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PC problem, not getting any help anywhere else

T

TtimeWithTy

macrumors member
Original poster
I have posted on a number of tech support forums, and only one has replied, and i know this forum is usually very helpful and supportive. Anyway here it is:

Computer working 20 min ago, now its not
I was just on my computer at my house, it was working as it would normally. I put it in my car rather genitally, drove to a lan, and now its not working.

Heres what is happening:

* i boot up i see my motherboard default start screen
* i then see it come up with this message
"Sil 3112A SATARaid Bios Version 4.2.47
Copyright (C) 1997-2004 Silicon Image, Inc.
Press <Ctrl+S> or F4 to enter Raid utility
0 St3120026as 114473 MB





_ (the underscore is blinking rapidly as if awaiting to load something else)

* All that is white text on a black background. It usually has something just like this with more writing that then goes to a screen that lets me choose my OS.

I tried changing around some plugs and nothing changed. I unplugged my floppy, CD drive and dvD drive and that just made it get stuck at the default motherboard screen which is the first screen. Also just an fyi, my hard drive HAS NOT HAD any problems at all recently in case someone was wondering. But then again, i guess a hdd could just die randomly...
 
It's possible, though perhaps not likely, that some things were unseated.

Try reseating RAM, video card, etc.

I guess a CMOS reset couldn't hurt, but you might want to go into the BIOS and see what it's saying about your HDD (how's it recognizing it?)

I'm assuming you've got a 120 GB HDD from what you've said, and it seems that it definitely sees it, so that shouldn't be a problem. (I also assume, given the 2004 date, it's a desktop and not a laptop with a 120 GB drive, leaving me wondering why you're in the MBP section 😛)

You could try turning off your L2 cache, as they sometimes say that can solve some problems in situations where things aren't working properly, but I also doubt that.

If your rig's OC'd, clock it back to factory defaults.

Are you getting any beeps?
 
ok i unpluged then repluged my ram and video card, nothing changed, was that what you ment by reseting them, or am i retarded. what exactly is L2 cache and how do i turn it off? is it "CPU Level 1 Cache"?

i'm posting here, because im desperate for an answer, and no other sites are giving me any help.
 
So, you see that AFTER the POST completes?

Honestly, judging by the message, it looks like you are booting to a RAID setup disc. Your motherboard support CD is not in your CD-ROM drive, is it? A motherboard support disc is different from the drivers discs for a video card or something. That support disc has more than just drivers and utilities - it's also a BIOS restore disc, and, if you're board has onboard RAID, a bootable RAID setup disc. Go into the setup, and check your boot order. Try starting with your OS drive as #1
 
Hi TtimeWithTy,

I usually not only reset stuff. When I have such I problem, I remove all the parts that are not needed for computer to start. So try removing video card, HDD, CD-ROM etc. and then see if you can pass that place.

PS. I am not a pro with this kind of things so may be that advices look funny to people who know the drill. That's just what I usualy do when I have another stupid problem with my comp. 🙂

Eugene
 
You have a SiliconImage RAID controller integrated on your motherboard.

So that mean, that it is enabled in BIOS. Now, tell me, how is it configured? How doest it act? IDE mode? RAID mode?

How is your HDD attached? IDE cable? Or SATA cable? If SATA, is it than attached to the RAID controller?
 
Can i ask...

When you power up, on the motherboard default start screen, does all your IDE/SATA device show? Should be enlisted after the memory check.
 
ok, i fixed it. and guess how? i brought my computer home last night from the lan i was at, plug in all my stuff, and turn it on. All of a sudden it works again. WTF?!

Thank you to all that helped, it was quite possibly the weirdest problem i have ever encountered.
 
TtimeWithTy said:
ok, i fixed it. and guess how? i brought my computer home last night from the lan i was at, plug in all my stuff, and turn it on. All of a sudden it works again. WTF?!

Thank you to all that helped, it was quite possibly the weirdest problem i have ever encountered.
Click to expand...

That is the wierdest thing i have ever heard of! What devices do you plug in when u are at home? Any hds or something? Seems like ur comp is depemdant on ur hou7e haha
 
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