P4S8X Problems..

[Lifeforce]

I recently purchased new components in hopes of putting together a new PC. I have the following setup:

Asus P4S8X
Intel P4 2.53GHz
Mushkin 512MB PC2700
ATi 9700 Pro
Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum eX
Western Digital 120GB
Pioneer A04
Pine 52X CD-ROM

All of that sitting in an Antec 1080 case with a 430W PSU. The PC posts. Detects the HD sitting in the primary IDE channel. However, it will not detect either the DVDR/CDROM (sitting in the secondary IDE channel). I have tried booting the HD from the secondary IDE channel and it still won't recognize it. Conversely I've tried booting with the DVDR/CDROM connected to the primary IDE channel and the BIOS detects both without any difficulty.

My questions are; Is there a problem with the motherboard's physical secondary IDE channel? Has anyone else experienced any difficulties with this motherboard?

Note: I have attempted booting from the ATA133/RAID controller and it works just fine. The only problem I see is the secondary IDE channel and I don't know if it's something installed which could be causing the problem or whether the secondary IDE channel is just borked!

 

[Elvis2]

First off, be sure both IDE channels are enabled in the bios (both enabled in default settings)then reseat or replace IDE cable.
Also, you might want to read this. It's along thread but contains some info on that video card and problems with the P4S8X (one of the reasons I sold mine).ATI 9700 & 8x woes
Hope this helps.

 

[Lifeforce]

As for your first suggestion, I have double checked and made sure both IDE channels are enabled (this is set by default). I am going to take a look at that thread; though everything seems to work fine with the exception of the secondary IDE channel. I'm rather doubtful that it could be the video card. Will a legacy AGP 4X video card, such as the GeForce 2MX, work with this motherboard?

 

[Elvis2]

Will a legacy AGP 4X video card, such as the GeForce 2MX, work with this motherboard?

Shouldn't be a problem. I'm running my GF4 in it now.

 

[Lifeforce]

Well, seeing as how nothing is helping, I'm going to strip this motherboard down and hopefully get it exchanged. I'm quite sure that the secondary IDE channel was somehow damaged. Could even have been a design flaw. This is quite disappointing.

 

[Elvis2]

Did you read that thread regarding the ATI 9700? It appears that even the tech guys at Asus are suggesting that because of the problems with trying to run 8X agp that maybe the boards should be exchanged for something else. That really sux, especially from a company like Asus. What's the world coming to?

 

[Lifeforce]

It is definitely not the video card. I have just finished testing the same setup with an ABit Siluro GeForce 2MX and the BIOS still refuses to detect anything attached to the secondary IDE channel. From what I have read on the various forums. Only a handful of users are experiencing problems with the ATi Radeon 9700. I'm sure any problems surfacing from this video card will be cleared up with BIOS upgrades. At any rate, it seems only natural now to assume that the motherboard is defective and settle for a replacement.

 

[bargenner]

Check out this one. Connection to the front usb of the case is a known issue..

Link

Hope this help,

bargenner

 

[Lifeforce]

Thanks a million bargenner. Who would have thought that crossed wires would pose such a problem? I have removed the front USB connecters in question and amazingly the secondary IDE channel is now operational. Was driving me absolutely nuts! Well, I'm now off to try and get Windows XP installed. As a side note, I hope that either Antec or Asus come out with a fix for this. Perhaps an exact diagram or an explanation of which wires to bypass/cross.

 

[Lifeforce]

I managed to fix the IDE problem. However, now after formatting the HD to NTFS using Windows XP I am experiencing this problem during installation: PAGE_FAULT_AT_NONPAGE_AREA (something close anyhow). Does anyone know what the cause of this could be? I will update the BIOS right now and see whether or not that helps. BTW: Everything is running at default (no OC'ing here, yet).

 

[First]

Lifeforce, I guess you already fixed your optical drive issues? If you haven't you should make sure that the jumper(s) on the back of your optical drive(s) are placed in the correct position(s).

Also, that "PAGE_FAULT_AT_NONPAGE_AREA" message you're getting has something to do with your copy of Windows XP. Is it legit, because that may be the issue...

 

[Lifeforce]

The jumpers for all of the devices attached to the IDE controllers are fine. As for my copy of Microsoft Windows XP, it is VERY legit. It is store bought with a CDKEY, etc. I've even thought of calling Microsoft's customer service. However, my previous conversations with their technical support have left me with more questions than answers.

 

[Rick67]

Lifeforce,

I'm very interested in the problems you're having installing Windows XP because I think I've been experiencing the exact same problem. BTW, I also have a legal copy of XP.

Here's what happened to me:

I replaced my P4S8X with the P4T533-C and I couldn't get Windows XP to load. I tried everything and even did a low level format on my HDD. I thought it might have something to do with swapping mobos and using the same HDD so I also replaced the HDD with no luck. I was also getting a error saying something about "NTLDR" was missing. Were you getting this?

I'd get about half way through copying the Windows XP files and I'd either get a page fault error or it would say it couldn't copy a file. If I skipped the file it would say it couldn't copy the next file. With the same hardware using the P4S8X and PC2700 the OS loaded fine.

I chalked it up to a problem with the mobo and/or memory and RMAed it. Not sure what to replace it with now.