Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!
Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!
-
Congratulations Rhinorhino on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!
Any Experts on Front Panel Connectors Please?? 3
- Thread starter eponymous
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #21
Edfair and Garebo,
Many thanks. Not quite there yet. Located power switch (7&8 ) and power led (3&4). Haven’t sorted HDD led yet (but not got machine to boot yet). When power up first get Nvidia comment (which always precedes boot). Then simply IBM logo. Not sure whether this should be happening or what to do next?? Is it possible I had a fault in CPU (rather than dead mobo)? Could it be because I’ve put a stick of Seimens rather than IBM Ram? Could it simply be there is a next step I need to know? Lots of questions I’m afraid – the toe is definitely in the water. Once again, thanks for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
Many thanks. Not quite there yet. Located power switch (7&8 ) and power led (3&4). Haven’t sorted HDD led yet (but not got machine to boot yet). When power up first get Nvidia comment (which always precedes boot). Then simply IBM logo. Not sure whether this should be happening or what to do next?? Is it possible I had a fault in CPU (rather than dead mobo)? Could it be because I’ve put a stick of Seimens rather than IBM Ram? Could it simply be there is a next step I need to know? Lots of questions I’m afraid – the toe is definitely in the water. Once again, thanks for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
Well, at least i was right about the power-on being number 7 & 8.
Anyway,eponymous, you mentioned that edfair said you have to use IBM ram. I have never heard of this, not sure what that means. I didnt think IBM made ram or had any ram branded with their name, is that what you guys are talking about?
I have had 3 of these motherboards, all identical and the one i have now, that i have mentioned above, i did have running at one time and it has kingmax ram in it. And the other 2, i think they were standard, generic type ram. One of them i could check out, its with a customer of mine. Now i bow to edfairs superior knowledge and i could be all wrong here, but i swear that i used all different ram sticks in my units and had no problems. Could it be because i have a different make and model of mobo, i dont know? The 3 motherboards are all still from what was originally a netvista, same make and model as i listed above.
I dont mean to start an argument or say anyone is wrong or that i am right, im saying this has been my experience with the 3 boards i have had, got them all at the same time. Probably Edfair has the answer.
As an aside, i even have an original 40 gig maxtor hard drive that came with this unit, its got the operating system on it plus the restore program on it. I had formatted the first two before i even realized this, so i didnt format the last hard drive and i used a larger one and put the 40 gig drive aside in case i needed it for some reason.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Anyway,eponymous, you mentioned that edfair said you have to use IBM ram. I have never heard of this, not sure what that means. I didnt think IBM made ram or had any ram branded with their name, is that what you guys are talking about?
I have had 3 of these motherboards, all identical and the one i have now, that i have mentioned above, i did have running at one time and it has kingmax ram in it. And the other 2, i think they were standard, generic type ram. One of them i could check out, its with a customer of mine. Now i bow to edfairs superior knowledge and i could be all wrong here, but i swear that i used all different ram sticks in my units and had no problems. Could it be because i have a different make and model of mobo, i dont know? The 3 motherboards are all still from what was originally a netvista, same make and model as i listed above.
I dont mean to start an argument or say anyone is wrong or that i am right, im saying this has been my experience with the 3 boards i have had, got them all at the same time. Probably Edfair has the answer.
As an aside, i even have an original 40 gig maxtor hard drive that came with this unit, its got the operating system on it plus the restore program on it. I had formatted the first two before i even realized this, so i didnt format the last hard drive and i used a larger one and put the 40 gig drive aside in case i needed it for some reason.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
The particular models I service would not recognize generic. Ended up buying IBM off ebay.
It is quite possible that various models of netvista will accept different timing modules. Mine were a gigabyte board. I suspect that the IBM website will have specific requirements. But then again, they would say that their memory is all that will run.
Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.
It is quite possible that various models of netvista will accept different timing modules. Mine were a gigabyte board. I suspect that the IBM website will have specific requirements. But then again, they would say that their memory is all that will run.
Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.
