The drives are not recognized in the post. It will not go to bios. The motherboard is a m2n78-la. Test your PSU or replace it if your power supply units fan is not working your PSU is faulty. One bad lead can cause a computer to continue on a cycle or to shutdown or fail to detect/ boot up a computer hard drive. I cant seem to find this motherboard for purchase anywhere (m2n78-la). How do i find out what is compatable? I know changing it i could do, but a little nervous about getting it up and running though. So i would also need to purchase a full copy of a ms o/s? If so where can i find that? Is their any way to test motherboard to find out if hp is.
How-To Geek Forums / Windows Vista
I have an hp pavilion media m8530f. It will not start now and shows no drives in the bios. i did diognastics and it said no hard drive. I figured Hard drive went out again, so i replaced it. Still No Drives. The cd/dvd drive is not showing up either. Every once in a while it will detect them but when i put in recovery disc they disappear. called hp and they said sata ports on mother board were bad. I would have to replace the motherboard. Their are four unused ports on their that arent detecting anything either. I dont know much about computers but that doesnt seem right to me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Did you make any changes to the system prior to this happening? Maybe changing something on the drives or messing with RAID? If not, the problem may lie in the BIOS and may be fixed by changing the Sata type to IDE from AHCI mode. I doubt this will do much for you though.
Easiest way to test this would be to run to a local parts supplier and purchase a PCI sata controller. Install it and connect the drives to the card. If the drives are seen, then indeed you have a bad controller on the motherboard. It's not too uncommon. If the drives are still not seen....well lets hope they are.
brians,
---
If under warranty, RMA the machine back for FREE service.
---
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01421635&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3740333#
---
If not under warranty, post back.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
M2n78-la Driver
Good point Rick. I made an assumption that it wasn't under warranty. Bad me :(
brians,
---
Your situation could get costly very fast.
---
HP will charge you a 'arm and a leg' for their service and repair.
It is difficult to guess at hardware solutions on a forum.
---
By chance, do you have a knowledgeable friend locally which you could ask to look at the computer for you ??
---
Regards,
Rick P.
brians,
---
Do you feel confortable enough to re-build the machine yourself ??
---
If not, call HP for a price.
---
Post back.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
I feel i could do it with some advice on what to replace. I shouldnt have to replace everything. somethings have to still be good right?
brians,
---
[ If ] HP is correct and the motherboard is bad, all you would have to purchase is an Inexpensive Retail Motherboad which matches your machine and parts specs, disassemble the machine and re-assemble the machine. A new retail motherboard comes with a book plus drivers on a CD so no big issues there.
---
If you don't have a Full Copy of a MS O/S, then you would have to purchase that also BUT here again everyone needs a Full Copy and not just a restore partition in my opinion. :)
---
Cheap way out plus fun for some !!
---
Regards,
Rick P.
The PCI card would be easier though considering he would just need to plug it in and the BIOS should move the drives accordingly.
@DarrellRaines,
---
The PCI card solution would be a band-aid on serious problem.
---
As always, it's left up for the member to decide what he/she wants and has the means plus the ability to do.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
i cant seem to find this motherboard for purchase anywhere (m2n78-la). how do i find out what is compatable? I know changing it i could do, but a little nervous about getting it up and running though. So i would also need to purchase a full copy of a ms o/s? If so where can i find that? Is their any way to test motherboard to find out if hp is correct? I felt when i was talking to them the person was just reading a troubleshooting chart and didnt really have much knowledge? Thanks for everyones advice
brians,
---
You won't find an m2n78-la OEM motherboard but one of the folks here on HTG that use AMD processors can probably quickly convert the board specs over to a retail version.
Here are the specs.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01635734&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=3887687&lang=en
---
Don't know your location but in the US, we use http://www.newegg.com a lot for purchasing components.
---
It would be best to have a friend who is knowledgeable concerning computers CONFIRM the the motherboard is the problem BEFORE purchasing anything !!!!
The issue could be as simple as faulty sata drive cables or connections.
---
Everyone needs a Full DVD Copy of the O/S they run EVEN if they one pre-loaded on a machine.
Believe Me. (lol) (lol)
Just look at the problems found on any forum and the 'hassels' folks have !!
---
Regards,
Rick P.
M2n78 La Drivers Download
had a chance to mess around a little tonight. when i started it up for the first time all drives were showing. as soon as i tried to run recovery disc they disappeared again. Does this sound like the mother board. just seems odd to me that they show up once in a while.
also when i run diagnostics tonight i get a 'BIOHD-2' error code. Not sure if that means anything
brians,
---
Intermittent issues in electronics are one the hardest problems to diagnose especially over a phone or in forum.
---
That's why I recommend that you have a friend who knows computers take a look at the machine with you.
---
As I said, I have seen machines that just had bad sata cables and connections which caused folks to have huge problems and the fix cost less than $5 USD.
Thanks. Just trying to cover all possibilities. I did change one of the cables.
BIOHD-2' error code
---
That is normally a HD, cable or sata MB / port problem.
---
Regards,
Rick P.
Pegatron M2n78-la Drivers Windows 7
Asus M2n78 La Drivers
Topic Closed
This topic has been closed to new replies.