Trouble with new build

[DiabloMuerto]

So built a new rig today and having problems, not 100% sure what the issue is but I can't even get into BIOS or install windows so I'd like to start by just getting into the BIOS as I think that would help me a lot.

Parts:
GA-P67-UD7-B3 motherboard
Corsair H70 Cooler
i7 2600k CPU
Corsair AX1200 PSU
EVGA GTX580 (also used 8800GT for trouble shooting that)
G. Skill Sniper 8gb 1866 DDR3 (using 1 stick atm for trouble shooting)
LiteOn CD/DVD Burner
Vertex 3 120gb (boot drive) // 2 1TB Caviar Black 6gb/s (have tried each of these 1 at a time while trouble shooting)
Windows 7 64bit Ultimate (not installed)

So while trying to just get into the Bios I've reorganized pretty much everything, checked all my power connectors to make sure they're secure, etc.  I have My SSD on port 0, the 6gb/s intell port, the optical drive is on port 2 or 3 I think, the 2 Caviars are not currently plugged in.  GTX 580 is in the first X16 slot, which is recommended in the manual, nothing in any of the other expansion slots at the moment.  1 stick of the G. Skill in the first memory slot, slot 1, channel 0.

So far, of all the menu options you're offered, the only one that seems to work is the 'boot menu' (F12) option and the 'XpressRecovery2' (F9).  If I press either of those, it will launch to those things.  Pressing 'Tab' does not take me to the Post menu, pressing 'Delete' won't get me into Bios and hitting 'End' doesn't seem to launch Q-Flash, just takes me to a blank black screen with a blinking cursor on the right side of the screen.  When I try to enter the BIOS (Delete) it just takes me to a black screen with the text "Loading Operating System."  Currently there is no OS on the drives and the install CD for the OS is not in the Optical drive.

I was trying to get into the BIOS to both update them to current version as well as check all my sata settings, set AHCI if need be, etc.  I've literally been working on this since early this morning, it's almost midnight now and I've made no progress.  After not being able to get into BIOS I tried to just install windows but when I get to the part where you need to choose a drive to install it on, none of my drives seem to be detected by windows.  They do register as being connecting when I go to the 'Boot Menu' (F12) when powering up, if I choose Hard Disk to boot from, it brings up a window asking me to choose one drive and I do see my drives listed there, so it's apparently windows install just not detecting them for some reason.

On the Debug Code thing on the motherboard, the process stops with a code 'FF' in the manual I'm guessing the code that corresponds to that is 'FFh' which says "Boot attempt (INT 19h)...I'm not sure what that means though.  I've tried various searches on it, one thing I read said that means it might have something to do with the video card not registering or something, which is when I started moving that around and swapping it out for one out of my old PC that I know works.

So, that's where I'm stuck, can't install windows, can't get into the BIOS, can't nail down what my issue is...maybe the board is just defective, although it doesn't really seem to be but I'm not mobo expert so that's just an assumption.  I tried flashing the BIOS from a flash drive as best I could, I've never actually done it before but it's pretty straight forward but haven't been able to get that to work either.

So, if anyone has any tips, links to help resources please help, I was soooo happy when I got these parts in and it's killing me that I can't get them running.  Anyone know what the 'FF' code means even?

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

You haven't said what keyboard /mouse combination you are using.

I think it would be worth trying an extended clear of the CMOS to start with.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least one hour before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Optimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[Aussie Allan]

 To get you going, you sound like you know what to do once into bios..... it could be more then the basic, but start the trouble shoot by doing a extended Bios reset.........unplug power, ... pop battery on the board for at least 1 hour, cycle the power button (Press and hold in for 4 or 5 seconds) at the half hour mark and the Bios reset button as well......this will drain any residual power left in your system and give you the best chance at effecting a full Bios reset..........do this again prier to plugging every thing back in and powering up.

 Think minimalistic with what you pugin, harddrive C only, keyboard (ps2 if you gotit) , mouse and video card if applicable.

 This should get you into Bios, now only set Optimized default and reboot, .....now set the parameters you want to configure your system

 One last thing......Intel (ICH10R) is SATAII as in 3Gb/s ... not 6Gb/s..........the Marvell is the supposed 6Gb/s controller SATA ports but to be honest, .... Good luck....more on this subject can be found through this forum and/or across the web. Hopfully you have the newer chip in place.

 Let us know how you get on!

 Aussie Allan

  

[DiabloMuerto]

Thanks for the replies, I will try those suggestions later today, need to pick up some stuff from the store to clean the cpu as I removed the heatsink while doing some more trouble shooting and don't have any handy.  I did try a light cmos clear earlier but with no effect but I will try your suggestions once I'm able to get my heatsink back on, probably grab a PS/2 keyboard while I'm out.

