psigurd
asked on
NO DRIVE ATTACHED TO THE FASTTRACK CONTROLLER -> Bios Not Installed
Experts,
I purchased a computer and picked it up Friday end of day. When I fired it up at home, the motherboard ran through the AMI BIOS bootup no problem, then flashed a message:
NO DRIVE ATTACHED TO THE FASTTRACK CONTROLLER -> Bios Not Installed
Then the motherboard powers down.
The system has a Soltek SL-865Pro FGR Motherboard, with 1 200 GIG Western Digital IDE Harddrive. There are no scsi devices in the system
I know that this caused because the Promise FastTrack IDE RAID Controller it not finding a SCSI Bios (there are no SCSI devices present) - hence the message about (SCSI) BIOS not found.
Do you know how I can disable the FastTrack SCSI controller so it doesn't try to find a SCSI Bios?
I haven't seen any reference in the motherboard manual about a jumper that can do this. I can't update the BIOS because the motherboard powers down with 3-4 seconds of start up, doesn't even get to loading the operating system with I would need to do in order to update the Flash memory in the BIOS' EEProm chip. I can get into the BIOS setup utility but only for 1 second before the motherboard shuts down - Not enough time to try to change the configuration.
I purchased a computer and picked it up Friday end of day. When I fired it up at home, the motherboard ran through the AMI BIOS bootup no problem, then flashed a message:
NO DRIVE ATTACHED TO THE FASTTRACK CONTROLLER -> Bios Not Installed
Then the motherboard powers down.
The system has a Soltek SL-865Pro FGR Motherboard, with 1 200 GIG Western Digital IDE Harddrive. There are no scsi devices in the system
I know that this caused because the Promise FastTrack IDE RAID Controller it not finding a SCSI Bios (there are no SCSI devices present) - hence the message about (SCSI) BIOS not found.
Do you know how I can disable the FastTrack SCSI controller so it doesn't try to find a SCSI Bios?
I haven't seen any reference in the motherboard manual about a jumper that can do this. I can't update the BIOS because the motherboard powers down with 3-4 seconds of start up, doesn't even get to loading the operating system with I would need to do in order to update the Flash memory in the BIOS' EEProm chip. I can get into the BIOS setup utility but only for 1 second before the motherboard shuts down - Not enough time to try to change the configuration.
SOLUTION
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ASKER
tfjeff: All excellent suggestions but the unit is powering down before I can get into the BIOS setup!
dreamcomputer2000: Pulling out the CMOS battery did something, it is now getting as far as a message about
then it powers down.
So, your recommendation (seemingly) DID purge the config data that was making it look for SCSI devices.
Based on tfjeff's suggestion, I'm going to look at the way the harddrive is connected to the motherboard - but I'm still wondering WHY it should be that the system is powering down and not letting me in the Bios Setup screen.
Any recommendations on how to get around that one?
dreamcomputer2000: Pulling out the CMOS battery did something, it is now getting as far as a message about
then it powers down.
So, your recommendation (seemingly) DID purge the config data that was making it look for SCSI devices.
Based on tfjeff's suggestion, I'm going to look at the way the harddrive is connected to the motherboard - but I'm still wondering WHY it should be that the system is powering down and not letting me in the Bios Setup screen.
Any recommendations on how to get around that one?
ASKER
Nope, it has now gone back to complaining about
NO DRIVE ATTACHED TO THE FASTTRACK CONTROLLER -> Bios Not Installed
then powering down.
In the BIOS messages I could observe before the Bios Not Installed message, there was a message indicating the the Primary master drive had been successfullyinstalled.
NO DRIVE ATTACHED TO THE FASTTRACK CONTROLLER -> Bios Not Installed
then powering down.
In the BIOS messages I could observe before the Bios Not Installed message, there was a message indicating the the Primary master drive had been successfullyinstalled.