-
1
- #25
rclarke250
Technical User
Siemens will work,IBM uses it,along with other manufacturers. 1 & 2 will be the HDD LEDS. Should handle any unbuffered sdram 3.3v in 64,128,or 256. It will not likely recognize the 512 as a 256, it should give beep codes though. IBM did away with proprietary memory for PC's a few years ago, and went standard. Along with gigabyte boards there are also boards made by Acer,and more recently MSI. Same cap issue with the MSI as with some of the gigabyte boards.
Come to think of it, and now that you mention it, i am pretty certain at least one of the 3 i had did have a 256 mb stick of Siemens ram in it.
rclarke250 and edfair, thanks for the explanation. I figured it had to do with the fact that the make of and model of the units i had were different from the other 2 mentioned here.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
rclarke250 and edfair, thanks for the explanation. I figured it had to do with the fact that the make of and model of the units i had were different from the other 2 mentioned here.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #27
Edfair, Garebo and Rclarke250,
Many thanks for this. Am beginning to make progress. Looks like the seimens is working OK. When I checked IDE cables discovered HDD cable wasn’t fitting as well as it might. Still no boot but have inched towards it. Bios setup cut in with POST Startup errors:
135 Fan Failure - assumed this provoked by different ways PSUs wired in attached free-standing fan to fan connector (13) - removed error message - is proprietary PSU wiring the issue or will an additional fan be needed?
184 Asset control antenna not detected?? - Is this of any significance?
167 No processor bios update found?? - Does this mean it is detecting a new CPU for which a corresponding updated bios is required? Is this merely a question of reconfiguring the bios or something more substantial like flashing the bios? If you clear the CMOS does that also reset bios defaults? Is it also wishful thinking for there to be some kind of auto-detect which will reconfigure any change in CPU?
If not we may have problems. The bios message is probably hanging. It states that it will change in 5 sec and does not. Also, whilst the keyboard lights up in the usual way, I has no effect.
Rclarke250 thanks for identifying the HDD Led. Unfortunately, have been unable to test it as I believe it doesn’t activate until the start of boot up?? Re: 512k RAM can I double-check I understand you correctly. There is no risk to RAM or computer. All that will happen is that it will be read as 256k. Will be recognised as incorrect size by beeps but beyond that won’t cause any harm??
Hopefully, these are minor teething problems and bootup is in reach. Thank you all for your help and patience.
Regards,
Denis
Many thanks for this. Am beginning to make progress. Looks like the seimens is working OK. When I checked IDE cables discovered HDD cable wasn’t fitting as well as it might. Still no boot but have inched towards it. Bios setup cut in with POST Startup errors:
135 Fan Failure - assumed this provoked by different ways PSUs wired in attached free-standing fan to fan connector (13) - removed error message - is proprietary PSU wiring the issue or will an additional fan be needed?
184 Asset control antenna not detected?? - Is this of any significance?
167 No processor bios update found?? - Does this mean it is detecting a new CPU for which a corresponding updated bios is required? Is this merely a question of reconfiguring the bios or something more substantial like flashing the bios? If you clear the CMOS does that also reset bios defaults? Is it also wishful thinking for there to be some kind of auto-detect which will reconfigure any change in CPU?
If not we may have problems. The bios message is probably hanging. It states that it will change in 5 sec and does not. Also, whilst the keyboard lights up in the usual way, I has no effect.
Rclarke250 thanks for identifying the HDD Led. Unfortunately, have been unable to test it as I believe it doesn’t activate until the start of boot up?? Re: 512k RAM can I double-check I understand you correctly. There is no risk to RAM or computer. All that will happen is that it will be read as 256k. Will be recognised as incorrect size by beeps but beyond that won’t cause any harm??
Hopefully, these are minor teething problems and bootup is in reach. Thank you all for your help and patience.
Regards,
Denis
As for the ram, it may or may not work properly, from what the other 2 people here have said, it may only show and use 256 mb, but if you are ok with that then its likely ok, but you never know for sure. If the computer boots then its likely only. But you wont do any type of harm to the motherboard, i dont know for certain, but pretty sure on that part as i have had that issue when installing ram.
