SLi mode made my 11 hours old 3XS PC freeze after POST?

[Ross Stone]

Heya,

Just got my 3XS System today, and its very nice indeed. Until it stopped working?

I had it running since noon today and its been on and off, installing windows, anti-virus, and setting up dual screen, playing farcry, playing 2 x Eve Onlines on 2 screens! etc. (Feeling very happy at myself!)

While doing this every time I turned the computer on, I would get a message saying "SLi availible, click here to enable" in the corner. So I thought, ok lets try SLi, so I ticked the box to enable it, the second monitor turned off and then I installed Command & Conquer Generals.

Then I restarted my PC, and suddenly, it just freezes up after detecting ide drives. Even the keyboard does not work and I can't turn CAPS Lock on or anything? There is a small time before it finishes scanning for drives when the keyboard still respondes, but trying to get into the BIOS config screen does not work as then it freezes saying "entering setup".

Now I have been trying for an hour now to get my PC back up and running for networking gaming tommorow, but I can't seem to work it out. Any help would be great, if I am missing something simple? Is now a good time to call Scan and ask them? As they won't be availible til monday, I am gonna lose 2 nights sleep worrying now lol. Stupid Sli Mode!

Anyway, any advise, or help would be great!
Thanks

[FatalSaviour]

What 3XS system was it exactly mate?
If we can have specs of your motherboard/graphics card setup etc, we should be able to help you out more.

[Ross Stone]

Thanks,

Its a 3XS AMD 6600 SLi, with AMD 3800 X2, and two XFX 256MB 6800GS and the A8N SLi Standard S939 motherboard.

[BUFF]

Have you tried clearing CMOS?

[Odc]

Won't opening the case void the warrenty?

[Ross Stone]

Opening the case can't void a Scans 3XS system warranty because you have to when you buy one of there systems to remove the bubble wrap inside the PC. Plus there are no stickers on the PC anywhere advising that.

Ok, I have tried inserting a windows xp disc to see if that would bring anything else up, but still freezes. (I know that was a long shot) So then I went on to clear the CMOS...

Seems to be worse now after doing that? I don't understand why selecting SLI Mode in windows would cause such problems? Anyway...

I removed the power, then the battery, and then moved the jumper to 2-3 for 10 secs, then moved it back to 1-2, reinserted the battery and then powered on the PC.

Now nothing appears in any of the monitors, they both remain in powersave mode, and the PC does not make any beeps, it just spins fans and thats it.

I suspect then, that its a hardware problem. Unless anyone can think of anything else it might be? Thanks for the advise though, would have been nice to get it back online for lan games today but nevermind...

I will call Scan monday morning and see if they can help over the phone, or send an onsite engineer out to fix it under the onsite warranty.

[kidzer]

Perhaps try booting with just one GFx card in?

Try different cards in different slots

[Ross Stone]

Hmm, that sounds rather awkward as I would have to remove both cards and change the chip in between them to be set up for single card, not dual?

To be honest, I think I will wait for Scan to open monday and speak to them before checking the hardware myself.