Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 By any chance, does anybody here have any experience with the MSI K7N2 motherboard? I've been putting my system together and have an issue. It seems that I'm one of the lucky few people that can't get this mobo to detect a hard drive. I believe that I have tried everything possible, but I'm willing to admit there might be something I've missed. Okay, maybe I'm just hoping that I've missed something. My post in MSI's forums. If anybody can think of anything else I can try, short of ritualistic sacrifice or voodoo ceremonies, please let me know. It's been a rough month and this is just really grinding me down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Stinger 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Well, I personally can't. I assume you have already tried anything I would have thought of, but the people here www.arstechnica.com may be able to help you. They have always helped me get onto my feet no matter what problem I have ever had with my computer. Sorry bud hope that helps Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dark Ranger 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 I'm assuming you are trying to install your OS, and your HDD just doesn't register on the Pre-Boot Start-up screen. When you do the "Auto-Detect" in the BIOS, it still doesn't see anything? Try changing your First_Boot_Device to CD-ROM, insert your OS disk in the first drive, save changes to BIOS, then restart. Where does that get you? Does the OS CD spin up and start the pre-installation screen? If so, when it asks you for instructions to format partitions, does it recognize the 79,453 MB on ATAPI or the like? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 BIOS doesn't detect a thing. When I try to boot to CD, or boot to a floppy to partition and format the drive, still can't detect the hard drive. Fdisk says there is no fixed disk present. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dark Ranger 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Do your IDE cables have the little notch in the center to assure correct insertion? If not, just be sure Pin1 goes to Pin1 on the HDD(red line). Does the HDD actually spin up when you boot the system? Have you tried attaching your new HDD to your old system in SLAVE MODE to see if it recognizes the drive? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Yes on all the above. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 As stated in my post that I link to above, btw, 3 of those drives have been working in other computers, already. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Urban_Tiger 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Other things to think of, obviously not knowing what you have or haven't done already, but try em if ya haven't . Did you get a copy of the Max-Blast Software with your Maxtors?? Out of the 5 Maxtors I've had 2 of them were real ###### to install similar to what you describe and more or less required it to format and partition the H/D when new, they wouldn't work until I usedthe Max-Blast software (if you can't get hold of a copy somewhere convenient, post up and I'll copy the floppy I have and get it's contents to you to try too ok ), 1 of them even required it again when putting it in another computer which was a pain (but I changed the jumpers on it so that could have affected it)! Other than that instead of using the "Auto-Detect" in the BIOS, have you tried manually setting the drives up for pre-comp, Cylinders, Size etc etc blah blah. If you could get them going manually you may be able to put them back to Auto later )! In many new BIOS's there is also an option for IDE/ATA Cable Speed, have you double checked that's also on Auto or set manually to ATA 66, 100 or 133?? If it's set to 33 then that's obviously the older option for ageing ATA33 HD's and not compatible with newer drives and nothing will get recognised lol, a few have done that and found that was the problem recently ! Keep plugging away and posting up what happens, maybe even list every trick you have tried m8, hopefully somone may know other little tricks they've had to employ over the years that you may not have tried yet and hopefully get you going again ! The only other consideration is....Is the Mobo brand new?? It's not inconcievable it could be faulty or even if you've had it a while it's shorted or something has gone belly up ....Any Warranty left on it etc and have it exchanged ?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Already been through everything above. Even tried another brand of hd. Yes, it's a brand new motherboard -- and I've already requested a return authorization. I don't have the time or inclination to screw with it anymore. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Guess I'll go play my new guitar for awhile to let off steam. Oh, wait, that's still not here yet, either. But that's another long-winded customer service story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Urban_Tiger 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 DAMN..... Thats bloody annoying when you order new kit isn't it, totally sympathise m8 ! Hope ya have an exchange soon and fingers crossed for a 2nd time lucky too ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Thanks. Well, looking for a new mobo and am going to go with something other than an MSI, this time. I saw that others have had the same issue -- though relatively few. Still, I don't want to take a chance. Any recommendations? I'm looking for an nforce2 board for an Athlon XP 2400. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RooK 0 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Try Epox's 8RDA+, it's one if, if not the fastest, nforce2 available. As for your MSI board, tried changing the jumper on the hdd from 'cable select' to 'master'? I've heard of some being finicky about this. Secondly, I assume it has two ide channels, are you using channel 1 (primary), and if so, did you try the hdd on both connectors on that cable (position 1 and 2)? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Check my post I linked to above in the MSI forums. I tried every possible jumper setting on each of 5 different hard drives with 5 different ide cables on all of them on both connectors going to both controllers on the mb. I seriously spent all day on this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ruin 17 Posted May 10, 2003 Share Posted May 10, 2003 Try Epox's 8RDA+, it's one if, if not the fastest, nforce2 available. I have it, and HIGHLY recommend it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteKnight77 1 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 The ASUS A7N8X Del is the mobo I have paired with the same CPU Jes. It comes with a 5.1 six channel sound (even tho it's integrated) chip built into the southbridge which does not put a hit on the CPU like other integrated audio and is even better than an Audigy from everything I hear. I may have to try it out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Specter 0 Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 One other thing you might try, since it didnt see any of the drives, is clear the CMOS by removing the battery for 30 seconds. I have seen that work, and also, I'm sure you have tried other IDE cables? Some UDMA 133 drives wont work with anything but a 133 cable. And since I see you did everything else, I'd say the mobo is defective. The only other remote possibility would be the power supply. Have you tried diffeent connectors, what's the wattage, and how much are you plugging into it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jester Posted May 11, 2003 Share Posted May 11, 2003 did all of that. Different power supplies, cables, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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