[ale] Defective MoBo?

[Scott Castaline]

On 01/22/2011 11:36 AM, Ron Frazier wrote:
> Scott,
>
> I haven't been following this discussion too closely, but I thought I'd
> throw in my two cents regarding getting this board to work.  By, the
> way, if you wanted to switch brands, I have an MSI board that I'm
> running that I really like.  It has numerous indicator lights to show
> the status of everything, and a 2 digit LED display that shows the CPU
> temperature when it's not doing POST.  The board has nice heat sinks and
> heat pipes.  I'm not selling it, but they're readily available from the
> standard suppliers.  I got mine from Fry's.  Ubuntu likes it just fine.
> However, I will say that I'm not sure I have driver or kernel support
> for all the ports, like HDMI and firewire, etc.  Other than that, it
> works great.
>
> If you want to, or have to keep your board, I think you should go back
> to a very basic level and try to verify whether it is or is not working
> properly.  You may need access to another computer and the Internet to
> get this done.  Troubleshooting will also help you make your case to the
> manufacturer if it's defective.
>
> Strip the computer down to the minimum components.  Motherboard, power
> supply, RAM, CPU and cooler, on board graphics, monitor, keyboard.  For
> the moment, no HDD and no CD drive.  Boot it and hit whatever keystroke
> gets you into the BIOS.  Check the BIOS version and compare it to the
> company website from another machine.  If it's very old, you may want to
> flash the BIOS.  However, you can still do more troubleshooting.  If the
> BIOS won't boot at all, you have serious problems, possibly the CPU,
> RAM, or the MB.  We could address that if necessary.  Hopefully, BIOS
> will boot.  If it does, at least you have basic functionality of CPU and
> RAM and most of the MB.  There is usually a setting in there somewhere
> that says restore safe defaults and restore optimum defaults, or
> something like that.  Select the restore safe defaults setting.  Also,
> there may be a quick boot function, which may omit some of the power on
> self tests (POST).  If that function is there, turn it off.  Now, save
> the settings and reboot.  If you can see it on the screen, try to
> observe the memory test.  It should pass without errors.  Verify that
> you can get into all the menu options of the BIOS and at least observe
> them without changing.  Check the status screens and verify that it's
> recognizing the CPU properly, and that it's showing the right amount of
> RAM.  If all this works, this is a positive sign.  Find the BIOS setting
> that allows booting from a  CD.  I would set the boot order to HDD, CD,
> USB.  Save the settings and shut down.  If the computer tries to reboot,
> let it stabilize before turning the power off.  Reconnect the CD drive.
>
> Use another computer to download the ISO and create a boot disc for the
> Ultimate Boot CD ( http://ultimatebootcd.com/ ).  Put this disc in the
> drive and try to boot it.  You may have to press a function key to get a
> menu to boot the CD.  However, if you set the boot order as discussed,
> and there is no HDD, the CD should boot.  It will probably just show a
> prompt that says boot: .  Press Enter and you should get a menu.  Go to
> the CPU tests section and run some of those.  Once you're convinced that
> the CPU is working OK, go to the memory test section and run memtest86+.
> (I think this is also available on Ubuntu live CD's.)  Let the system
> run through at least one complete sequence of exhaustive tests, which
> may take an hour.  Even if that works, I would set aside time later to
> let this test run for 24-48 hours and you want to see NO errors.  I had
> a problem with memory glitching out once and it would crash the machine
> every few hours.  You can continue testing other components after the
> first complete batch of memory tests, but don't neglect to run the long
> test later.  (Also, later, you can run something like prime95 to stress
> test the system and check for overheating.)  Next test the graphics.
>
> If all this is working, you've got a pretty functional computer.  Next,
> I would think about shutting down and reattaching the hard drive and
> mouse.  Now, boot a Ubuntu live CD or something similar.  In this case,
> it may try to boot the hard drive, so you'll probably have to press a
> function key to get a menu to boot the CD.  If the CD boots, select Try
> Ubuntu.  Run Disk Utility and run an extend SMART diagnostic on the HDD.
> If the machine is still running at this point, you're pretty certain the
> motherboard is working, although it could still have defective
> components.  Report your results back here, and I or someone else can
> help you iron out the details of getting a functional Linux
> installation.  This would include getting the right drivers, and the
> right proprietary drivers, if needed, and the right configuration.  I'm
> not an expert in that department, but there are many here who are.
>
> Hope this helps.  Feel free to contact me if I can assist.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
Ron, I've pretty much done all of that all ready. The problem only 
occurs during the kernel's initialization in the boot process, if I set 
the BIOS to use any slot other than the onboard chip for boot. It goes 
through POST fine, GRUB menu is displayed fine, as soon as I select the 
kernel to boot it spews out several lines of the kernel initializing and 
then stops. My guess is just before it gets to the entering LUKS 
PassPhrase prompt. I was planning on trying a couple of other thins now 
that I have the cable so I don't have to keep moving the TV over to hook 
it up to my PC, everytime I want to try something else.

Anyway, about your MSI MoBo, which CPU is it for, AMD or Intel? Sounds 
pretty good, I may even give ASUS another try in the future, but not 
from any local sources, probably Newegg. I just can't believe the bad 
luck I've been having, I feel like the little old man in the Lil Abner 
comic strip that used to walk around with a storm cloud over his head 
all the time. But then, if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any 
luck :-)