bad motherboard??

[lordsty]

Hi,

I have an ASUS motherboard (at work, dont have model number) with an Athlon 800. When I boot, the processor is recognized fine and I can enter the BIOS and everything looks fine. However, I need to constantly hit a key to get it to continue to boot after it recognizes the HD. I tried to install Win98 and it gets 1/3 the way through the install and freezes (i need to constantly hit a key to get it to boot and install). I have tested the HD and the ram and they both work. I just dont want to buy a new motherboard if it is a CPU problem. Has anyone seen this kind of behavior before. Thanks for any suggestions.

lordsty

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by lordsty
(i need to constantly hit a key to get it to boot and install)

So does the system install or not? And it installs, but you haev to keep hitting a key for it to work?

If you can get it to boot, I'd try flashing your BIOS. You're going to have to find out what board it is though. I think Asus silk-screens the model number on the board..

Most likely you're going to need to RMA however

[lordsty]

No it doesnt install, it gets like 1/3 the way through then freezes but to even get to that point I need to keep hitting a key through out the install process. I reset the BIOS and it didn't help any. I will get the model number when I get home from work tonight. Thanks.

[jim mcnamara]

Clean all the connections on your cards and then reseat them carefully. We had a 'freezy' PC like this. Had some dirty connections. In that case it was an IDE board

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by jim mcnamara
Clean all the connections on your cards and then reseat them carefully. We had a 'freezy' PC like this. Had some dirty connections. In that case it was an IDE board

If all else fails not a good idea to re-build from the ground up

[lordsty]

I rechecked everything. I'm at the point where I figure screw it. Someone suggested to me the ECS K7S5A motherboard, its not expensive, supports SDRAM and DDR, and will support XP chips in case I want to upgrade in the future...Thanks for your help tennisman and jim.

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by lordsty
I rechecked everything. I'm at the point where I figure screw it. Someone suggested to me the ECS K7S5A motherboard, its not expensive, supports SDRAM and DDR, and will support XP chips in case I want to upgrade in the future...Thanks for your help tennisman and jim.

Yep that choice would probably be perfect considering you have SDRAM already but you'll probably want to upgrade to DDR.

Consider these boards also:

• Epox 8kha+
• MSI K7N415
• Shuttle AK31 Rev 3
• Soltek 75DRV-4
• MSI K7N420
• Epox 8k7a