you have identical, ie: same manufacturer, same speed, same chips on the board..... to run in dual channel mode you need both sticks to be exactly identical otherwise you will have problems.
    What brand is the memory, if it is a cheap brand then you may have compatibilty problems.
    Have you run memtest86 when both sticks are inserted but not in dual channel mode?
    Kevin
    live links of this type are no longer allowed outside of the advertising form
    dai
    Posted by: Tumbleweed36
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Talannon
    Ok, one other I will add is I noticed a trend. If I start the computer I can usually go all the way and start windows installation but it will stop working right after I hit enter to actually start windows installation. If I reset it will always hang at the beginning and unable to even get into the BIOS...
    If I put the ram in dual channel setting it won't even start on first startup. But if it's on single channel it will at least let me go to the bios and such (but never recognized the floppy). Dual channel take more juice to run?
    With this in mind is it possible that the mobo and/or cpu still be the cause of the problem?
    Anyway I think I will try to get a power supply of at least 450W to test it. Just for testing purpose, can I get any power supply even if it's not antec or enermax as long as it has high voltage? I can test it and if it's working I can always return it and go buy a real power supply from antec or enermax where there is one.
    Hi,
    Before you go out and get another power supply, you need to make sure you have everything hooked up correctly.
    Try flipping the floppy cable over and see if the BIOS recognizes it. That is a common mistake that all of us make from time to time. The red stripe (pin 1) goes toward the power plug on that one and it is opposite as a rule from the other ribbon cables, because the normal power plug on the hard drives have the power plug on the opposite side.
    Second, tell us exactly what drives you have and how you have them hooked up...here is an example: Maxtor 30 gig IDE, set as master, on the end of the ribbon cable, and connected to IDE #1.
    Third, the memory thing does seem to be an issue. Is the memory that you have listed on the QVL list in the motherboard manual?
    For now, for testing purposes, just leave one stick of Ram in the board, and do follow the instructions in the manual about where that single stick should be. As an example, some boards require that when you use a single stick, that it is in Dimm2, Dimm3, or even Dimm4 instead of Dimm 1. That feature is new to some who don't regularly build, so please check that out before you go too far.
    Let us know these things and we will try to get right back to you.
    Posted by: Talannon
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36
    Try flipping the floppy cable over and see if the BIOS recognizes it. That is a common mistake that all of us make from time to time. The red stripe (pin 1) goes toward the power plug on that one and it is opposite as a rule from the other ribbon cables, because the normal power plug on the hard drives have the power plug on the opposite side.
    It will only go in the way I put it. Other thing is the power supply is an ATX with 20 pin. My manual says it should work but it also says that I could use a 24 pin SSI power supply but never use those. Again I am sure the power supply is in correctly cause I couldn't plug it any other way anyway.
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36
    Second, tell us exactly what drives you have and how you have them hooked up...here is an example: Maxtor 30 gig IDE, set as master, on the end of the ribbon cable, and connected to IDE #1.
    Maxtor 160 gig connected on sata 1 and there doesn't seem to ba master/slave option. Is it because it's SATA? It also seems to be detected as IDE THIRD Master on the first page.
    LG DVD +/- RW in master on ide 1
    Nothing on IDE 2
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36
    Third, the memory thing does seem to be an issue. Is the memory that you have listed on the QVL list in the motherboard manual?
    My ram is PC3200 (DDR 400) it's supported from what I can read in the book
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Tumbleweed36
    For now, for testing purposes, just leave one stick of Ram in the board, and do follow the instructions in the manual about where that single stick should be. As an example, some boards require that when you use a single stick, that it is in Dimm2, Dimm3, or even Dimm4 instead of Dimm 1. That feature is new to some who don't regularly build, so please check that out before you go too far.
    Manual says it should be in a green slot first which is dimm 1 and 3. I put it in dimm 1 ans it should be fine. The setup like it is now, is in the combination list in the manual.
    Posted by: Talannon
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ginger6
    I dont think it is your power supply, the power supply you have should handle what you have got no problem, the problem will be your memory...... are the 2 memory sticks you have identical, ie: same manufacturer, same speed, same chips on the board..... to run in dual channel mode you need both sticks to be exactly identical otherwise you will have problems.
    What brand is the memory, if it is a cheap brand then you may have compatibilty problems.
    Have you run memtest86 when both sticks are inserted but not in dual channel mode?
    Kevin
    I've only run test with the ram installed separately...
    I also bought my ram as dual channel so I got a kit from Kingston KVR. So they should be identical to each other. Kingston is in the list of supported memory on MSI webpage of the motherboard...
    Posted by: Talannon
    So I tested the both ram at the same time but in single channel and no error.
    One thing I notice is when I boot the ram is showed to go at 201 mhz instead of 200. Not sure if it says something...
    Posted by: whodatknocking
    Quote:
    First I get the computer and at first boot I get no video signal. I see that I forgot to put the spacer between MoBo and the case. 
    this might be a real problem, we'll see
    but first:
    go into your bios and relaxe the timings on your ram, maybe 3-4-4-8
    pump the voltage up on the ram a notch,to maybe 2.7 or 2.8
    post back
    Posted by: Talannon
    humm I'm not sure what I should be looking for in the bios for that.
    If I put Timing mode in manual instead of auto I can change a bunch of thing. I have no idea what you mean by 3-4-4-8... There is something in that called CAS# latency (Tcl) which is by default at 2.5 but could change it to 2.0 or 3.0. Is that the voltage?
    Posted by: whodatknocking
    try 3
    no it isnt the voltage, the voltage would be in another spot in the bios
    post back
    Posted by: Talannon
    changed nothing
    I guess I am to a point to check the cpu on another socket 939 MoBo to see if it's the cpu or the MoBo the problem. With everything we tried I start to doubt it could be anything else.

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