As for the fans, you may find a way to disable or re-set fan situation inside the bios. As long as you have your cpu fan hooked to the correct place on the motherboard, you wont have any problems with that.
As for the bios version, it may be saying that the current bios isnt new enough to handle the cpu you have installed.
What mhz and fsb cpu are you using?
What is the date on the bios, which you can see on the first page when you try to boot up?
The asset control is a sort of safety or security device. It may be the same as "chassis intrusion" or another similar type of safety or security device. Pretty sure you can disable that in bios as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
As for the fans, you may find a way to disable or re-set fan situation inside the bios. As long as you have your cpu fan hooked to the correct place on the motherboard, you wont have any problems with that.
As for the bios version, it may be saying that the current bios isnt new enough to handle the cpu you have installed.
What mhz and fsb cpu are you using?
What is the date on the bios, which you can see on the first page when you try to boot up?
The asset control is a sort of safety or security device. It may be the same as "chassis intrusion" or another similar type of safety or security device. Pretty sure you can disable that in bios as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #29
Garebo,
Many thanks - very helpful.
With regard to the fans. The CPU fan was working fine. Just the PSU/auxillary fan wasn’t plugged in where expected - and this is where the reading was obviously being taken from.
I think you’re absolutely right about the cpu and bios. The person before was running a PIII 800Mhz. I am running a PIII 866/256/133. I’ve done a bit of research and it looks like a flash bios will be required.
The major problem is that so far still have not booted!!
1. POST Startup error comes up first.
2. Hangs // or possibly incompatible bios rendering keyboard inoperable??
So far haven’t got to:
- p1 of boot bios date etc
- can’t get into bios setup
Hoping there is fairly straight for fix as otherwise a Catch22 as need both bios setup and to be able to boot to sort out bios upgrade etc …
Is clearing CMOS likely to be of benefit and will it reset bios defaults?
Once again, very many thanks for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
Many thanks - very helpful.
With regard to the fans. The CPU fan was working fine. Just the PSU/auxillary fan wasn’t plugged in where expected - and this is where the reading was obviously being taken from.
I think you’re absolutely right about the cpu and bios. The person before was running a PIII 800Mhz. I am running a PIII 866/256/133. I’ve done a bit of research and it looks like a flash bios will be required.
The major problem is that so far still have not booted!!
1. POST Startup error comes up first.
2. Hangs // or possibly incompatible bios rendering keyboard inoperable??
So far haven’t got to:
- p1 of boot bios date etc
- can’t get into bios setup
Hoping there is fairly straight for fix as otherwise a Catch22 as need both bios setup and to be able to boot to sort out bios upgrade etc …
Is clearing CMOS likely to be of benefit and will it reset bios defaults?
Once again, very many thanks for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
you're very welcome.
Well, it wont hurt to re-set the bios. Make sure you read the manual on how to do so as it can vary a bit from mobo to mobo.
Could it also be that the cpu you have has a fsb of 133 and maybe your mobo only takes 100 fsb?
You can find out by going to the mfgr website and get the list of allowable cpu's, if you havent already done so.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Well, it wont hurt to re-set the bios. Make sure you read the manual on how to do so as it can vary a bit from mobo to mobo.
Could it also be that the cpu you have has a fsb of 133 and maybe your mobo only takes 100 fsb?
You can find out by going to the mfgr website and get the list of allowable cpu's, if you havent already done so.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
rclarke250
Technical User
Those are normal errors on an IBM any time something is changed...download and flash the BIOS. then go into cmos settings and choose load default settings, twice, then save, then exit and reboot it should work ok.
- Thread starter
- #32
Garebo and Rclarke250,
Many thanks. CPU is compatible. Also states processor speeds are fixed and are determined by the processor and no settings are required.
Unfortunately, it is still not possible to flash the or change CMOS settings because so far have still been unable to access bios setup/boot.
