Booting freezes sometimes after memory check - ASUS P4C800-E

Soldato
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Recently I replaced some components in my machine (new power supply, new graphics card).

All has been fine, except I sometimes now get a freeze on bootup just after the memory check. The system hangs, and I have to do a power button reset.

After the reset, the system POSTs ok, does the RAID/IDE controller check ok, but then I get this message:

Overclocking Failed! Please enter Setup to re-configure your system.
Press F1 to Run SETUP
Press F2 to load default values and continue


If I press F1, my settings in the BIOS are correct, so I exit + reboot AGAIN and straight back into windows no problem.

If I press F2, my settings are lost and I need to change everything again.

Any ideas why this happens?
 
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Soldato
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My system spec:

Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
Antec 400W Smartpower PSU
Intel 3.2Ghz P4
Gainward BLISS GeForce 7800 GS 512MB
2GB Corsair Ram
1 x Raptor 74GB
2 x Maxtor Diamondmax 10 300GB (non-Raid)
DVD drive, TV card, E-MU 0404 soundcard

Not overclocked at all
 
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Soldato
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I still have the same mobo. Reason you get this message is either:

1: You are not running the FSB @ 200 and using an overclocked profile like 15% 25% 30% etc etc.

2: Your Ram is not correctly set to detect that it is DDR400.

3: You have enabled a combination of the CPU & or FSB multiplier which your mobo cannot handle.

Easiest way to resolve this is ensure your CPU is set to the correct x 16 multiplier & Ram is set to DDR400 (not auto as that can force a higher FSB than the mobo can handle without other tweaking.

The reason you are getting the error message is because the Bios is resetting to a safe performance level as it cannot POST with your current config.
 
Soldato
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Thanks for the reply

Everything is set at default though, and this has always been the case since I first bought the motherboard, its been booting fine for several months.

One thing I did do recently on a system re-install (I changed the graphics card + PSU at that time too) was to remove + reseat all the components, including the BIOS battery. Do you think if I try reseating everything again that might help?

Another thing as you said it might be the problem with BIOS settings - everything is default - but I'm not sure about the 'overclock' page in the BIOS - this is set to whatever the default is (auto I think) - should I change this to use manual settings?
 
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Try reseating your components and check that you have everything connected up properly. Another solution might be to flash to the lastest bios for your motherbaord.
 
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caff said:
Thanks for the reply

Everything is set at default though, and this has always been the case since I first bought the motherboard, its been booting fine for several months.

One thing I did do recently on a system re-install (I changed the graphics card + PSU at that time too) was to remove + reseat all the components, including the BIOS battery. Do you think if I try reseating everything again that might help?

Another thing as you said it might be the problem with BIOS settings - everything is default - but I'm not sure about the 'overclock' page in the BIOS - this is set to whatever the default is (auto I think) - should I change this to use manual settings?
Make sure the overclocking setting is NOT Auto as that forces it to detect higher speed Ram (if you have it).

Also, I seem to remember that this mobo has a Bios overwrite protect function in one of its Bios sub menus to prevent viruses from damaging it so ensure that allows you to make changes & save them by disabling it until you are happy with the config.
 
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AWPC said:
Make sure the overclocking setting is NOT Auto as that forces it to detect higher speed Ram (if you have it).

Also, I seem to remember that this mobo has a Bios overwrite protect function in one of its Bios sub menus to prevent viruses from damaging it so ensure that allows you to make changes & save them by disabling it until you are happy with the config.

That sounds like a good idea - I'll try reseating everything + doing what you've suggested, ta.
 
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Ok I tried everything suggested - reseated everything including CPU, all hard disk cables etc.

I changed performance settings to 'manual' and 'standard' and put everything to standard speed.

Now this is really odd - once I set manual clock settings, it won't detect my main hard disk (the WD Raptor on SATA). No loose cables. I have to clear the CMOS by removing battery and then it shows up again? Every time I change the performance settings to manual the same thing happens.

Maybe the PSU is underpowered? It's the one thing I did change recently (went from 480W to 400W cos the old one blew up)
 
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i think it might be your PSU, the antec smartpower PSU's imho are crap, i built a computer for my bro's at christmas and got them an antec sonata case and the 400w/450w (<--- cant remember which it was) caused all sorts of problems and couldnt power thier system at all it kept shutting off every 2 hours or so and sometimes wouldnt turn on at all.

The systems spec is:
3500+
Epox mobo
1gb geil value ram
7800gt 256mb

thier system is less powerful than yours. Then again it could always be something else but i would try and see if u can get a hold of a different PSU and try it in your system just to be certain.
 
Soldato
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Hmm, problem sorted by the looks of things. I changed over the SATA cables with some others I had laying about, now the drives are showing / initialising fine, and with manual clock settings, hence several perfect boot ups. I guess the cables were slightly loose after being plugged/unplugged a few times.

The people who designed SATA connectors and cables should be beaten roughly with a spade.
 
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