Problem with computer (just put together)
 

I just hooked up everything (basics -- hd, cd, video, processor, ram, fans) in my new computer -- when I power it up, all the fans work, I get the Power LED, and the IDE Led flashes (HD and CD get power)... but I get *no* post, no error, no nothing, and no signal is sent to the monitor. Does anyone have any ideas? I know this is vague since you can't see it for yourself -- but i'll answer any questions, just want to get it working. :/

Are you getting any beeps out of the speaker?

I'd start pulling components one at a time. (i.e. no CD, no HD, minimal memory, etc). Then try reseating everything.

No beeps (post)

I tried with no RAM so far, ill try without IDE but I'm not getting BIOS at all so that shouldn't be problem.

I just had this happen to me, and after going piece by piece i found i had a bad Power Supply

Even though the fans came on, got LED's for power and all that? Its a brand new Antec True Power 430w =/

:D Like im havin flashbacks, only thing diffrent than above would be me using a 450ps

If i remember, the mobo sends requests constantly to make sure its getting the proper voltage. The slightest rise or fall will cause a no post. I dont know if im 100% on that though.

Hmm so how did you find out it was bad? Just try another? Or was there a way to check it wasnt getting enough power?

Also, the power supply thats in my other comp (Athlon 2000, this is an Athlon 2500) --- would that work in this fine? Its like 450w I think -- but I thought the newer ones needed something special, anyway, if that would work, ill try it out.

Try to boot with just memory and video. If nothing still, my guess would be either a bad board or PS.

Well I just tried the other ps, no change. And I've tried it without hd/cd hooked up and no change.

So right now I'm guessing either its a broken board or I totally forgot to hook something up.

Start up with only a video card, RAM, and processer/HSF. If you still get errors, it's either a bad board or a bad video card. I'm leaning towards video card myself.

Shouldn't need video card to hear a post, and I moved this one from old computer -- which worked 2 hrs ago fine.

In my NooB days, I missed the proper pins for the case speaker. I panicked when I heard no beep.:D Otherwise, I would agree with the others- bad board, video or ram. Also check any jumpers for FSB freq, etc.

fracturedmind: When I built my PC a few months back, the problem I had was exactly like yours. It turned out that my MSI motherboard didn't recognize my AMD XP2400+ CPU. The mobo had been manufactured months before the CPU was released, so the BIOS didn't recognize it. I had to go to MSI and download BIOS updates and flash the BIOS. After I did that (I had to use a friend's older CPU to get the updates installed), it recognized my CPU and booted up no problem.

make sure that the mobo's bottom side isn't in contact with the case
verify that the stand-offs are all there

The first thing that gets power in the computer is the CPU, once the CPU says OK, everything else fires up.

My opinion would be to focus mostly on the CPU relation to everything else. Make sure it is compatible.

Also, another thought came to mind:
Make sure the voltage selector on the PS is correctly set!
You have no idea how many times i see this problem. People panic and it is just a simple switch that gets unnoticed.

yep.....first make sure the ps is not set to run on 220......then start diagnosing components. Possibly a bad chip, mobo, or gc......but all of that has been said.

If the voltage is set correctly on the PS, try reseating the processor, and also, check the video card.

Do get hard drive activity, other than the power light? Can you hear it spin up, and hear it grind as it reads the disk? If so, it may be a video problem.

Yep, make sure the PS is not set at 220. If it's not, you probably have a bad mobo.

My CPU went tits up a few months back. fracturedmind's description of his problem could be used to describe what happened to my computer. I checked everything else before checking the CPU and that is what was bad. All that trouble looking else where just led to frustration.

Thanks for all the replies. I have to admit to being slightly retarded -- back in maaaah day computers didn't speak to me!

I had to hook up speakers to the onboard sound card, when I did, and turned it on "System failed memory test" ...

Of course this helps pinpoint the problem, but I've tried the ram in slot 1+2, 1+3, just 1, just 2, just 3... (2 sticks of 512mg DDR corsair)... everytime it says failed memory test =/

Brand new ram by the way, which of course doesn't mean much -- but it is the right kind for the board.

What brand and model motherboard and what bus speed memory are you using?

Scott

ASUS A7N8X Deluxe, PC3200 Ram

Also, found alot of info about this problem with my board but it seems for most people they get the error, then the computer boots fine -- and some say to flash the BIOS ---- HAH, yeah, I'll do that, right after I can boot up !

This is EXACTLY what happened to me with my Asus A7V, with a T-Bird 1000.

I had to get a duron 800 to boot it up, it did no problem. I then flashed the bios to the newest version, and was home free.

I'd be willing to bet that this would be the same problem (esp, after you saying it is an Asus MB)

Question: when that happened, did you still not get any form of boot or post? or did it come up saying processor error or something? Cause I don't get *anything* ... if you didn't either, then I'll try my old Athlon Processor in it.

Well I just put my old Athlon (over a year old, I forget the #) in, and guess what "System failed memory test"

Never again will I buy asus.

oh, come on. we both know Asus make a superior motherboard.
Just consider this bad luck, don't go bashing the company.

Now QDI motherboards on the other hand? THAT'S a different story =)

I've been doing some reading over at amdforums.com on your motherboard and seems you're not the first to have this problem. The general consensus is yes the motherboard is bad like you have discovered and needs to be RMA'd.

Sorry I couldn't be more help, but in the future if you have any computer problems that is an awesome site to use for help. For some of the motherboard manufacturers, such as the Epox (I love epox boards), actual techs from that company will post there to help with problems people are having. If there's a problem with a piece of hardware, more than likely someone else has had it and if there is a solution it will be on that website.

Scott

I had a similar problem recently. I discovered that the floppy cable was inserted backwards and was causing a short... and of course the power supply declined to start (Antec SL350 350W PSU). So be careful how you plug things in and don't do it willy-nilly.

I don't know, but have you tried to see if the motherboard is touching the case. In turn shorting it out?