I have a self-built system based on the 875P Neo chipset. Processor is Intel P4 3.0GHz. It was built back in Jan 2004.Booting up this morning a message was displayed saying the CMOS was incorrect. On further investigation neither of my two SATA drives are recognised in the bootup options - just a IDE CD drive. The drives are connected okay and it seems inconceivable that both have failed.I'm guessing that something on the MSI MS-6758 mobo has failed - probably the SATA controller. Given the age of this system I'm finding it difficult to find a suitable replacement.Can anyone recommend a suitable alternative? I'm in no hurry to buy a new system and even when I do this system will be used in a network.Thanks for any help.

Ray,Very few of the big internet suppliers stock P4 AGP anymore you can get the odd P4 PCIe but that's about it.http://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productdetails....&categoryid=259http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products/Product.asp?id=4681I think you'll have to go to an independendet shop and see if they've got one collecting dust, or...I hate to recommend it ....ebayhttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Gigabyte-GA-8IPE1000...1QQcmdZViewItemRegardsJim

Hi Jim,Thanks for your reply. Thanks for the link to eBay but having never bought anything from them I'm reluctant to jump in with no experience when I'm under pressure.Thinking about this a little more I had a strange message yesterday evening about the memory. I can't remember the exact wording but I think it included the word "packed" or "tight". I rebooted and the message didn't reappear.I researched the problem a bit more since posting my message and I'm wondering if the CMOS battery may be low. In recent months that PC has only been booted up at weekends. I haven't changed the CMOS battery since I bought the mobo so I'm wondering if it's just a case of hard drives settings being lost because of a low battery.Cheers

Ray,Has your clock 'lost' it's time that is usually a good indication of CMOS battery failure. Replace the battery as a precaution..you can get them from TESCO these days!These might offer an alternative if the battery is not the problemhttp://www.pcupgrade.co.uk/productdetails....&categoryid=259http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/Products/Product.asp?id=4681Jim

Hi Jim,Panic over!!! Something caused the settings for the SATA controller to be switched off - hence no HD recognition. I went into the BIOS and with the help of the manual changed the settings and VOILA!! I have my system back.Whilst the CMOS clock is showing the right time I think it would be a good idea to replace the CMOS battery. Silly question... if that battery keeps the BIOS settings I guess I lose them when I remove the battery.Cheers,

HelloAfter changing the battery clear the Cmos using the jumper on the MB then go into the Bios page and choose setup defaults/failsafe defaultsthe wording variesthen you can set about tuning the bios to your preference.Best to go in there now and write down what you have nowhttp://www.freewebs.com/reading1871/30.jpg

Ray, I had the same problem just a week ago . . . new battery, problem solved. Looking for new P4 MOBO's is getting very difficultBestClayhttp://www.dreamfleet2000.com/gfx/images/F...ers/Dopke01.jpgClayton T. Dopke (Clay)Major, USAF (retired)"Drac"

Hi Mad Dog,The manual say's how to do this so no problem. Funny though, I have an Athlon 2000 built back in 2001 and that still has the original battery. Logically my P4 battery shouldn't need changing for at least another couple of years!There's an option in the BIOS to save info to the HD but nowhere does it say where the file is or what its name is.:-hmmm As Jim say's at least I can get the right battery at Tesco instead of being fleeced by computer outlets.Cheers,

Hi Clay,I feared the worst. Once this machine is replaced it becomes number 2 so still has years of service. A new battery makes sense.Fast moving technology can be a pain when everything is so dependent on the mobo. That's the price we pay I suppose for needing such fast machines. :-(

I installed a new battery last night. Fingers crossed this fixes the problem.Although it was less than a minute between taking out the old and inserting the new battery I expected the BIOS would be reset but strangely enough it remembered the settings.Thanks for all the help chaps.:-wave

For future reference with this legacy stuff . . . My old trusty Abit 865PE bit the dust a while back. It's still plenty for just about everything, so I chased it down. Abit has an Out of Warranty program where $25 will buy you a working replacement. They sent me a working Is7 and it's still going today. That was (is!) 25 bucks well spent. I expect other mfgs might have similar programs.

Sam,That's the problem with motherboards isn't it? They're absolutely critical to a system. Anything else goes it can be replaced but after a few years if the mobo does go it can render everything else useless.That's a good deal you got. Fingers crossed my MSI boards can last. If I get 8 years out of one I'll be happy but if not then I'll approach them.

The motherboard on my network server machine, an old Gateway Celeron 400 system, is still kicking on after 8 full years with no sign of slowing up. The power supply fan is getting a bit rattly though, so I might change that soon. :-)Gary

Then again, my new Asus P5K-e lasted a grand total of 2 boots. All Quaded up, of course. There were a couple of smoky divets just under the socket. Maybe those quads are a bit too much after all. Mwave gave it sniff (then me the evil eye), but just handed me a new one this afternoon. So well see. That new SATA optical is just not NoT ready for primetime, yet. What a battle. That Asus comes with a 3 year warranty. Buy it with a credit card and get a 4th year of warranty. That ought to do it. 5 years on the 3 new (soon to be raided) 250GB .10 (actually .11) seagates. I find it really pays to look ahead. But speaking of now . . . FSX just finishes installing. Accel to go. Man, I'm looking forward to this . . . !

What's the rest of the stuff you're putting together Sam?Gary