Boot issues with new HTPC

mothball_611 · 30 Jun 2011 at 23:51

Hi,

just built this for an htpc:

Asus E35 M1-M Pro
OCZ Platinum 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-10666C8 1333MHz
OCZ 500w Stealth Xstream
WD Caviar Green 2TB
Samsung Blu-Ray drive
Antec Fusion Remote HTPC case

After putting it together, plugged into my tv...and zilcho! Nothing through the HDMI port, but the VGA port brings the start up Asus splash screen. All fans running, drives powered, etc. But that's as far as I get.

Can't access BIOS as usb keyboard doesn't work. Tried connecting it using a PS2 adapter, still nothing. Could be USB Legacy needs enabling, but in this day and age?!?!?! Haven't got another keyboard to test it with as the one I bought for the HTPC is usb/bluetooth (wireless), so definately won't work.

Ignoring BIOS, computer will not boot past splash screen. Got an Ubuntu boot CD in drive as well. Nothing. Hard drive on SATA 1, Blu-ray on SATA 2, and motherboard manual states that SATA runs in IDE mode by default so it should boot to the drives.

Tried a sata hard drive from my main computer with Windows 7 on it, nothing.

I've taken one stick of RAM out, no help. No access to a computer speaker either as neither of my build have one.

So in summary, it hangs at the boot splash screen.

HELP!!!!

mothball_611 · 1 Jul 2011 at 01:22

Right, after doing other things for an hour, buying a computer speaker off ebay, and scratching my head while drinking a beer....

I realised the only thing I hadn't done was swap the RAM sticks around. So I took, both out and put the one from Slot 2 in Slot 1. It booted and loaded Windows 7. Great!!!

So can anyone tell me why, when I put the other stick back in (in slot 2), the computer won't boot again?

Bit rubbish, as I only have 2GB of RAM at the mo. What is this? The dark ages?!!

Orcvader · 1 Jul 2011 at 01:30

You're using OCZ DDR3 RAM. I have seen so many problems with OCZ DDR3 ram. I would try run memtest on them, it sounds like one of the sticks is perhaps faulty.

mothball_611 · 1 Jul 2011 at 07:02

Right, will do. Gonna be stuck at work all day today so will prob be tomorrow. Will let you guys know what it comes up with. Thanks.

welshdragon · 1 Jul 2011 at 10:17

I stuck 1 stick of 4gig in my fusion build, believe its only single channel, might be worth considering if your changing your ram? Leaves the other free too, not that you'd need to go to 8gig in an htpc build

Captain Chaos · 1 Jul 2011 at 10:19

try swapping your spare ram module with the working one (currently on its own). Will eliminate a fault module.

Could be an issue with the MOBO ram slots perhaps if both of the ram modules work ok

mothball_611 · 2 Jul 2011 at 13:02

Haven't done the RAM test but am certain it's a faulty module as I had already done what colthillary suggested and that didn't work for me. Will speak to overclcokers today.