No bootable device problem.

[bimdot]

Hi, I recently purchased parts for a desktop. A friend helpd me build it but I keep getting the CMOS battery failed, time not set, and no bootable device messages. Since the computer wouldn't get to bios and kept giving me those errors, my friend told me that the motherboard or the harddrive might be defective or not working...Is there a way to check to see if these parts are actually not working or should I just get them replaced? Btw, I'm don't know much about computers so you guys may have to break things down to the basics for me. Thanks a lot !!

Also, I have a SATA harddrive. I'm not sure if that affects anything.

 

[wahnula]

Don't throw anything away yet. First, buy a new CMOS battery, about $2. It's the coin-size battery in the motherboard that remembers things like what time it is. It could be missing, but you should be able to see its specs painted on the board like CR2301 etc. Also, make sure it's not upside down.

Second, look at the motherboard for a make and model #. That's pretty important for troubleshooting from a distance. Type of processor would be nice too. Once you know the make and model of motherboard you can download SATA drivers for it and insert them at the F6 prompt when loading windows, removing the "no bootable device" message. Many of these things can be learned through the BIOS, and a Linux CD like Knoppix can tell you if your hard drive is working, but it all starts with a new CMOS battery.

Tony

 

[bimdot]

The motherboard is Intel BOXD945GCNL. The processor is Intel Core 2 Duo E4400.

Also, how would I go about installing drivers? I read somewhere that you need a floppy drive to do this? I didn't buy a floppy drive...Also, I can't even get to bios. Is this a problem?

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[wahnula]

Is that CMOS battery there? Is it good? Is it installed correctly? That's your starting point, it's right behind the small PCI-E slot and between the x16 PCI-e slot and the PCI slots, go to page 50 in the manual to replace

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=r...XRCeJ7wTiLRqgmZTw&sig2=_A1o0lZF7oHwr28GUHyljA

It's a CR 2032 they probably have one at Walgreen's. Make sure the polarity is correct. Positive is up. Once this is replaced you should be able to get to BIOS, if you set "SATA as IDE" instead of "SATA as RAID" you should be good. You do have RAM installed, right?

If you still get the "CMOS battery failed" after installing a new battery I would RMA the board.

Tony

 

[bimdot]

Ok, so I got to bios (I dunno why it wouldn't go to bios before). So it recognizes everything except the cd drive. And the cd drive wont open or close. So there's no power (i checked the power so cd drive might be bad).

I think the harddrive and ram is ok. CMOS still needs replacing. And the cd drive needs replacing. Would this fix the problem?

 

[wahnula]

OK. Go into BIOS and look for "ICH7 chipset configuration" or the like, there shold be an option for selecting use of the SATA ports as "RAID" or "IDE". You want IDE. Any choices that involve RAID either disable or choose IDE.

Next, get a good CD drive, might as well spring for a Lite-on $40 DVD-RW, and get an OS on that puppy. Another option, if you have a 512 MB or larger USB flash drive, is to download Ubuntu Linux onto another PC and carry it over on the flash drive. It should boot from the flash drive and even install to the hard drive to test. Get Beryl desktop and give Windows the finger!

BTW I am still concerned about that CMOS issue, try removing the battery for 30 seconds and replacing.

Tony

 

[bimdot]

Ok, so I'm pretty sure the changes were/are made.

Now, I tried another cd drive (took it from a friend's comp so i know it works) and tried booting with that. Bios still idn't recognize that there was a cd drive and the power on the cd is never on. I don't understand what thee problem is.

Also, how likely is it that the motherboard is defective. I just bought it new.

 

[bimdot]

Ok so here's an update on my problem. So currently, the cd drive does not get any power. Everything else is connected properly and getting power. However, when I remove the IDE cable from the cd drive and leave only the power cable, the cd drive turns on. Otherwise, the cd gets no power with the IDE cable.

 

[wahnula]

Also, how likely is it that the motherboard is defective. I just bought it new.

Assuming that you've got a good IDE cable, not jammed in backward or anything, I would say RMA that board. A new MB should not have a dead CMOS battery nor cause this much grief.

Tony

"If it can't take it, I don't want it

 

[Benighting]

Have you tried a new IDE cable?

Also, I have seen situations where things wouldn't recognize until the master/slave configuration was changed around. In theory, this shouldn't matter. I was unable to get explanations, but this turned out to be the problem.

 

[edfair]

Your problem with the CD is similar to the issue when the cable is installed backwards. I would suggest that you look again at the installation. If there are shrouds around the connectors verify that your cable connectors have matching interlocks. Some cables are provided with IDH connectors without the guides that prevent them from inserting backwards.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.