Help! Tech-savvy people

Kapn_Kiwi · 21-08-2005, 09:52 AM

M14-A1 Mclaren or whatever he calls himself these days just came over, hoping to back up some files, as he's just killed his PC. Anyway, he brought his HDD, and a DVD Writer. Well, long story short his HDD and DVD Drive have killed my PC too.
On startup, the screen simply displays 'no video input' as if the computer were off. I've checked the connection, plugged the computer into a TV so I could use a different plug, and that one didn't get a signal either. The GPU fan is on, as is the CPU fan, and the PSU fan. The mouse (USB) isn't shining it's light at all, but my rice mousepad is shining it's LEDs fine.
Help! Please!

:

Update: the monitor works fine. I'm at the end of my wits. (not very much in the first place)

RED_EL_XR8 · 21-08-2005, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny_Puppy

M14-A1 Mclaren or whatever he calls himself these days just came over, hoping to back up some files, as he's just killed his PC. Anyway, he brought his HDD, and a DVD Writer. Well, long story short his HDD and DVD Drive have killed my PC too.
On startup, the screen simply displays 'no video input' as if the computer were off. I've checked the connection, plugged the computer into a TV so I could use a different plug, and that one didn't get a signal either. The GPU fan is on, as is the CPU fan, and the PSU fan. The mouse (USB) isn't shining it's light at all, but my rice mousepad is shining it's LEDs fine.
Help! Please!

:

Update: the monitor works fine. I'm at the end of my wits. (not very much in the first place)

Unplug the PSU leave 30 minutes, remove the foreign drives, press the on pushbutton without the power cord connected, then plug in and try again

If the foreign drive has failed short circuit and is drawing big current it CAN trigger the safety protection in the PC PSU. Try that for a start.

mick.wheelz · 21-08-2005, 11:51 AM

also try resetting your bios, there should be a small 3 pin jumper near the bios battery to do this

LuvinmyEB · 21-08-2005, 11:56 AM

Make sure you haven't knocked your graphics card, make sure it's seated securely. You may be overloading your PSU by putting the optical drive in. Try one device at a time after you've done what RED_EL_XR8 said. The BIOS resetting I'd try as last resort personally.

Firefox7 · 21-08-2005, 11:58 AM

Did you correctly configure master and slave jumper setting via the IDE on your comp. If not...your comp won't boot. Remove his equipment and it should boot fine. Also make sure your ram and video card is seated correctly.

Cheers.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 11:58 AM

The first thing I'd try would be unplugging the video card and plugging it back in - it sounds to me like the video card might have been knocked slightly while you were plugging things in, just enough to make the BIOS unable to initialise it, hence the "no video input" message, because the video card has been unable to start. I've had this happen a few times, particularly if it's an AGP card, they can be very fussy with being plugged in perfectly.

Kapn_Kiwi · 21-08-2005, 01:45 PM

Thanks guys, about to try rebooting again. I've removed the Vid Card and retried, not that, also not the IDE cables, as didn't run with only my gear in it. Hopefully when I report back I'll be using my computer and 'net, rather than this lappie and 56k (but it's nice to return to one's roots every now and then.)

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 05:50 PM

I've got my backed up files now, i did a format (long version not quick) and am installing windows, the problem is that it seems to be not going anywhere, in the picture I posted the green bar along the bottom still moves and the main part talking about windows features still changes (black arrows) but the green progress bar underneath installing devices doesn't seem to be going anywhere (red), this happened when I attempted a windows repair, I thought that it would go away since I've formatted but obvouisly not. Any ideas?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

I've got my backed up files now, i did a format (long version not quick) and am installing windows, the problem is that it seems to be not going anywhere, in the picture I posted the green bar along the bottom still moves and the main part talking about windows features still changes (black arrows) but the green progress bar underneath installing devices doesn't seem to be going anywhere (red), this happened when I attempted a windows repair, I thought that it would go away since I've formatted but obvouisly not. Any ideas?

How long has it been like that for?

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 06:43 PM

um well, its hasn't moved since I posted, and probably about an hour before i posted too, which is really weird since the hdd is supposibly formatted. The Windows is a legit copy fyi.

RED_EL_XR8 · 21-08-2005, 06:51 PM

I think you may be in need of another HDD!

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 06:55 PM

Gutted, It worked when I was backing up some files off it, why would it suddenly not work now?

Kapn_Kiwi · 21-08-2005, 07:00 PM

Mine's running fine now, thanks.
Took everything out (even the Processor, which has gotten rid of a nasty rattle due to misaligned fan), put it back together, and tidied it up, so it's effectively better than it was when I started. PS Adam: gutted about the HDD, perhaps we should both get new ones?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 07:08 PM

Hmm, stuck at the "installing Devices" stage... Ok, what hardware is in it?