ASKER
In terms of removing the CMOS battery, I left it out for about 2 minutes, is it necessary to leave it out longer (ie several hours) before the EERAM chip's memory discharges?
if you take the battery out with the ac power cable disconnected, then turn on power supply, then off, the capacitors in the power supply should drain within seconds, then reinstall battery and ac cable
I am working on little sleep so am going to bed, will check back about 9-10am central standard time--i.e. 11-12 hours from now
good luck
Rich
I am working on little sleep so am going to bed, will check back about 9-10am central standard time--i.e. 11-12 hours from now
good luck
Rich
ASKER
thanks for trying, still no luck
This is a brand new computer with an electronically controller power supply, ie not like the old XTs where the power switch was a simple contact closure to let the juice flow
with this PS, I'm wondering if without AC power, the power switch contact even closes to discharge the capacitor.
The first try I powered up after the cmos battery removal, I did see different messages than subsequently.
In particular, I saw a screen about pressing F1 to configure something, (the message just there for a second before power down, I couldn't make out WHAT F1 would let you configure!
This is a brand new computer with an electronically controller power supply, ie not like the old XTs where the power switch was a simple contact closure to let the juice flow
with this PS, I'm wondering if without AC power, the power switch contact even closes to discharge the capacitor.
The first try I powered up after the cmos battery removal, I did see different messages than subsequently.
In particular, I saw a screen about pressing F1 to configure something, (the message just there for a second before power down, I couldn't make out WHAT F1 would let you configure!
SOLUTION
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ASKER
I really think joey is right on this. A new motherboard not working is something I've never seen, but here is a similar problem report from http://forums.pimprig.com/showthread.php?p=203503#post203503::
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Actually, when booting up, i get a message saying something like:
" No drive connected to Fasttrack controller, Bios not installed!"
Thi shas something to do with the Promise Fasttrack RAID controller, but since im running only 1 HDD, it shouldnt be a problem i would think!
I tested this by disabling the case fan in the bios and re-booted the machine, but the case fan is still whirling away!
i am using a Sata HDD and a IDE CDrom.
What can i do to ensure that the bios is installed!
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WOW! I didnt think id ever see anyone ask this ? My friend had the same board as you with the same problem! we tryed everything finally we sent it back to asus an got a new one for free! the board was junk it just up an died like a daylater we had no idea what was wrong with it asus told us that they were still trying to find the problem an they said for the inconvience we are just going to send you a new one! well they sent us the newest board out !
##########################
Actually, when booting up, i get a message saying something like:
" No drive connected to Fasttrack controller, Bios not installed!"
Thi shas something to do with the Promise Fasttrack RAID controller, but since im running only 1 HDD, it shouldnt be a problem i would think!
I tested this by disabling the case fan in the bios and re-booted the machine, but the case fan is still whirling away!
i am using a Sata HDD and a IDE CDrom.
What can i do to ensure that the bios is installed!
--------------------------
WOW! I didnt think id ever see anyone ask this ? My friend had the same board as you with the same problem! we tryed everything finally we sent it back to asus an got a new one for free! the board was junk it just up an died like a daylater we had no idea what was wrong with it asus told us that they were still trying to find the problem an they said for the inconvience we are just going to send you a new one! well they sent us the newest board out !
Youed to format the hard drive and commit a clean install of Windows. The drive was set up for a different mainboard and wont work right with the new board. If you need the content on the drive then get another drive, install windows and use it as the master drive. Than, hookup the original drive as slave and copy the data to the newly master drive. Afterwards, format the 'problematic' drive.
Good luck
Cyber
Good luck
Cyber
ASKER
Thanks Cyber, it is a new system with no data I care about keeping - but - how can I install Windows, or Linux, if the computer only stays on for 3 seconds before powering down?
SOLUTION
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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thanks very much for the input
I'm going to bring it back to the store tomorrow
I'll choose the question and split the points when the unit is actually working - then I can post what the problem was
Happy Halloween Everybody!
Thanks psigurd, I wish everyone would post a follow-up, helps us all learn.
Rich
Rich
Please repost
Rich