How to reflash if PC wont POST?

[eye_suc]

Hi guys

I received my goods from Prophecy yesterday, and thus I was looking forward to slapping together the new PC. The assembly went without a hitch, but the problem came when I did the first POST. It just hung on the BIOS Splash Screen. No keyboard activity, nothing. After a lot of random hardware exclusions (disconnect HDD's, DVD-ROM, swap RAM, run one stick, etc etc) I finally got a POST. I thought I miraculously got it working! ROCK! So after starting windows installation and progressing up to the HDD formatting, the PC was supposed to reboot. And it hangs again. And no amount of hardware changes could get a successful POST again (I got tired and I need to sleep and stuff). I also cleared the CMOS by removing the battery in case that would help. It didn't

So after doing a quick check on the gigabyte site this morning (from work) I see that my BIOS version does not support my CPU! I need the very next BIOS version at least (I have F7, I need F8a). http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2629 But how the hell do you flash the bugger if you cant POST! Should I just hope and pray I get a POST again? Also, I don't have a floppy drive since I didn't think it would be necessary. So I need another CPU (that is supported, borrowed from a friend) and a floppy drive to sort this out?

HARDWARE:
GA-P35-DS3L (motherboard)
E8200
Mushkin 2x1GB
2x320GB Western Digital HDD
ATI 2900XT (my old card, which works since I can see the splash screen)
LG DVD-ROM/Writer (i think its the LG one)

And uhmmm, thats it i suppose. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[d0b33]

This is why I'm getting the Asus motherboard so I can flash via usb stick, try and get hold of an external floppy drive maybe.

 

[killadoob]

do you have an older lga 775 cpu anywhere?

i would image thats the only way you will get it to flash

if not your going to find an older cpu and flash it this way

as you say, if it does not post it will not flash

if you get an old cpu and have no stiffy drive
your going to need to load windows and run @bios to update

 

[eye_suc]

yeah, i was able to do ONE POST, and that was lucky...

nope, no spare CPU's laying around. anybody want to buy a ***** ** **** pc?

 

[d0b33]

Send the motherboard back and get an ASUS is my advice.

 

[eye_suc]

and if it is not the motherboard that is the problem?

i found posts from other forums where people were able to boot fine using this motherboard and e8200/e8400.

 

[killadoob]

cant the company you bought from help you out?

where do you stay?

i cannot believe this board needs an updated bios unless it has problems with the e8200

 

[eye_suc]

i already asked for advice on the prophecy forums, but nothing yet. one response but no solution.

i'm a bit far away from you, Mr Killa i'm in CPT

 

[killadoob]

o yea hahah was gonna say i have a 1.6ghz lga cpu i use in my other pc but yea your far away hahah

try running it with 1 hdd's and 1 stick of ram

it might be some hardware stopping it from posting

i know i had a problem when i had 3 hdd's connect and i just changed the one sata post it got past the splash screen

 

[eye_suc]

try running it with 1 hdd's and 1 stick of ram

tried that, tried both sticks seperately as well. tried booting with no HDD's and no DVD-ROM. no dice. tried one HDD and one stick. both sticks. other RAM slots (the empty ones). bahhh, i wasted so much time on this, i feel violated

it might be some hardware stopping it from posting

the graphics card works since i see stuff on the screen. but the only other things running are CPU, MOBO and RAM.

 

[.Froot.]

Your best bet is to call Prophecy and tell them that they sold you a computer (or at least a bunch of components that's supposed to fit together) that has compatibility problems and ask them to figure out a solution for you. After sales service is supposed to be important so they might just help you out.

 

[eye_suc]

I'll have to phone them next week when I am at home during office hours. can't really try to trouble shoot over the phone when not at the PC.

My last resort is to send everything back... but GAWD what a mission. undo everything, repackage! I would prefer to shag Ivy Matsepe-Casablanca before going through all that effort.

 

[medicnick83]

Can't you take it into say, Rectron and ask them to help you?

They'll have the 'spare' parts to help you (CPU etc)

Just call the Technical department and ask them nicely, tell them you'll even pay (and yeah, actually pay for the help)

I did this years ago when I made a boo boo when flashing a BIOS, RASHIED at CPT Rectron helped me.

He has left Rectron but my point is, there is someone out there who will help just ask nicely!

 

[d0b33]

What PSU do you have and are you running a UPS?

I was not able to boot a PC past post with the DVD drive attached and found out the PSU was too weak.

 

[eye_suc]

Can't you take it into say, Rectron and ask them to help you?

i see your point yes, good idea, but unfortunately i do not have the luxury of going to rectron during office hours. it's also quite far from me (all those guys in milnerton) but it can still be done. will keep this in mind

 

[eye_suc]

What PSU do you have and are you running a UPS?

I was not able to boot a PC past post with the DVD drive attached and found out the PSU was too weak.

it is a coolermaster extreme power 650Watt. should be fine i think (or thought hehehe)

I tried disconnecting ALL drives (both HDD's and the SATA DVD-ROM). even with them disconnected it still did not get past the splash screen

trial and error is fun up until the point where you want to grab the nearest hammer and just lightly TAP the living crap out of the problem.

EDIT: whoops! forgot to mention, no UPS

 

[The_Techie]

The easiest solution (replacing the CPU with a supported one) should work, although as you say it's not really an option. I'd advise you to do as gdiza suggested: Go to a company such as Rectron or PCInternational (or even email the guys at Prophecy, hear if they can't help you out) and ask them to do the BIOS update with a supported CPU. You should probably expect to pay a small-ish amount for this. PCInternational is open on Saturdays as well.

Hope this helps

 

[d0b33]

This is why it's still a good idea to keep a floppy drive at hand for these extreme cases, I recommend you try to get hold of one if possible to flash the MB.

 

[eye_suc]

PCInternational in Cape Town perhaps?

thanks for the advice guys...

the only thing that baffles me is this:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/247783-10-e8400-preparation-thread

Looks like most P35 mobos have decent-good support for the wolfdales! Some can also be flashed without needing a older CPU in first.... My Gigabyte P35-DS3L (rev. 2) mobo didn't even need to have a bios flash! It worked just fine with the E8400 out of the box!

When I put my rig together lastnight with the new E8400, my bios on the motherboard was F3a (Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L) and I was able to load up windows, which was weird.

 

[eye_suc]

This is why it's still a good idea to keep a floppy drive at hand for these extreme cases, I recommend you try to get hold of one if possible to flash the MB.

can't flash it if i can't POST will have to get a CPU as well it sounds like