New Computer/BIOS won't load

Hi,

Just got the parts for a new computer, my husband put it together... powered it up and hit Delete to enter the BIOS for setup.

It goes to a black screen with the following text and then does nothing.

"A7510NMS V1.0 011508
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz, Speed: 333x9=2997MHz
DRAM Frequency For DDR2 800 (Dual Channel)
Initializing USB Controllers... Done."

ALL parts of that computer are brand new.

I have not been able to make a boot disk or BIOS back-up, as I have not been able to get past the above point.

In addition, on the many times I have tried clearing the CMOS, hitting the reset switches on the mobo and restarting... often when it gets to the screen where you would press a key to get into the BIOS it will hang at that point and no amount of key pressing will make it change screens.

The mobo is a MSI P7N Diamond.

Any ideas?

 

Are you using a USB keyboard? If so, that is the problem. You need to use a PS2 keyboard. Many new motherboards are shipped with USB keyboard support disabled by default. Why? I have no idea. It's really stupid if you ask me, but I think this is where the problem is. Use the PS2 keyboard just once to get into the BIOS and enable USB keyboard support, and all should be well. If you're using a PS2 keyboard, all I can suggest is to try a different keyboard, and/or disconnect and unplug everything not essential to powering up the PC; that includes all drives (CD/DVD/hard drives/floppy), all but one memory chip, remove any modem/ethernet/sound cards, use only one video card. If the keyboard works like that, start re-connecting devices one at a time (power down and unplug the power cord each time) and power on to make sure it is still working normally... sooner or later you should be able to determine the cause of the problem, or maybe it's just that something is slightly loose. Another thing: if you put a motherboard stand-off in a place where there shouldn't be one, it would short the motherboard and cause all sorts of crazy behavior; this is a real possibility when building a new PC....

 

Thank you for the suggestions.

My keyboard is ancient and is definitely not USB. My mouse is, but I use the adapter.

I will try the one at a time method... except for the memory, since it requires both.

The issue was not a lack of keyboard support... several times it recognized my hitting the Delete key and would start to try to load the BIOS, but would get hung up after the USB controller check.

In any case, I will try the one at a time method and report back if that fixes it or produces a different result.

My worry is that the BIOS is trashed.

 

This sound like it could be Front USB Connectors disconnect them and try again. but as dlb says
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I don't think I have to warn, you but I will, that power must be unplugged when doing any work on the MOBO. and that pressing the power button on/off three time is always a good idea to discharge the capacitors


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You think it is the front USB... even though it said 'Done'? Curious. What makes you say that? (I would like to learn.)

Well, I checked all connections after removing the assorted drives and audio card. The mobo doesn't have on-board video, so that card had to stay, but still no change.

:-D No, you don't have to warn me to unplug it. :-D I have been the one who cleans everyone else's machines for years. I know better than to stick my hand in there when it is plugged in and I am very careful when cleaning the inside of the PSU too.

However, I did not know about pressing the button three times to discharge the capacitors... Thank you for that bit of info!

At this point I am ready to send it back for a replacement, considering I am not in a hurry to buy a new BIOS chip, when the board I just bought should have worked fine.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and post, I really appreciate it.

 

Another stupid question, I know it did not ask for it, but did you try F1 and/or F2 to bypass it

 

If the mobo hangs without proceeding to an error message, with nothing (including a keyboard) but a graphics card connected then

Don't waste any more time, send the whole board back it's most probably faulty.

 

lol Yes, I tried everything I could think of... even a few things I had to pause after doing and tell myself that Linux is not loaded on it... for that matter, neither is Winduhz. lol

But thanks, I am going with door number two... return it.

 

Thanks, StudioT, I had reached that same conclusion... but it is always nice to have a someone else (with more knowledge and experience) second it!

Cheers

 

Yeah- if you've tried all the above suggestions, it is probably a bad board. It happens. You shouldn't have to do anything 'tricky' with a brand new board. You have tried all the standard troubleshooting without results; return it for a replacement. :-D

 

**With RMA number in hand, I boldly sally forth**

Yep, roughly 4-10 days from now I should have a new mobo, let's hope it is better than the first one. :-D

Thanks again, Ya'll!

 

Turns out the BIOS version was wrong for the CPU.

I had to get ahold of a different CPU, install Windows, update the BIOS, then put in my CPU. Worked just fine... except for the whole XP/nVidia driver/SATA drives issue, but that is another story.

 

That's what my Banker said when I asked where my savings had gone.

Glad you had a better result