MSI H61A-P35 won't boot. Fails POST. Help!

[paroxymous]

During POST, I get a black screen with the following message. It then goes to the Windows Loading screen for a second and then restarts.

Asmedia 106X SATA Controller Ver 0.93 IDE Mode
Copyright (C) Asmedia Technologies, Inc. All Right reserved.
S.M.A.R.T. Supported
Using PCIE Gen2
Can't find any device

Build:
Windows Vista 32bit
MSI PH61A-P35 motherboard
i3-2100 3.1ghz
Sapphire Radeon 6870 (100314-3L)
OCZ 600W PSU (OCZ600MXSP)
G.Skill 4GB 1333 RAM (2x2gb)
Seagate Barracuda 500GB, model 7200.11
LG Blu-Ray Disc Drive (LG GGC-H20L)

Unable to find much talk about this type of problem. One thread suggested a CPU fan issue? Another suggested it was a Sata3/6 issue, but I've checked and my HDD (3gb/s) is in one of the Sata 3 slots on the mobo, and in BIOS setup, it recognizes the HDD.

Help? Thanks.

 

[nikorr]

Did u update anything before that happened?

Or started to use a new device?

Or made any changes to the system?

 

[nikorr]

Can u reset the BIOS?

How To Clear CMOS @ http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/tp/clearcmos.htm

 

[paroxymous]

Sorry, it is a new build. I am re-using the ODD and HDD from my previous computer.

When I first turned it on, I was prompted to enter setup, but I didn't change anything. I have reset to defaults from within the BIOS setup.

I also just tried to boot without my graphics card installed, but still get same POST message, so I assume it's a HD/MB issue /: After it restarts itself, it boots to a black "Windows Error Recovery" screen where I can either Launch Startup Repair Utility or Load Windows Normally; the Startup Repair just tries to reset to a previous restore point.

 

[nikorr]

Did u do a clean install?

 

[paroxymous]

Of Windows? No. I just hooked up the HD. Do I need to wipe it /: ?

 

[nikorr]

Well, sometimes it works, but it is far from ideal! Yes, that is in order.

Are u using different CPU and mobo? Yes if I understand correctly. So u have different chip set installed, wrong drivers for the mobo and the GPU.

 

[paroxymous]

I probably can't install the drivers on the HD without the hardware being installed, huh? If I were to plop the HD back into my old system and load new drivers on it.

 

[nikorr]

That is your problem. But its easy to fix it. U need to save the data to another HDD.Do u have one? Or do u know how to do it?

 

[nikorr]

I probably can't install the drivers on the HD without the hardware being installed, huh? If I were to plop the HD back into my old system and load new drivers on it.

OK, it still might not work right. U can have errors all the time. Hard time to install software and drivers.

Clean install is the way out of there.

 

[paroxymous]

Yeah, I have an external HDD. The problem is, I don't have the original Windows Vista DVD. I have another DVD that I used to put windows on my mac bootcamp. Will that work? Is it easier to just buy a new internal HDD?

 

[nikorr]

Yeah, I have an external HDD. The problem is, I don't have the original Windows Vista DVD. I have another DVD that I used to put windows on my mac bootcamp. Will that work? Is it easier to just buy a new internal HDD?

What Vista do u have? Is it retail? Or OEM?

 

[paroxymous]

It's a Windows Vista Ultimate (32 bit I'm pretty sure). It says "Not for retail or OEM Distribution" on it... It's a "student and faculty" license.

 

[nikorr]

Well, is it only for 1 PC or u can install it to another PC?

Anyway, u should get Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit ~ $99.99 @ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=32-116-986&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

 

[nikorr]

And if u can do better, get the student one : )

 

[paroxymous]

It's this disc actually. http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/Microsoft-Windows-Vista-Ultimate-upgrade-media-only/1221614.aspx

Says upgrade only, but I definitely used it to install Vista for the first time on my mac's bootcamp partition a few years ago.

 

[paroxymous]

Yeah, I should be able to use the Vista disc for now. I'd upgrade to Windows 7, but I'm just cheap (thus, re-using the HDD). Is there a quality guide/walkthrough out there for backing up data and performing a clean install? Thanks for your help.

 

[nikorr]

OK, how much data u need to save? in gigabytes? Any idea?

 

[paroxymous]

I have about 250GB copying to an external now. I'd love to transfer a handful of software too, but I've heard you need to just re-install it.

 

[paroxymous]

One of the bummers is going to be SWTOR, which took 6 hours to download =/ but might be worth backing up and see if it works when transferred back.

 

[nikorr]

I have about 250GB copying to an external now. I'd love to transfer a handful of software too, but I've heard you need to just re-install it.

Yes, the software will need to be re-installed. Can u hook it up with the old mobo?

Than u could just buy another internal HDD and transfer it that way, the fastest way. Just drag the files over. That's how I would do it.

 

[nikorr]

Also it should work, your Vista upgrade.

 

[paroxymous]

I'll just backup what I can and then wipe my current HDD. I won't need the files right away, so I'll just transfer them when I'm not using the computer. HDD prices are so high right now anyway.

But when I'm ready to perform the clean install, I do it with the HDD in the new machine, right? And just boot from the DVD drive?

 

[nikorr]

I'll just backup what I can and then wipe my current HDD. I won't need the files right away, so I'll just transfer them when I'm not using the computer. HDD prices are so high right now anyway.

But when I'm ready to perform the clean install, I do it with the HDD in the new machine, right? And just boot from the DVD drive?

First u will download the latest drivers and put them on another HDD or USB pendrive or a CD..

Than u make sure that all the parts are working, so I don't have to take everything out again if something doesn't work.. I do that outside of my vase on square piece of wood so I don't short anything.

If all OK, than install it to the case and install the Windows.

And use Antistatic wrist strap so u dont damage your CPU, GPU, RAM and Mobo!

 

[paroxymous]

Than u make sure that all the parts are working

How do you do that without being able to boot? I hope everything is working... even though I get the "Can't find any device" message above.