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poolekiteman
Lv 6
poolekiteman asked in Computers & InternetHardwareDesktops · 10 years ago

Win 7 mobo upgrade problem?

Hello folks, I just upgraded my mobo, CPU and RAM and have hit a snag

Old build worked fine with Win 7 home premium 64 (upgraded easily from Win XP Pro) on a Geforce 7050M mobo, with Phenom X4 9500 2.2GHz CPU and 4GB of DDR2 RAM, but I "feel the need for speed" so I bought a new mobo: Z-ASUS Crosshair V Formula AMD990FX (socket AM3+), a new CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz Black Edition, and 8GB of DDR3 1600C9 Corsair Vengeance RAM

completed transplant, reconnected everything (already had decent Corsair 650W PSU) including my trusty Nvidia 8800GTX and switched on - sweet - nothing went pop or started smoking, but I got an error message "Can't find any device"

I tried different SATA connections with my Seagate 80GB boot drive (type ST380215AS) but no joy - even tried booting up on my genuine Win7 CD - been fritzing about for 4 hours - including Win7 repair utility - and run out of steam - any PC guru out there got any ideas please?

Update:

This mobo has useful LED fault indicators - and the mobo "boot_device_LED" is solid red SOMETIMES. I have restarted several times, and sometimes it gets as far as Win 7 screen message "Windows failed to start properly - choose repair or start windows normally" - been thru the repair option several times, but the self-repair utility either stalls, or cannot complete repairs.

Update 2:

more info from LEDs on mobo - DDR status green (normal) SB (Southbridge I guess) status green, and HDD activity LED flashing yellow once every second.

I am no longer getting "can't find any device message" although boot_HDD LED does go red for a while after I power up, and then goes out.

I can access System Recovery Options, but none of them seem appropriate (startup repair, system restore, system image recovery, windows memory diags, command prompt) except maybe the last one, if only I knew what command to put there! Anybody? Pretty please?

Update 3:

so I followed the instructions on checking AHCI status in registry, and it appears to be correctly enabled (start value = 0)

then I thought I'd explore hard drives to see what I could - just going to command prompt gave me an unexpected prompt like this X:\windows\system32>

I used to know a bit of DOS commands so switched to C drive and found all my games and apps which used to be on D drive

so I switch to D drive, and there are all my C drive folders, including Windows.

at least I have limited access to the HDDs and regedit, so if anybody cares to become my hero, and tell me wtf to do next, I will say "Thank you very very very much!"

3 Answers

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  • ebox1349
    Lv 7
    10 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    get to the command prompt option and check the drive for errors with the following

    chkdsk C: / r then once finished run the same again but on D:

    Probably the reason it is not starting is that it is trying to boot from C: and as you have found out Windows appears to be on D: instead. I assume these are partitions and not separate drives? IF not and they are separate drives then unplug C: so that D: is the nly drive available and then it will boot properly, or change the boot order in the BIOS.

    But ... run the chkdsk first and see if it sorts it out, it probably will not but may find and fix other errors. What you used to do then was find the boot.ini file and modify it so that it boots from the correct drive partition. The problem is that W7 no longer uses a boot.ini file so you have to use the bootrec.exe from the command prompt instead and then press ENTER.

    There are several Bootrec.exe options and you need to use the option that is appropriate for your situation.

    If rebuilding the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) does not resolve the startup issue, you can export and delete the BCD, and then run this option again. By doing this, you make sure that the BCD is completely rebuilt. To do this, type the following commands at the Windows RE command prompt:

    bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup

    c:

    cd boot

    attrib bcd -s -h -r

    ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old

    bootrec /RebuildBcd

    /FixMbr

    The /FixMbr option writes a Windows 7 or Windows Vista-compatible MBR to the system partition. This option does not overwrite the existing partition table. Use this option when you must resolve MBR corruption issues, or when you have to remove non-standard code from the MBR.

    /FixBoot

    The /FixBoot option writes a new boot sector to the system partition by using a boot sector that is compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Use this option if one of the following conditions is true:

    The boot sector has been replaced with a non-standard Windows Vista or Windows 7 boot sector.

    The boot sector is damaged.

    An earlier Windows operating system has been installed after Windows Vista or Windows 7 was installed. In this scenario, the computer starts by using Windows NT Loader (NTLDR) instead of Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr.exe).

    /ScanOs

    The /ScanOs option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Additionally, this option displays the entries that are currently not in the BCD store. Use this option when there are Windows Vista or Windows 7 installations that the Boot Manager menu does not list.

    /RebuildBcd

    The /RebuildBcd option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Additionally, this option lets you select the installations that you want to add to the BCD store. Use this option when you must completely rebuild the BCD.

    Source(s): 20+ Years Experience - Senior Technician - Electronbox Mijas, España Intel Technology Partner and a Member of the Microsoft Partner Network. Number 1 answerer in this section in the UK :D
  • hunsperger
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    Your laptop is exceptionally first rate besides the shown fact that it is somewhat previous (like 3 years previous?). you quite do no longer might desire to enhance your CPU. it is stable sufficient to play diablo 3 based on the gadget standards for starcraft 2. you probable might desire to get one extra 2 GB of RAM. RAM is exceptionally low value. you may get 2x2GB sticks of RAM for under $50. Your video card is first rate sufficient too. in case you quite need to enhance your gadget. i might advise upgrading the video card till now your CPU using fact it is the weaker of the two aspects. A Radeon HD 5770 fees $one hundred thirty. ATI is additionally popping out with some new mid-variety playing cards quickly. Then, improve your CPU in case you experience like it yet you presently have a exceptionally stable CPU so a first rate improve will value you lots. do no longer in simple terms improve the mobo. It won't make your laptop any speedier till you get a sparkling CPU, RAM, GPU alongside with it. Upgrading to abode windows 7 won't make your laptop any speedier the two. it will definitely slow your laptop down because abode windows 7 takes up extra of your laptop's supplies to run. edit: properly, then decide for determination a million :) and consistent with hazard get extra RAM and a sparkling video card. there is rather no experience in getting a sparkling CPU. which will final for awhile. while the recent sandy bridge CPUs come out like all different guy mentioned, you could replace the motherboard and CPU.

  • Anonymous
    10 years ago

    I had the same problem with the an upgrade to the same mobo, the only way i could get it to work was with a clean install, which was a pain in the *** :(

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