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ASUS P55TVP4 starts, but doesn't boot

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First post, by gattilorenz

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Hi all,

I recently found a PC with a ASUS VX P/I-P55TVP4 rev 1.5, a 166Mhz P1 MMX CPU, 96 Mb RAM (32 SIMM + 64 DIMM) and the extra cache module (probably 256K) preinstalled.
The machine powered up ok, but didn't have an hard drive, the CD drive belt was dead and the floppy didn't seem functional.

I replaced the CPU with a Pentium 200Mhz MMX (fastest CPU this board can support), reconfigured the jumpers (just the multiplier, the others seem ok), added a hard drive, fixed the CD belt, and added a GOTEK emulator.
However, I can't get the machine to boot from either the floppy drive, CD drive or HD.

The GOTEK (or the original floppy drive) just shows the usual "Disk Boot Failure - Insert System Disk And Press Enter".
The CD drive reads the Win98 disk, shows the menu (boot from hard drive/boot from CD), but hangs on a black screen as soon as "boot from CD" is selected.
The HD also doesn't boot/hangs if DOS is installed on the drive. I tried installing Mandrake 9.2 in a 86Box VM, dd-ing the image on the hard drive, and booting it on the real PC.
I could get to the graphic Lilo screen, the kernel starts booting but then it crashes with Bad EIP value: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeR6kBtne6s

I tried, to no avail:

  • changing the primary/secondary IDE channel for CD and HD, and even disabling the unused one
  • removing any PCI/ISA card except VGA
  • changing VGA card
  • changing IDE cables
  • multiple CD drives
  • removing the DIMM module
  • removing the fast check of RAM
  • putting a slower setting for RAM (70ns instead of 60ns)
  • disabling all cache, internal and external, and removing the external one
  • resetting the CMOS
  • putting back the previous MMX CPU
  • using an older linux distro
  • reinstalling Mandrake in 86Box and adding memtest86+ to lilo.conf (but now the system doesn't even get to lilo, it shows "L" and then keeps printing a long stream of "99 ")

Sometimes the PC has trouble "coming alive" entirely, the VGA card doesn't initialize and there's no beep for, say, 30 seconds. Switching it off and on a few time "fixes" it.

I'm honestly running out of ideas. The caps look OK, but I have ordered an ESR meter just in case. I should also receive soon-ish an ATX to AT cable to try another PSU.
Is there something obvious I'm missing? What would you do at this point?

Reply 1 of 7, by Repo Man11

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This looks like trouble:

https://manualzz.com/doc/6788351/asus-p-i-p55 … are-user-manual

It is possible that you have five volt tolerant DIMM(s) but I'd double check to be sure.

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Last edited by Repo Man11 on 2022-01-20, 16:57. Edited 2 times in total.

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 2 of 7, by Repo Man11

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I'd leave just the SIMMs installed, and try Memtest86 and see if it checks okay. If not, I'd try cleaning the SIMMs with alcohol in case they have a bit of oxidation causing an issue. if you scroll down they have the version meant for a floppy which should work with your GOTEK.

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 3 of 7, by gattilorenz

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Only SIMMs are installed right now, but it still doesn't boot DOS or QNX (and probably not even memtest, but I can try that) via GOTEK. I can also try booting Memtest from an ISO, I'll post some updates later.

The manual you linked is for a later revision of the motherboard, mine supports mixed RAM modules.
The manual for my version should be this: https://www.ultimateretro.net/motherboard/man … 29822802543.pdf

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Reply 4 of 7, by weedeewee

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cache problem ?

Right to repair is fundamental. You own it, you're allowed to fix it.
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
Do not ask Why !
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Reply 5 of 7, by BitWrangler

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gattilorenz wrote on 2022-01-20, 15:39:

Sometimes the PC has trouble "coming alive" entirely, the VGA card doesn't initialize and there's no beep for, say, 30 seconds. Switching it off and on a few time "fixes" it.

I'm honestly running out of ideas. The caps look OK, but I have ordered an ESR meter just in case. I should also receive soon-ish an ATX to AT cable to try another PSU.
Is there something obvious I'm missing? What would you do at this point?

Actually, that sounds like problems I have seen with a failing PSU, they need to get the capacitors warm before they'll even attempt to function, then when they do they're ripple monsters with poor regulation. PSU replacement is the best idea.

Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.

Reply 6 of 7, by Repo Man11

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This could also be the sort of thing that happens when the Dallas RTC battery is near dead, which would hardly be a surprise with hardware this old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKwmf8CzvDU

"I'd rather be rich than stupid" - Jack Handey

Reply 7 of 7, by gattilorenz

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So it turns out I'm an idiot and I didn't configure FlashFloppy for the IBMPC 😀
I managed to run memtest, confirm that both SIMM and DIMMs are good, and installed Windows 98.

I'm not sure why the boot from HD after having installed via 86Box didn't work, as the BIOS settings for the HD were matched, but whatever.
As for the CD boot that didn't work, my BIOS is a very early revision and I guess it simply didn't implement it correctly. I now upgraded the BIOS to the latest revision and it correctly boots from the Win98 CD.

Thanks for the suggestions!

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