I'm using the logitech g510 keyboard and the WoW steel Series mouse.  I also have a basic 3 button logitech mouse and another keyboard but I it's another type of gaming style keyboard so I don't imagine it would function/help any better than the g510.

I report back tomorrow afternoon after I've tried out this stuff, thanks again!

[DiabloMuerto]

Hmm, so when I was going to drop the CPU back in...looking at the the socket it looks like some of the pins in the socket (on the board) are bent.  Kinda hard to tell given how small they are but just looking at it I'm pretty sure they are and also given how small and close together they are I'm certain I can't straighten them so I guess I'm going to have to RMA the board, which sucks.

[Aussie Allan]

 Firstly,  DM, you type faster then I can talk and post, my apologies for going over the top of you!

   DiabloMuerto ... bent pins are not great, but a lot of people , Have,... and fix this problem themselves, it's actually great you found the problem so soon.

 you would be surprised what you can do with a good light , some fine, needle nose tweezers or needle and one of those magnifying glasses mounted on one of those cast iron bases you can pick up from Dick smiths or similar for a fiver.....what have you got to loose except your temper.

  If you feel this is beyond you.....RMA by all means.

 Aussie Allan

[soarwitheagles]

DiabloMuerto,

I too had an experience with bent pins...

I flew to a third world nation, never opening the box to make sure everything was ok....big mistake on my part!

Upon arrival, I discovered much to my dismay, an entire row of pins bent flat on my supposedly "new" AMD processor.  To say my ears were bright red would be huge understatement....

Needless to say, I took the CPU to a local computer shop in that nation and sure enough, just as Aussie Alan suggested. the problem was totally rectified by a local with very small tweezers...

He fixed the row of bent pins and to this day, that AMD processor works perfect!

You may want to check with Gigabyte to see if bent pins are covered under the warranty...many, many local vendors here in the USA will not accept returns on mobos with bent pins...

Hope this helps!

Soar

[Aussie Allan]

 Soar!    That third world country, ... was it Australia or America...........

 Aussie Allan

[soarwitheagles]

 Soar!    That third world country, ... was it Australia or America...........

 Aussie Allan

AA, it was the United Kingdom!

Just joking....

Whoops....so sorry, I know some people take offense at that terminology....and considering its meaning, it is far outdated [Third World: neutral and non-aligned [to communism] countries.

Then again, an argument could also be made for how parts of the U.S. are more like the Third World!

So, your point is well taken AA!  Thanks for the good correction.  I suppose it is a terrible case of American pride!  Yuk!

I will rephrase my terminology:

I was is the far east and.....no, wait, I was in the south pacific when the wonderful bent pin escapade occurred.  I had purchased a seemingly "brand new] AMD Processor from Fry's and it actually turned out to be someone's previously opened RMA.

Nuff said!

Soar

AA- I have served in over 30 different nations and most of that during the cold war.  I am thankful for places like this forum where I can be reminded that some terminologies are far outdated....thanks mate!

PSS DiabloMuerto-I still highly recommend you contact Gigabyte before RMA'ing your mobo to discover if they accept mobos with bent pins.  Fry's Electronics developed a hostile and antagonistic response toward people who tried to return "bent pin" items such as Intel mobos and AMD processors.

[Dark Mantis]

I am not sure  about the reception from Gigabyte US but I think if you really think it is beyond you to straighten these pins then contact them and ask them nicely if they can help.

[DiabloMuerto]

Just wanted to say THANKS! to everyone who helped me out.  I went ahead and decided to try and straighten the pins on my own, while doing it I wasn't so sure about how effective it would turn out but after dropping the chip back in and powering up I was able to get into the BIOS.  Since then I have gotten windows installed and am in the process of getting all my drivers and what not up to date as I type this.  So far all is looking well, still going to need to run some benchmarks/tests to make sure all is stable with the cpu but I'm optimistic about it.

Anyway, thanks again for all the help and suggestions, I really wouldn't have tried fixing those pins on my own if you guys didn't suggest it was a reasonable option.  I'd never done it before and I would've been too afraid of just making the problems worse.

[Dark Mantis]

Great news indeed! It is usually worth having a go at putting them straight. They don't require  any force in fact I have done it before just by gently "stroking" them. I am sure you will be fine now. 

[Aussie Allan]

  DiabloMuerto

 Great news ...... it's amazing what anyone can accomplish with a bit of direction and confidence ......  in Fact.......I might have a go at the wife's wisdom teeth myself... .... again congratulations on saving yourself some money and a lot of wasted time.

 Aussie Allan

[F5BJR]

*
For bent pins my boy has destroyed some in this ASUS P5B !!

And a friend specialist for watch / clock / jewelry has repair for 0 $ !!

Pierre