I'm somewhat average when it comes to computer knowledge, so bear with me if I don't understand something.

 

 

 

I recently decided to build a new computer. The hardware contained in the computer is listed below (minus the CD-ROM drive which I'm using from my old computer).

 

NZXT Apollo ATX Mid Tower Case

 

Western Digital Caviar 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

 

GeForce 8800GT 512MB

 

Intel LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

 

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

 

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium

 

Ultra / X-Finity / 600-Watt Power Supply

 

Corsair 2048MB Dual Channel PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 1024MB)

 

 

 

Upon booting up I get an error "PXE-E61: Media test failure, check cable". I went into BIOS and it is not recognizing my hard drive. I've checked my cable connections many times and have gone into BIOS to check my settings. I set my hard drive to IDE because I'm only using one hard drive, checked the boot sequence and have everything enabled.

 

 

 

Contained within the box that came with the motherboard are an Intel Express Installer driver DVD-ROM and an Intel Matrix Storage RAID driver diskette (which I'm assuming I don't need to use because I'm not in RAID. I can't use it anyhow because the motherboard doesn't have floppy connections).

 

 

 

Here is the drivers page for my motherboard. Which one do I need to download and how do I use it once I have burned it onto a CD? Note that I have never gotten my hard drive to be detected therefore I have no Operating System at the moment.

 

 

 

I guess the other possibility is that my Hard Drive is just dead, but I have no way of knowing this because none of my other computers will support the hard drive.

 

 

 

Sorry for the long post, but I'm just getting frustrated and this makes me wish I bought a Dell instead. Thanks in advance.

Using the install disk/downloading drivers for it would be kind of like putting gas in a car without an engine or tank. After all, where do you think those drivers are stored? :D

 

 

 

One thing that I can't understand is what brand of drive you're using. Maxtor, Seagate, Western Digital? Let me know what you're using out there, so then I could try to point you in the right direction.

This is my hard drive:

 

Western Digital Caviar 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Oh, so it's a SATA drive then. Untick the part where you said you had set it to "IDE", since that would not let it work at all.

 

 

 

Do that and get back ASAP.

Well I'm confused with that also. I have this paper that came with the motherboard that states

 

 

 

If you do not plan to use Intel Matrix Storage Technology RAID:

 

- Select the option for 'Configure SATA As', and change the entry to 'ACHl" or 'IDE' Note: IDE Mode is not a supported configuration for Intel Viiv Processor technology

 

 

 

So basically I only have three options. I can't use RAID and I must either set BIOS to IDE or ACHl, neither of which really makes sense to me #-o

The hard drive is probably dead, it has nothing to do with your motherboard. Because hard drives (unlike most computer parts) use platters being spun by a motor at 7200 RPM, getting a drive with a manufacturing error that causes it to not work at all is fairly common. Hard drive failures have a so-called "bathtub" effect. Early on in the drives life, manufacturing defects cause them to fail (the first ~3 months). During most of its life cycle, failure rates are fairly low, and after about 10 years, they start dying of old age.

Well I'm confused with that also. I have this paper that came with the motherboard that states

 

 

 

If you do not plan to use Intel Matrix Storage Technology RAID:

 

- Select the option for 'Configure SATA As', and change the entry to 'ACHl" or 'IDE' Note: IDE Mode is not a supported configuration for Intel Viiv Processor technology

 

 

 

So basically I only have three options. I can't use RAID and I must either set BIOS to IDE or ACHl, neither of which really makes sense to me #-o

 

 

 

It's probably best to keep that one set to IDE. I'd do what the guy above said and RMA the hard drive.

You may indeed have to use that raid diskette to install the sata drivers. When you boot from the cd/dvd drive, look for the option to load scsi or raid drivers, F6 will be the key you need to press.

 

 

 

Of course it may be that your drive is faulty.

 

 

 

And just for the record, the driver page you linked to is the bios update page. You dont need any os installed to update your bios. Also if your not familiar with it, I'd ask someone who knows what they are doing to help you.

 

 

 

oober

Thank you all for the help. It turns out the problem was just a dead hard drive. I got a new hard drive and everything seems to be working perfectly :D