IPCop/Computer building woes!

[Lord Ned]

Never, have I EVER had this much trouble with a computer.

The task: Put togeather a P.O.S computer with spare parts lying around for an IPCOP server.

I have the Mobo + Powersupply from one box, and a Nic and cd drive from another, plus a third empty case that I would like to mod. So I go and take the powersupply out. That hooks up easy, thank god.

Out comes the motherboard. Hmmn. Got all the screws, can't get it off. OH! There's one, have to remove the floppy drive. Can only get one screw off. The other side is rivieted on (Of the case) and a screw is hiding back there. (DELL!) Oh I can take the flopycage of. Okay, did that.

Can't get the mobo off. (After removing all the screws.)
Pop the heatsink off. Mother EFFERS screwed the heatsink to the case. Got that unscrewed. WERE OFF.

*Carry it across room*

Place it in. Blah need standoffs from old case. Go and steal them with a socket set.

Place them in the right spot. "Looks like this case has a spot for the heatsink to screw into too, goodie!"

Too bad only one hole lines up. So the heatsink is held on by one screw currently. (Not like I plan on any high cpu usage stuff though.)

Got to take out the cd drive from the other one. (Nic came out easy) Take out 3 screws, the fourth one is stripped beyond belief. INTO THE GARAGE I cried.

Get out there, get a drill, and drill out a stripped screw for the first time. (Left part inside, but dammit, I don't care, didn't need that hole)

Put all the parts into the case. Took the front power/reset hookups from the dell that I got the mobo off and drilled holes in a floppy drive cover. (The 4" plastic piece) and superglued those in. Pretty funky, but works.

Can't find a keyboard for it. I know I have atleast 3 floating around in this house, but I cannot find a single wired keyboard that isn't in use or lost. Finally steal one from another computer that was about to be used. (Hehe)

Alright, this is gonna be great. Got my harddrive hooked up, put the cd in the drive, boot IP Cop. Go through routine things, English, yes, yes, scanning for harddrive.

Error: Harddisk not found.

Okay, I've had problems with this drive before. (Can't install windows on it. T.T) Grab the second drive. Pop it in. This is gonna be great!

Error: Harddisk not found.

Grab a THIRD drive. Pop it in. This is gonna be great and it WILL work!

Error: Harddisk not found.

Grab the FOURTH AND FINAL DRIVE (IN MY HOUSE). Pop it in. Okay i got this it's gonna be awesome, even if it's only 6gb.

Error: Harddisk not found. Almost threw the keyboard but didn't, seeing as my I/O panel is hanging in space, no metal plate there that supports it. (Plus missing standoffs there.)

Switched what port on the mobo the cable went to, slave/master, everything I can think of. The computer (even bios) refuses to reconize ANY of the drives. Not sure if there all bad (Have had them sitting around forever) or if it's just being a P.O.S.

:bash::no:


Rant over. Shower time.

[Eclecticos]

Your problem may be the ribboncables themselves.
Try new ones, check your jumpers, and make sure you have your HDrive in the Primary parallel port.

[Lord Ned]

I switched parallel ports, but you know, I never did switch the ribbon cable. Will try that, thanks!

[Crazy Buddhist]

Also reset the CMOS :)

[Lord Ned]

Sonofabitch. I switched the ribbon cable, and tested in on two harddrives. Nothing. Got tired of moving cables around, and plugged in the same ribbon cable on a different power plug. It works.


Go through installing IPCop, etc etc etc. Get up to typing in password. Won't reconize any keystrokes. Returns "Keyboard echo not found" or something (on the bottom of the screen.)

Restart.

Get to type in a password, but nothing shows up. Just blank spaces, (say i type apple123) and it shows up as ( ) 3 times, for the Local domain pass, internet, etc.

Least it found my Nic. Any ideas why it won't record my password? It won't show any letter number or anything at all. Keyboard is set to US keyboard. Keyboard has no known problems on nother Edubutnu box.

That and I need more bubblegum to hold this case togeather. :/

[Crazy Buddhist]

keyboard ps/2 or usb?

[Lord Ned]

PS2. I can do everything else with it, (select things, change options, put in IP stuff, etc.)

Also what's ... ISDN(I think that's what it is) and DHCP. Do I need either? I just hit skip/cancel on them.

[Crazy Buddhist]

ISDN is an old "fast" telephone network technology (128Kb/s or something) No

DHCP dynamically assigns IP addresses to devices that join your network. If you have wireless laptops coming and going from the house and using the network you will want this feature or you will have to set up each machine manually with a permanent (internal to your network) IP address.

Your router may also have a DHCP server in it. You will only want one of them working. The best config would normally be to have IPCOP providing the DHCP server and turn off the router's one so the router passes DHCP requests on.

CB

[BerticusPryme]

check the jumpers as most dell systems run off cable select. thats where i would start. What model of dell did you cannibalize?

[Lord Ned]

check the jumpers as most dell systems run off cable select. thats where i would start. What model of dell did you cannibalize?

A ****ty one. (Inspiron 2400 i think)

But now I just have to get it to accept and password.

And when I get this up, I plan on disabling any sort of hardwall/hardware configureation on the router.

[killergamer]

So you got the hard drives to work because if you didn't I would suggest you see if its cable select.

[Lord Ned]

They are working. :/


Sonofabitch. I switched the ribbon cable, and tested in on two harddrives. Nothing. Got tired of moving cables around, and plugged in the same ribbon cable on a different power plug. It works.