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Troubleshooting
the Iwill DK8N
With
such a new platform, users will obviously run into a few hassles with the
DK8N: before wasting any of your time with the tips below, we assume you
will have double-checked all the usual hardware issues - as much as
possible checking them in another known-working PC. The usual issues are:
right kind of EPS12V PSU; heatsinks & their fans properly installed;
no shorts between motherboard & enclosure; all cables &
connections correct & secure; correct kind of memory correctly seated
in the correct slots, mouse & keyboard correctly installed w/ no bent
pins (if
PS/2); floppy cable right way round, & etc &
etc
We
strongly advise checking your
memory as the first suspect if the system seems flaky without specific
cause. If any errors shown by repeated runs of Memtest (with
'legacy USB' disabled in the BIOS) do not occur at the same address
or addresses in MB (ie appear random but real), especially
if using unapproved or low-latency memory; enter the
BIOS/Chipset/Northbridge/Memory & relax the timings to (say)
3-3-3-10 - you can also try reseating
the memory in its original slots; or indeed try putting up to four
sticks of your memory in the bank adjacent CPU#0, with none adjacent CPU#1
- if it only works in this configuration, & you are using approved
memory, consider getting a replacement DK8N.
1
- it won't POST (first
time you've used your D8N)
Unplug
from mains & clear the CMOS. simplify configuration to one CPU (in
socket #0) & one stick of memory (slot nearest to CPU on
upper RH of motherboard); use a known-working 1.5v AGP accelerator (ideally
an NVIDIA model), & remove any PCI cards: does it work?
If not
try another stick of memory; if still no POST try another CPU in socket
#0; if still no POST try another (approved) brand of
Reg/ECC memory, then another PSU. If all this fails get an RMA from your
vendor for another DK8N.
2
- it won't POST (you've
used your D8N OK before)
Unplug
from mains & clear the CMOS. Remove all recently added hardware. We
have run into no-POST hassles with newly attached (incorrectly
configured) IDE devices, & after fiddling with the BIOS
3
- it won't POST (you've
just flashed your D8N's BIOS from a know-working configuration)
Unplug
from mains & clear the CMOS; if still no POST you're stuffed - there
is no rescue procedure. Either contact your vendor or (best) mail
titanwu@iwill.net & ask for a
new DK8N EEPROM.
Safest
procedure for flashing the DK8N BIOS is to download a driverless
DRDOS image, insert a clean, tested, or ideally new floppy, then
double-click the downloaded file, which will write to it. Extract the
*.bin & flash executable from the new BIOS you've downloaded form
Iwill, copy both to this floppy. Read the readme & make a note of
anything tricky you'll need to type. Reboot to the floppy & flash.
4
- it will POST from cold, but not reboot
Enter
BIOS & set to 'optimal defaults' - if this doesn't work remove newly
installed hardware item by item until you have pinpointed the cause.
5
- I can't install to/boot
off a USB-attached device:
Enter
the BIOS; Advanced/USB/Emulation - set this to the appropriate emulation
for your device. Reboot, enter the BIOS - check what boot-devices are
available. It doesn't work for us with the 21st July 04 BIOS; but is
clearly designed to work.
6
- I can't install Windows 32-bit
You'll
need a version of Windows 2000 Pro or XP Pro which recognises USB2: this
is SP4 for W2K & SP1 for XP - if your install CD is an earlier version
you'll need to slipstream
it using the network version of the Service Pack.
7
- I still can't install Windows 32-bit -
getting messages about file corruption while copying files from CD to
target drive
First
check condition of CD & cabling to & jumpering of IDE optical
drive, swap the IDE optical drive for another you know to work &/or
clean the lens. Also check cabling to & jumpering of your target
drive, &/or swap for another known-good HD.
If
still getting similar messages remove & reseat
your memory sticks, having very gently run a clean & soft india-rubber
along the contacts to clean them.
8
- How do I enable NUMA?
- I installed
Windows XP Pro SP1 (or earlier - not recommended), & have installed
the SP2 patch.
As
well as the correct
BIOS settings & correct memory configuration; you will need edit
& add a switch to your boot.ini: switch definitions here,
example of edited boot.ini here
- boot.ini is in the root of your boot drive: if you cannot see it start
Windows Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options/View & tick: 'Show hidden
files & folders' & untick 'Hide protected operating system files'
- you can edit boot.ini with notepad.
It is
much, much simpler to slipstream
SP2 into the files extracted from your Windows XP Pro CD, then make &
burn yourself a bootable CD.
9
- I don't have any sound from
my centre speaker (of
a 5+1 setup)
Download
& install Realtek ALC drivers of version 3.61 or higher; you'll need -
if you want it - to reinstall NVSOUND afterwards. Both these have a
speaker-check utility.
10
- I have CD-burner/DVD-burner hassles
Use
the default MS IDE drivers
11
- I can't uninstall the NVIDIA IDE drivers & get back to MS originals
Though
tricky, there is a way: this
site has a rollback/uninstall utility plus instructions for use; this
utility, used together with a special
cleaner, will get you back to compatible MS drivers.
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