Have cleared CMOS. Screen blank during process and did think I could hear HDD for first time. When set back to normal setting and just got logo (though POST Startup Errors have now disappeared)
Not sure whether hanging or keyboard problem:
a) Disconnect Keyboard and Mouse - Logo only.
b) Connect Keyboard and Mouse - Logo + comments at bottom of screen:
- Press F1 for Configure/Setup
- Press Esc for Fast POST
But keyboard still inactive.
Unless this is something easily fixable - or something I’m missing - it looks like we may have hit a brick wall. Any ideas please? Thanks again for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
Many thanks. CPU is compatible. Also states processor speeds are fixed and are determined by the processor and no settings are required.
Unfortunately, it is still not possible to flash the or change CMOS settings because so far have still been unable to access bios setup/boot.
Have cleared CMOS. Screen blank during process and did think I could hear HDD for first time. When set back to normal setting and just got logo (though POST Startup Errors have now disappeared)
Not sure whether hanging or keyboard problem:
a) Disconnect Keyboard and Mouse - Logo only.
b) Connect Keyboard and Mouse - Logo + comments at bottom of screen:
- Press F1 for Configure/Setup
- Press Esc for Fast POST
But keyboard still inactive.
Unless this is something easily fixable - or something I’m missing - it looks like we may have hit a brick wall. Any ideas please? Thanks again for all your help.
All the best,
Denis
rclarke250
Technical User
try holding the F1 key down while powering it on. Sometimes the timing and logo are not right. And holding down the key at power on will kick it into bios settings.
Also, if you can, try using a different keyboard and mouse. We just had a thread where the person couldnt boot up, big long thread, he replaced the mouse and all was well. So try that if you can.
Also, disconnect the floppy while trying to get the computer to boot, you can re-connect it at any time anyway and its possible something wrong with the floppy will prevent you from booting up.
We'll get you going sooner or later.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Also, disconnect the floppy while trying to get the computer to boot, you can re-connect it at any time anyway and its possible something wrong with the floppy will prevent you from booting up.
We'll get you going sooner or later.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #35
Rclarke250 and Garebo,
Thanks for this. Resulted in some development though still not quite there yet.
1. Holding down F1 not resulted in setup though does suggest some life in keyboard:
a) Hold down F1 while powering up - just logo
b) Don’t hold down F1 while powering up - get logo + F1 & Esc footnotes
2. Still not sure whether POST completed/ or where Boot begins/ or where Logo is located in sequence:
- no single beep … (or HDD led) … so possible POST incomplete??
- does IBM logo mark end of POST/ beginning of boot / or does memory count mark the beginning/ or does IBM log have nothing to do with boot sequence?
- think I may have “heard” activity “behind” logo - IDE autodetect. - maybe wishful thinking that computer has not hung?? … probably round about now start hearing things!
3. Tried different, keyboard, mouse, & FDD + connected/disconnected FDD etc and hasn’t changed things.
This seems to be at the borderline of POST and boot and am wondering whether it might be worth running a troubleshoot on POST first and would welcome advice on what would be the best series of tests to run.
Once again, thank you both for your help.
All the best,
Denis
Thanks for this. Resulted in some development though still not quite there yet.
1. Holding down F1 not resulted in setup though does suggest some life in keyboard:
a) Hold down F1 while powering up - just logo
b) Don’t hold down F1 while powering up - get logo + F1 & Esc footnotes
2. Still not sure whether POST completed/ or where Boot begins/ or where Logo is located in sequence:
- no single beep … (or HDD led) … so possible POST incomplete??
- does IBM logo mark end of POST/ beginning of boot / or does memory count mark the beginning/ or does IBM log have nothing to do with boot sequence?
- think I may have “heard” activity “behind” logo - IDE autodetect. - maybe wishful thinking that computer has not hung?? … probably round about now start hearing things!
3. Tried different, keyboard, mouse, & FDD + connected/disconnected FDD etc and hasn’t changed things.
This seems to be at the borderline of POST and boot and am wondering whether it might be worth running a troubleshoot on POST first and would welcome advice on what would be the best series of tests to run.
