Getting "reboot and select proper boot device" error

[Shinken]

A client put together a computer and then asked me to help get it running. The machine has a new Intel D865GLC mainboard and new 2.66 P4 cpu; new (NTFS formatted) 160GB Maxtor PATA HDD, CD-RW, FDD (floppy drive - for you young-un's out there who may never have seen such a critter), and one 256MB PC3200 DIMM.

The computer boots to the BIOS setup screen, and the FDD, HDD & CD-RW drives are recognized. If I disconnect any of these drives and reboot, it is no longer recognized, so I think it's safe to assume the drives are recognized.

Boot priority is FDD first, CD-RW second, and HDD third.

Whenever I boot, the system goes through the POST (one beep) and then displays the error message "Please reboot and select proper boot device". I've tried this with a bootable DOS diskette in the FDD, with a Windows OEM CD in the CD drive, and with both in the drives, but still get the error message. I've tried disconnecting everything but the FDD, and then connecting only the CD drive, and then the FDD + HDD connected, then...well, all possible combinations, but I continue to get the message.

I've also tried changing the boot order, no change.

Also, I can see the light go on as the computer polls each drive looking for a bootable drive, but nothing boots.

I've also tried disconnecting every cable except those absolutely necessary (cpu fan, drive cables, USB ports, etc).

Does anyone have any ideas what's going on here and how to correct it?

Thanks,

S

 

[electronicsfreak]

Ive had something similar happen like this in the past. Usually its a bad floppy drive. Try another one that you know works if you have it. Also theres another option dealing with floppys that is in certain motherboards. I cant remember what it is considering its not in mine but its an option dealing with booting with it. im not refering to boot up order either. This option is usually on the same page that you specify a floppy drive and its size like 1.44 and etc.

If its neither of these post and ill see what I can think of or find out next lol.

 

[Shinken]

Thanks for the reply. I'll try swapping floppy drives, although I don't think it is the problem because I couldn't get a MS Windows installation CD to boot from the CD drive, unless the FDD and the CD drive are both bonkers.

LOL,

S

 

[Shinken]

efreak,

A for a good idea, but no cigar. I just swapped floppy drives and still get the error. What's strange is that I can see the FDD light go on and hear the servo clicking away, but apparently the info isn't being interpreted correctly by the BIOS.

Since my original posting, I've also downloaded the Intel documentation, checked all wires/cables to make sure they are connected correctly, and verified that the (Kingston) RAM is correct for the mainboard; changed all data cables, and I've even swapped the DIMM, but still no change.

About the only thing I can think of is to reset the BIOS but this Intel board doesn't store a factory BIOS stored in the CMOS, so I can't just do the jumper reset thing like I would with an ASUS or MSI board. Intel requires that to do a BIOS reset using the jumber, I also put a floppy into the computer and it pulls the BIOS off of the floppy. However, I don't want to do that because I'm not certain that the FDD will even be read.

Ay Carumba!

S

 

[franklin97355]

When you use the jumper you are resetting the CMOS, not the BIOS. What happens if you remove the FDD and CD and try to boot?

 

[Shinken]

I think you're confusing the container (CMOS) with the contents (BIOS). This is fairly common, and many people confuse the two. Essentially, CMOS is hardware and BIOS is software.

CMOS is a chip on the mainboard that stores BIOS settings. In many modern mainboards, a factory BIOS is stored on the mainboard and a jumper can be moved to reset the BIOS stored on the CMOS chip by replacing the contents of the CMOS chip with the factory BIOS settings. Unfortunately, in this case, Intel hasn't seen fit to store factory BIOS settings on the mainboard, and pulls the BIOS from a floppy when the jumper is moved instead of from the mainboard (assuming that the FDD works).

 

[hc25036]

I had this problem with a PC where a non-booting USB key had been left in place during start up. Clearing the CMOS worked then.

 

[electronicsfreak]

The other thing I remembered what it was called. Its an option where you select the floppy drive your using. The option I was refering to earlier is called "boot up floppy seek" , might want to make sure thats off. If that dont work as of right now sorry im out of ideas lol.

 

[Shinken]

HC - Good thought, but no external USB devices and only bootable media in the floppy & CD drives.

efreak - this BIOS doesn't have a "floppy seek" option, which is unusual. Thanks anyway. I'm about out of ideas. However, I think I'll reformat the HDD with a small (4GB) FAT32 partition, format it as a DOS bootable drive, and see if I can get DOS to load from the HDD.

I thought it may be the IDE controller, but that wouldn't account for not booting from the FDD, unless it's a problem with the I/O circuitry on the board.