Re: !!!!!Computer won't boot up with SATA dvd burner connected

MASTER wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 02:27:47 -0500, Paul<nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Virgil2U wrote:
I have a gateway GT5244E desktop computer and I have tried to install a new sata dvd burner into
it and it will recognize it in CMOS but will not go past the cmos stage, It just stops there
and will not go any further. I know the drive is good because it worked in another system.
I don't know if the stock power supply with the system is not powerful enough for SATA or
not, I believe it to be 240 watt, the motherboard is a MS-7249 with 4 SATA connectors and
I have tried all 4 connections and still will not go any further than the boot up window.
If anyone can give me any advice on this it will be greatly appreciated. I don't have
another power supply handy to swap out and before I am to buy a new one I would like
to know if this could be reason it will not work with the SATA dvd burner connected.

Thanks,
Virgil


Micro BTX
Dimensions: 10.5 × 10.4 inches (strange, if that was true, larger than normal)

MCH (northbridge): ATI RC410 Rev. A12
ICH (southbridge): ATI SB450 Rev. A13

Primary IDE connector
Secondary IDE connector
Four Serial ATA connectors

*******

I tried doing a few searches, to see if there was a SATA ATAPI problem,
but don't see anything there.

If you can see the identity text string in the BIOS, for the optical
drive, then the cabling is probably working. You could change
motherboard ports, as part of your testing (use a different SATA plug).
The ATI Southbridge, might have two separate logic blocks to control
the four ports or something. But that's a long shot.

Power shouldn't be a problem. An optical drive draws lots
of power, when you have a disc in the tray, but not so much
when it's sitting there idle, with an empty tray. Even at
240W, I doubt your computer was "falling over", because
of an extra 5 watts max to run an empty optical drive.

So I'm stumped.

Some chips, like the VIA ones, have problems when
SATA II drives are plugged into the motherboard. But at most,
if something like that was happening (300MB/sec device
can't negotiate properly with 150MB/sec Southbridge),
the device simply wouldn't be recognized, and you'd still be
able to boot.

Does the motherboard have a RAID setting for the SATA ports ?
Do you already have a RAID array connected ?

Don't make too many changes to the BIOS settings, without
first writing down the settings that work. If you change the
BIOS settings, it could prevent booting because the OS drivers
would no longer match.

By the way, exactly what does this mean ?

"will not go any further than the boot up window"

The BIOS is in control at first, and then at some point,
your OS takes over, and may put an animation on the screen,
while files are loading. In some cases, if you enable
"boot logging" in the OS, perhaps from Windows Safe Mode,
you might get to see more activity on the screen.

If it was my machine, I'd slap a Linux LiveCD in it, and
see if the LiveCD would boot or not. Even a Windows Installer CD
would do. If it did, then I'd know the hardware was good. I use
both OSes here, as the occasion arises.

If you really thought it was a power issue, and you had
some kind of bootable optical media, you could try unplugging
the hard drive power and data cables (with the power off).

When SATA optical first came out, there were a few issues.
This table, is an example of the "bleeding edge" compatibility
at the time. But things should be better now. Too bad there
are no ATI chipsets here.

"px-716sa motherboard compatability listing"
http://www.plextoramericas.com/index.php/faq?fileid=7&task=download

Paul

I have tried all of the 4 sata connections with no luck and I had
misidentified the motherboard, it is a MS-7248 not 49.

By the way, exactly what does this mean ?

"will not go any further than the boot up window" What I mean by that is it only goes as far as the screen with gateway logo on it

m I am really stumped on this but it does not matter if their is
anything in the drive or not. I do not know what good it would do to
put a linux installer or a windows installer cd in it when the
computer will not boot up far enough to see the cd. One thing that
did happen on the first night I had tried to install it was that I
kept trying it so many times that the chassis cooling fan which
operates to cool the cpu stopped working and the cpu started to
overheat and shut down the computer. I identified the problem with
the fan being that it stopped getting power from the motherboard
connector but once I removed the sata dvd burner and let the computer
cool down it then started back up and went into windows. That was one
reason I thought maybe it was a power supply problem to stop the
cooling fan to get electric power.


A chassis cooling fan header on the mother board is for a case fan. There should be an independent header on the mother board labeled something like CPU FAN. Make sure that is correctly connected. Off hand I don't know if the two supply the same amount of power but its certainly worth checking.

If what you wrote about the chassis fan was just an oversight and indeed things are connected correctly then what is the reason you no longer suspect the power supply?

The CPU fan not running with the burner connected screams power supply problems to me. A failing power supply can cause flaky problems - I'm talking off-the-wall problems. 240 watts is pretty low on the pecking order anyway and who knows what piece of junk Gateway happened to stick in that box. Maybe you could borrow a power supply from a (really) good friend :) -- Nah, probably not.

Seriously, look at Newegg for a 400 watt or larger power supply but be sure and Google for reviews. Don't just take Newegg's reviews at face value for that type of item. You will want one rated 80% or better. One of the most important items in a computer is the power supply, if that is underpowered or flaky, literally anything can happen. If you decide to go that route make sure the power supply you order will suit your motherboard and fit in your case.

I would also check the mother board for blown caps. I am sure Paul (who also responded above) could help you in that case if you aren't sure what to look for. He is *much* more knowledgeable than me.

John

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