Once again, thank you both for your help.
All the best,
Denis
rclarke250
Technical User
The logo hides the post, and of course anything usefull it has to tell you. It can be disabled if you could get into the bios setup. disable quick boot mode.
I still think that you should be able to create a bios flash disk,from the IBM website, then flash by booting to the disk. Until that is done, and can clear the errrors,some IBM system boards would refuse to go any farther in the boot.
I still think that you should be able to create a bios flash disk,from the IBM website, then flash by booting to the disk. Until that is done, and can clear the errrors,some IBM system boards would refuse to go any farther in the boot.
Im not arguing with rclarke above at all, but i had an IBM system and the way to get in bios is not standard "delete" button. Its an F-something if i recall.
Try booting up and holding F3 as i think that may be the one that will get you into the bios.
Once in the bios you can set it not to boot up with the logo and you can also "reset" the bios by going to the "minimum" or similar setting and clicking on that and then save and exit, not just exit.
Once you get that far and eliminate the logo, the key to get into bios always appears anyways. i think its F3.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Try booting up and holding F3 as i think that may be the one that will get you into the bios.
Once in the bios you can set it not to boot up with the logo and you can also "reset" the bios by going to the "minimum" or similar setting and clicking on that and then save and exit, not just exit.
Once you get that far and eliminate the logo, the key to get into bios always appears anyways. i think its F3.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Its been a while since i worked on the 3 IBM netvista's i take care of, sorry about that. It is F1, i dont know what i was thinking of.
Have you tried to re-set the bios yet? I think you have, but i would do it again. It cleared some issues before, may clear more this time. Disconnect all power to mobo, take coin battery out, move jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3, leave that way for 10 minutes, then put all back to where it was, jumper on pins 1 and 2 and boot up. That is the standard way to re-set the bios. Maybe check manual or IBM website for other instructions on that, but i am pretty sure the netvista follows the standard procedure.
Dont forget to save and exit instead of just exit.
Check for any odd settings as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
Have you tried to re-set the bios yet? I think you have, but i would do it again. It cleared some issues before, may clear more this time. Disconnect all power to mobo, take coin battery out, move jumper from pins 1 and 2 to pins 2 and 3, leave that way for 10 minutes, then put all back to where it was, jumper on pins 1 and 2 and boot up. That is the standard way to re-set the bios. Maybe check manual or IBM website for other instructions on that, but i am pretty sure the netvista follows the standard procedure.
Dont forget to save and exit instead of just exit.
Check for any odd settings as well.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
- Thread starter
- #40
Rclarke250, Edfair and Garebo,
Thank you for this and all your help. It is now clear that there is some kind of a fault. If everything was in proper order I would have been able to:
1) Clear CMOS and reset bios defaults.
2) Boot and run update bios flash disk
3) Access Bios Setup and make whatever changes.
Problem of not booting indicates some type of fault. I’m really sorry that this is where things have led and very much appreciate all your excellent help and advice. It has certainly been a very useful learning curve. As the mobo was purchased at computer fair and included a guarantee I shall simply return it.
There is just one more question. Whilst my guess is it’s the bios/mobo that is faulty is there any chance this could be a CPU problem?
Once again, thank you all for such clear and helpful support.
All the best,
Denis
Thank you for this and all your help. It is now clear that there is some kind of a fault. If everything was in proper order I would have been able to:
1) Clear CMOS and reset bios defaults.
2) Boot and run update bios flash disk
3) Access Bios Setup and make whatever changes.
Problem of not booting indicates some type of fault. I’m really sorry that this is where things have led and very much appreciate all your excellent help and advice. It has certainly been a very useful learning curve. As the mobo was purchased at computer fair and included a guarantee I shall simply return it.
There is just one more question. Whilst my guess is it’s the bios/mobo that is faulty is there any chance this could be a CPU problem?
Once again, thank you all for such clear and helpful support.
All the best,
Denis
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Question
- Locked
- Question