BIOS freezes with SATA HDD

[organicpuzzle]

I started a new build with an ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe and used a tested and working Seagate 400gb SATA drive from another computer. When I first booted up I was getting a lot of freezing randomly during BIOS and Windows set up, so I thought it was my Patriot ram fighting with my motherboard (ASUS doesn't recommend this ram, but Patriot assured me it was completely compatible). Turns out MemTest runs fine. when I put my IDE drive in the setup runs perfect. I would automatically say the SATA drive was failing, but how could this cause lock ups in the BIOS? the paging file isn't even in use in BIOS is it? I use a SATA DVD burner and it works great, so it's not just the mobo or cable. SATA is enabled in the BIOS and configured properly as far as I know and I was able to use the drive for about a day without problems. Any ideas? Thanks.

[crenn]

Have you tried updating the BIOS? If not, do so, it may be a known problem with that motherboard.

[Xperiment]

I cant see a HDD causing problems within BIOS. As crenn said, try flashing the bios with the latest version form the ASUS webiste, failing that try reseting CMOS via the jumper/switch.

Linkage

[organicpuzzle]

I tried all that. Flashed CMOS with no results, then updated the BIOS. Talked to ASUS and they didn't understand after three emails and two phone calls. They didn't tell me anything useful. I'm going to try a brand new SATA today (as soon as it gets here) to see if it was just the HDD.

[Greco101]

Hope it was just the HDD otherwise you got yourself a weird problem and this thread's going to be pretty long lol.

Welcome to TBCS!

[organicpuzzle]

I get blue screens during fdisk (or whatever it's called these days) trying to install this new HDD. I tried booting up with my IDE and the SATA on secondary, but it froze like before. I've tried everything. I'm extremely frustrated. I've tried changing every combination of BIOS settings and every combination of cables to slots. Please help before I smash something! Thanks.

[Omega]

It's either a motherboard driver error (ie, the drivers on the mobo, like ide and SATA controllers), or something else like that.

So... Replacing the mobo would probably be a good idea.

[xmastree]

FWIW, my Asus K8V-VM doesn't like two IDE drives (on prinary channel) and one SATA drive. It works with just the PM and the SATA, or just the PM and PS, but not all three.
Eventually I used a PCI/SATA interface card and that works fine.

[AKA_RA]

Whats your PSU rated at, and is it a decent brand?

[xmastree]

Whats your PSU rated at, and is it a decent brand?

Is that for me? It was a 400W but I replaced it with a 650 to no avail.