AN8 Ultra boot issues - 2d

[markky99]

I have had the occasional boot problems, which have come to a head in the last week.

I can boot into Windows after clearing CMOS with the default options only. If i try to amend any bios options and re-boot I get a "2.d." post message on the led. Any attempts to re-boot, or clean boot result in the same or similar issue. Occasionally I get "9.0.".

Recently i flashed the latest bios - 21 ( i deal with large photo files - thought this might help), and most issues have occurred since then.

One culprit I can think of is the PSU, which is a bit old now - QTechnology 400w ENS-0240 QT. But the fact that I can get into Windows and run relatively normally (as now), may point to a bios corruption?

Any thought appreciated.

Mark

[zPacKRat]

Try the following if you have not already done so.
1. unplug or switch off you power supply, pull out the cmos battery and wait 5 minutes. put it back together. change your bios settings and see if that helps.
2 if 1 did not help, do step 1 again then re flash the bios with bios 21 again. Be sure to flash from a boot disk not windows.
I've personally have had issues with a cusl2-c that were cleared up by reflashing the bios.

I have had the occasional boot problems, which have come to a head in the last week.

I can boot into Windows after clearing CMOS with the default options only. If i try to amend any bios options and re-boot I get a "2.d." post message on the led. Any attempts to re-boot, or clean boot result in the same or similar issue. Occasionally I get "9.0.".

Recently i flashed the latest bios - 21 ( i deal with large photo files - thought this might help), and most issues have occurred since then.

One culprit I can think of is the PSU, which is a bit old now - QTechnology 400w ENS-0240 QT. But the fact that I can get into Windows and run relatively normally (as now), may point to a bios corruption?

Any thought appreciated.

Mark

[markky99]

Thanks for the follow up ideas. I had tried the battery procedure - i tried it again, with the same result unfortunately. And I re-flashed the bios as per your idea. At least I can remove that from the list of variables.

It seems strange that I can get into Windows immediately after clearing CMOS, if I take the F1 continue option. It goes straight past the 2d post without pausing. But if I go into bios, with fail-safe, or optimised, or my preferred options, it fails re-boot with 2d post. No other form of boot/re-boot works, unless I clear bios, and take F1.

I have a PSU on order, at the moment its the only thing I can think of - but how come it boots into windows after clearing bios?

[markky99]

zPacKRat's thoughts got me active again. I re-ran the Fail safe option after clearing CMOS, and I got 7F, followed by FF when I hit F1. I'm beginning to think it can't find my boot disk, and one of the variables I haven't mentioned is that its a SATA drive (non-RAID) - raptor 150.

When I get 2d via the alternative approach I can hear a ticking, which might be the DVD drive - trying to boot from there because it can't see my SATA drive.

First question is how do I make it read my SATA drive, second, is my theory correct?

[markky99]

Well the new PSU has not done the trick. Its quieter!.

So now I'm thinking about RMAing (need to check when I bought it), or whether a new bios chip would fix it. Wouldn't mind an opinion .

I would stop flogging this horse if it weren't for the fact that I can get it into Windows by clearing CMOS and taking the continue option - this proves graphics/memory/cpu/disk are ok.

Mark

[BUFF]

zPacKRat's thoughts got me active again. I re-ran the Fail safe option after clearing CMOS, and I got 7F, followed by FF when I hit F1. I'm beginning to think it can't find my boot disk, and one of the variables I haven't mentioned is that its a SATA drive (non-RAID) - raptor 150.

When I get 2d via the alternative approach I can hear a ticking, which might be the DVD drive - trying to boot from there because it can't see my SATA drive.

First question is how do I make it read my SATA drive, second, is my theory correct?

nF4 has native support for SATA devices so shouldn't need any driver etc. to see your SATA drive.
I gave up on Raptors (admittedly the earlier generation) because I came not to trust them, had a couple fail on me where the mobo controller couldn't see them (think that was a VIA 8237 at the time, K8T800 Pro chipset) ...

[zPacKRat]

you could also try pulling the CPU from the socket and reseating it. this will force the board to re recognize the CPU and might help. (Grasping for straws here)

[markky99]

I have it re-solved I think. -

Talked it through with Abit technical support on the phone, and his opinion was graphics.

Got hold of a cheap card, and up she booted.

What I can't get my head around was the cause (general withering away?!), and why it worked when continuing after a cmos clear (no bios parameter changes) - bit of a mystery.

Thanks for the help and suggestions.

Mark