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skinny_Puppy

Mine's running fine now, thanks.
Took everything out (even the Processor, which has gotten rid of a nasty rattle due to misaligned fan), put it back together, and tidied it up, so it's effectively better than it was when I started. PS Adam: gutted about the HDD, perhaps we should both get new ones?

Bastard! your computer broke my HDD! I can probably still get it replaced under warrenty though, why do you need a new HDD?

Quote:

Hmm, stuck at the "installing Devices" stage... Ok, what hardware is in it?

um well the stuff in the pci slots, I got a tv tuner and a network card, other hardware is a seagate sata hdd, asus p4p800, radeon 9600XT, sony dvd writer, lg dvd/cd writer (slave) , P4 processor , 512 corsair memory and a old 6 gig hdd from my old computer, installing on the sata from the lg drive.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

um well the stuff in the pci slots, I got a tv tuner and a network card, other hardware is a seagate sata hdd, asus p4p800, radeon 9600XT, sony dvd writer, lg dvd/cd writer (slave) , P4 processor , 512 corsair memory and a old 6 gig hdd from my old computer, installing on the sata from the lg drive.

Ahh, ok, and you loaded the correct drivers for the SATA drive when you started installing XP?

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 07:41 PM

Uh, no...

I just told it to format then install windows, like i have the other times I've installed windows, I've never installed drivers for my HDD, windows has just picked it up as normal.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Uh, no...

I just told it to format then install windows, like i have the other times I've installed windows, I've never installed drivers for my HDD, windows has just picked it up as normal.

Ok, well do you have a disk with the SATA drivers on it?

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 07:53 PM

No, the only disks i got is my display and one from asus for the audio and network, the hdd worked in one of my mates computers so I don't think it needs them.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

No, the only disks i got is my display and one from asus for the audio and network, the hdd worked in one of my mates computers so I don't think it needs them.

Was your mates computer BOOTING from the hdd? SATA can cause these sort of issues if you're trying to install XP onto a SATA drive...

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 08:01 PM

Na it was BOOTING he was just ACCESSING it. In that case, what would you suggest?

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Na it was BOOTING he was just ACCESSING it. In that case, what would you suggest?

Ahh, that's what I suspected. You'll need to get a copy of the SATA drivers for Windows XP for your motherboard, there should be a copy that came with the motherboard, however you'll need to copy them to a 3.5" disk and insert that disk just after WinXP boots from the CD. You then press a key (can't remember off the top of my head which one) when it displays a message about drivers so that it copies across the SATA drivers.

Have you got the manual for the motherboard?

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 08:15 PM

Yea I do, I just looked at the section about SATA drives and it just tells you how to install it then goes on about configuring it as RAID, which I've never bothered with, nothing about having to have a driver.

Thanks for helping me btw.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Thanks for helping me btw.

No probs, I've seen other people tearing their hair out over this issue

Your Motherboard or SATA controller card requires a driver to work properly. If you did not get a Floppy Disk with the SATA driver included with your Motherboard you will have to make one. The SATA drivers can be located on the installation CD that came with your Motherboard or preferably, download the latest SATA controller drivers from the manufacturers site. Once you have located the drivers copy them to a formatted floppy disk. Make sure they are in the root directory i.e. not contained within any folders.

Installing the SATA controller driver

Once you have set the PC to boot from the CD make sure the XP CD is in the CD drive and start the installation as per usual. Within the first minute or so of the installation Windows will prompt you to press F6 to install RAID or SCSI drivers, do this. Windows will continue to install then ask you to locate the driver. now with the floppy disk created earlier in drive A: select the driver and hit Enter.

With the SATA drivers installed you can now continue the Windows installation as usual.

Many people have had trouble with this, for example http://forum.osnn.net/showthread.php?t=79158

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 08:38 PM

Lol, I just went into bios and reset it went back in and applied the settings needed and now its worked fine! just got windows screen up, which is kinda annoying I wish I did that in the first place but happens I guess. Bloody hell

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Lol, I just went into bios and reset it went back in and applied the settings needed and now its worked fine! just got windows screen up, which is kinda annoying I wish I did that in the first place but happens I guess. Bloody hell

Ahh, cool! Isn't SATA fun? LOL!

M14A-Mclaren · 21-08-2005, 08:51 PM

Haha yeah I guess, atleast I'll be busy tomorrow putting stuff back on it, I'll probably be windows updating the whole way through the F1 probably like 100 updates for me.

Cheers maddestman

The MaDDeSTMaN · 21-08-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

Haha yeah I guess, atleast I'll be busy tomorrow putting stuff back on it, I'll probably be windows updating the whole way through the F1 probably like 100 updates for me.

Cheers maddestman

I'm just glad you got it going mate

Cheers

*kicks his PC*:hihi: