Problems with desktop

I would like some help on this "small" problem I have with my NEC desktop celeron 333Mhz computer. The problem is that whenever I turn on the computer it brings me to the setup utility and i can't exit without restarting. before i have to restart it gives me a message (the system must be turned off and the jumper moved back for the settings to take effect. it is now safe to turn the system off now.) What should I do? Please Help i'm kinda new to this thing.

 

Desktop machines don't usually take you to the setup screen unless there is a configuration problem of some kind. Is there any error message preceding the appearance of the setup screen that might give us a clue?

You might also check the motherboard manual for the proper position of the jumper that clears the CMOS. It may have been left in the the "clear CMOS" position instead of the "normal" position.

 

I wish I could look at the motherboard manual but the motherboard came with the computer and without the manual about 7 years ago. there is no error message that comes before the bios utility setup screen just the NEC logo.

 

You might be able to download a copy of the manual from NEC's website at <www.nec.com>. It would make it a lot easier to find and identify the CMOS jumper, and to determine how it should be set for normal use.

You could also take a careful look at the jumpers you can see on your motherboard. Some have identification markings that make it possible to identify their function without reference to a manual. If you're lucky, you'll see a 3-pin header marked "CMOS" or including that expression. If you're unlucky, all you'll see is "J24" or some other identification number.

If you can find a 3-pin header marked with a phrase including "CMOS", try moving the jumper to the other pair of pins on the header, and re-starting. If it doesn't have the desired effect, shut down and put it back the way it was.

I don't guarantee that this idea will work. I won't even guarantee that it won't hurt your computer. So get the manual from NEC if you possibly can.

 

I did the dumbest thing ever. I found out why my desktop wasn't working. i didn't know what the jumper was and I thought it was an "extra" part. then I thought I would lose it if I took it out so I put it back in the wrong place. I feel like I need to be hit. Thanks for helping me realize my stupid misteak.

 

ok now it works, sorta. I get this error that says
Fixed Disk 0: FUJITSU MPC3064AT-(SM)
ERROR
02B0: Diskette drive A error
then it says press escape to resume, F2 to setup
I can go around it but I would like to fix it.

 

Check the signal cable (the 34-line ribbon) and make sure that it's firmly seated, properly engages all pins on the headers at both ends of the cable, and hasn't been mounted backwards. The marked edge of the cable should run between Pin 1 on the motherboard and Pin 1 on the floppy drive.

While you're in there, make sure that the power cable is properly seated.

If you have only one floppy drive on that signal cable, make sure that the drive is attached to the end of the cable, not its middle. The middle connection is for a B: drive, if you have one.

Also check the floppy setup in the BIOS. Some BIOSes will show a 02B0 error if the drive is misidentified.

If none of the above didn't work, you could have a bad signal cable. Try a replacement -- they're not expensive.

As for the other problem: You're doing OK. You recognised the problem, and fixed it. If you're looking for a safe place to store a jumper cap that isn't needed, just slide it onto one of the pins on the header that might need it some day.

 

How can I correctly identify the flopy drive. I think thats the problem because it doesn't recognize the drive. I belive its a slave but I'm not sure. I need more advice on the matter.

 

Floppy drives use a much older controller technology than hard drives. While there may be two floppy drives on the cable, they don't have the same relationship to one another as do two hard drives on the same IDE channel. The master/slave relationship does not exist with floppy drives. There is also no auto-identification feature for floppy drives. You have to set up the BIOS for each floppy drive yourself.

There are usually no jumpers to set on a floppy drive. You'll have noticed that there is a twist in line nos. 10-16 between the middle and the end connectors on the signal cable. That reversal of signal lines is what lets the BIOS know which is the A: drive and which is the B: drive.

As a result, the A: drive is always the one at the end of the 34-line cable (beyond the twist). The B: drive (when connected) is always connected to the middle connector of the floppy drive cable (before the twist). What you may have to do is make sure that your BIOS is correctly set for the type of floppy drive that is connected to each of those positions. In other words: if a 3 1/2" floppy drive is attached to the cable beyond the twist, it's your A: drive, and make sure that your BIOS describes the A: drive as a 3 1/2" drive (1.44MB), not a 5 1/4" drive (1.2MB). If the BIOS isn't set up right for your floppy drive(s), change the settings appropriately.

Some BIOSes have a setting that allows you to reverse the A:/B: connection. Make sure it's properly set for your system if that option exists in your BIOS.

One question: does the floppy drive light come on and stay on at boot-up? If so, the signal cable is probably on backwards. Make sure that the marked edge of the signal cable goes to Pin 1 on the motherboard and on the drive. On the floppy drive, Pin 1 is usually at the end of the header nearest to the power connection. But not always.

If the light never comes on (doesn't even flash during startup) check the drive's power connection.