So I got the last of the parts for my new build, including the ASUS P8P67 Pro. I built everything up and booted and did all the normal stuff, installing Windows and setting up drivers. Aside from a stupid issue with my DVD drive not wanting to read the ASUS driver CD, everything went pretty well.
This morning, I got up and booted it up, intending to set my 1TB HDD to format while I went to work, since it takes so long. It would turn on, then off again... it did this a few times and I decided to remove the eSATA connector I had plugged into the back (the drive it was connected to wasn't on). After this, it finally decided to POST (not sure if the eSATA cable had something to do with it or not).
I got into Windows, set my format, and left for work. I got home tonight, and things were great. I did a few things, then shut down. I got one of my old HDDs out of my old system, so I could hook it up and begin copying files over. I also screwed in the last 3 Mobo screws that I neglected during the original build. I also plugged in a connector for the case front panel that I forgot (audio connectors). Now, I turned on the system, and I find that the RAM error light is on. confused, I try a few more times to no avail. Again, I unplug the eSATA connector (I was copying stuff from the external drive earlier, and it was working great, and again, the drive is currently off). I don't remember the precise sequence of events after this, but I got past the RAM error light, and it was settling on the Boot Device error light and failing to POST. I thought maybe plugging in the extra hard drive did something to it so I disconnected it. No fix. I then set the reset CMOS jumper and ran that, but that didn't seem to help either. I disconnected the rest of my SATA devices. Still no fix. I tried doing single-stick RAM with both sticks and that didn't help.
I began searching online for people with this issue. The only one that seemed similar to mine had a response indicating a potential short from one of the standoffs/screws on the mobo. I decided I best undo everything I changed since it was last working and removed the extra screws. That didn't fix anything.
Eventually I removed the whole board, and tried to get it to post outside the case, with just video card, RAM and CPU. Still the same error light. Without the video card, I get both the boot device error light and VGA error light, as one might expect.
My only conclusion is that somehow the board has died on me. I really can't imagine what the hell would have happened between it working fine and the few things I did after shutting down.
I'm getting ready to RMA it... but I'm wondering if anyone else here has any insights or knowledge of issues with these boards? I seem to be seeing a number of threads in various places with people having problems with this board model. It may just be because it's one of the few models available for sandy bridge so there's a disproportionate level of issues being discussed...
Anyway, can anyone think of anything else I could test? Can anyone suggest a possible reason for the sudden death of the board? I was really looking forward to getting stuff installed and seeing what this baby can do... I'm also debating whether I want to buy a new board locally and just return this one for a refund so I can get this system up and running for the weekend. Of course, I'm not sure I can find this board locally. Maybe I should get a different one? Gigabyte? MSI?
This is so frustrating.
This morning, I got up and booted it up, intending to set my 1TB HDD to format while I went to work, since it takes so long. It would turn on, then off again... it did this a few times and I decided to remove the eSATA connector I had plugged into the back (the drive it was connected to wasn't on). After this, it finally decided to POST (not sure if the eSATA cable had something to do with it or not).
I got into Windows, set my format, and left for work. I got home tonight, and things were great. I did a few things, then shut down. I got one of my old HDDs out of my old system, so I could hook it up and begin copying files over. I also screwed in the last 3 Mobo screws that I neglected during the original build. I also plugged in a connector for the case front panel that I forgot (audio connectors). Now, I turned on the system, and I find that the RAM error light is on. confused, I try a few more times to no avail. Again, I unplug the eSATA connector (I was copying stuff from the external drive earlier, and it was working great, and again, the drive is currently off). I don't remember the precise sequence of events after this, but I got past the RAM error light, and it was settling on the Boot Device error light and failing to POST. I thought maybe plugging in the extra hard drive did something to it so I disconnected it. No fix. I then set the reset CMOS jumper and ran that, but that didn't seem to help either. I disconnected the rest of my SATA devices. Still no fix. I tried doing single-stick RAM with both sticks and that didn't help.
I began searching online for people with this issue. The only one that seemed similar to mine had a response indicating a potential short from one of the standoffs/screws on the mobo. I decided I best undo everything I changed since it was last working and removed the extra screws. That didn't fix anything.
Eventually I removed the whole board, and tried to get it to post outside the case, with just video card, RAM and CPU. Still the same error light. Without the video card, I get both the boot device error light and VGA error light, as one might expect.
My only conclusion is that somehow the board has died on me. I really can't imagine what the hell would have happened between it working fine and the few things I did after shutting down.
I'm getting ready to RMA it... but I'm wondering if anyone else here has any insights or knowledge of issues with these boards? I seem to be seeing a number of threads in various places with people having problems with this board model. It may just be because it's one of the few models available for sandy bridge so there's a disproportionate level of issues being discussed...
Anyway, can anyone think of anything else I could test? Can anyone suggest a possible reason for the sudden death of the board? I was really looking forward to getting stuff installed and seeing what this baby can do... I'm also debating whether I want to buy a new board locally and just return this one for a refund so I can get this system up and running for the weekend. Of course, I'm not sure I can find this board locally. Maybe I should get a different one? Gigabyte? MSI?
This is so frustrating.
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