Brand new components; no OS will install

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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All,

I'm at my wit's end right now. My computer crashed a while back so I've been slowly replacing parts to try to get it running again. At this point, I've replaced the motherboard, graphics card, ram, CPU, hard drive, and power supply.

I have:
-450 W power supply
-BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A85S3 A85X FM2
-AMD A8-6600K 3.9G 4M FM2 100W
-GSKILL F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL 2x2GB
-Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA

After all of that, I still cannot get an OS to install at all. I have tried the following with the following results:
-Windows 7: tried installing 32 and 64-bit versions off of both DVD and USB Flash. I can sometimes get to where it says it installing and it freezes at Expanding files...0%. By freezing, I mean neither keyboard nor mouse work (hitting caps lock does nothing). The other times, it stops at Starting Windows...
-Ubuntu: Ubuntu gets to the screen with the little guy in the circle and keyboard and then the computer powers down completely. I have tried both DVD and USB versions.
OpenSuse: Can get to the install screen. Can run the Test memory with no problems. I hit install and it loads the kernel and then completely powers down again. Tried both DVD and USB.

I have tried each RAM stick independently and together. I have disconnected the DVD drive as well. Nothing seems to work.

I should also say that I've checked and G.Skill says that the RAM is compatible with the motherboard.
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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It is. It's in SATA Port 1 and when I run the USB install, it's the only device plugged in. I've gotten to the point in the Windows install where I can select it and it's there as expected.
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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I've tested three different drives. The one that I'm currently using I just got today and is brand new.
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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I looked through that thread. I tried the SeaTools for DOS and it didn't recognize the drive. I then tried the firmware upgrade program and it didn't recognize the drive either. The BIOS recognizes it though. I've ordered an external HDD docking station so I can hook the drives up to my laptop and test them more. And right now, the Windows installation discs (which are from Microsoft, not home-written) won't even boot up.
 

fosojedi

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I've unplugged everything except the motherboard and HDD. I just can't imagine that it's drawing more than 450W. But I may have to try that after I test out the HDD with the docking station on my laptop. The person who wrote that post also said that they tried it on an 800W PSU and it didn't help.
 
Umm have you tried any other SATA port tho?? Because this mobo (not your mobo) in the manual it says

When using the connectors in standard IDE mode (use port 1 or 2 if it's the primary bootdisk)

Dont know if that means if I dont use AHCI but I do. Or if it means SATA dvd drives

But the hdd (there's only 1 hdd in this a 1 TB and it is the bootdisk), It's in port 3 and the dvd burner is in 4 and the external E-sata is in port 5.

I've read on here that it should be in port 1 or the lowest port. Somehow I dont think that applies to everyone and / or every system

Because I do know on some systems, some SATA ports can only be used for optical drives, and others only for hdd's


 

fosojedi

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I hadn't tried any other ports. I just did and the same result. I can see it everytime in the BIOS but when I run SeaTools for DOS, nothing pops up. And the Windows installation stops at the Starting Windows screen before even the Windows symbol has loaded.
 
K what are these set as in the BIOS??

Onchip sata channel. I would say should be enabled

onchip sata type AHCI. Native IDE is the default

Sata ide combined leave it on default

If you tried any version of 32 bit if UEFI is enabled, disable it. 32 bit doesnt fully support it. But it MAY work if the BIOS has a CSM option which should be enabled

 
Set the BIOS to optimized defaults

You should then set the SATA ports to IDE . Kiddy mode really , but you can change it later to AHCI
No driver is necessary unless you are installing XP , and you are not

but since you cant install with 1/ multiple OSes , 2/ multiple hard drives 3/ multiple install methods
your problem has to be
1/ the psu 12 volt line is so low it cant get the hard drives working
2/ you have a problem with the SATA controller on the mb or processor
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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I just tested both the 15-pin SATA power connector and the 4-port molex power connector with a multimeter and all of the voltages are where they should be. I also tried the molex connector with a molex to sata connector hooked up to the HDD and had the same problems. I sure hope it's not the mobo as it's brand new. I should also say that I just replaced from a different mobo and that system also was not loading Windows.
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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I also reset the SATA setting back to native IDE (where they were before all of this). This time, I was able to get further in the Windows installation. About to try a Fedora install next.

With it set to Native IDE, SeaTools has recognized it and I'm running a long test right now.
 

fosojedi

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Sep 19, 2014
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I'm replying to both of your recent ones. I originally had the SATA set the way you said except that it was Native IDE. I switched that to AHCI and it seemed to make it worse. I couldn't get anywhere with Linux or Win7 installs. SeaTools also wouldn't recognize the drive. So, I set it back to Native IDE and Windows 7 install gets further (but still freezes before I can do anything). SeaTools now recognizes the drive and I'm running a long test to test the drive.