First PC build - Need Help!! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Spider_08 · 12-15-2004, 04:16 PM

This is my first time to build a PC from the ground up. I am using a SOYO P4VTE motherboard w/ an Intel P4 3.0Ghz processor. I have installed all of the components and followed every manufacturer's instruction to a "T" and it will not boot. The fans come on, but nothing else happens. I do not have access to a spare processor so I can not check mine(by replacing it). Any advice would be helpful as I am at a total loss.

KnifeMissile · 12-15-2004, 04:48 PM

Is there a video card in the motherboard? Is the monitor attached to the videocard? Did you see the BIOS screen come up? What did it report? If the system fails to boot, the BIOS will report the source of the error (as best it can), which will help you (or us) diagnose the problem. If you haven't done these things, it will be a good start...

Spider_08 · 12-15-2004, 05:24 PM

I have a G-force 4 video card installed and the monitor is attached, as well. The sytem never gets that far, though. The fans come on then nothing but the buzz of the fans. No beeps, no flashes, no video.

KnifeMissile · 12-15-2004, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spider_08

I have a G-force 4 video card installed and the monitor is attached, as well. The sytem never gets that far, though. The fans come on then nothing but the buzz of the fans. No beeps, no flashes, no video.

Wow, that really sucks. I don't know what the problem is or what you can do, now. Maybe the motherboard is defective? Can you get another? Whatever you do, good luck!

shakran · 12-15-2004, 05:54 PM

reseat the processor. Take it out and put it back in. See if that helps.

Spider_08 · 12-15-2004, 06:08 PM

I reseated the processor and triple checked every connection and jumper. Still nothing. I have thought about the motherboard being defective, but I want to exhaust every other avenue first.

So, any more ideas?

a-j · 12-15-2004, 06:17 PM

I assume you checked that the PC speaker is plugged in and checked for POST error codes. Check the mother board/BIOS docs for possible causes of reasons the BIOS never makes it to the POST tests. Most likely it is a CPU/motherboard problem. I think even missing memory will cause POST errors. My dad had that problem with an off-brand mobo and we tried everything but couldn't figure it out and had to return it for a different brand, which worked great on first startup. A final thought is to check the fan is connected to the correct connector. Many motherboards require the CPU fan to be connected to a certain fan connector (for fan speed/failure detection) and will not boot up without detecting a spinning fan.

shakran · 12-15-2004, 06:20 PM

it sounds to me as if it's not posting at all. I'm guessing power supply or mobo

Dragonlich · 12-16-2004, 12:30 AM

Did you use enough spacers (8 or 9) between the motherboard and the backplate? Sometimes it makes contact, which is bad, and might cause such problems. Hey, I've seen it happen...

aKula · 12-16-2004, 04:07 AM

Check for post error messages by plugging in speakers or headphones into the green audio port at the back of the PC. I had a similar problem ( http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=78521 ), try reconnecting all the wires from the psu to the mobo. Only connect the mobo to the power and try booting. If this works add the other connections and see if it works then.

whocarz · 12-16-2004, 05:20 AM

Post a list of all your components and the wattage of the power supply. It could be that your system needs more wattage than it can put out. Also, be sure that the RAM is securely in it's slot, don't be shy to put a bit of pressure on it to get it in there.

noodles · 12-16-2004, 05:27 AM

good advice so far; doesn't sound like its posting.

take everything apart and put it back together, checking every connection, and do the power supply math.

sailor · 12-16-2004, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonlich

Did you use enough spacers (8 or 9) between the motherboard and the backplate? Sometimes it makes contact, which is bad, and might cause such problems. Hey, I've seen it happen...

Ill echo this again--make sure you arent having grounding issues. I once had that exact same problem, and thats what it turned out to be.

godxzilla · 12-16-2004, 05:52 AM

I also have a suggestion. I dont know why this happens, but its happened to me in the past. Unplug your IDE cables and see if it boots. You should hear the drives spinning up. For some reason, if you have the IDE cables connected wrong, the machine will hang. If that doesnt work, here is the process I use to troubleshoot

Unplug everything. No PCI cards, No reset switch, pc speaker, LED wires, IDE cables, USB, etc. Only whats necessary to post (cpu, memory, video card, power supply and the power button). If it posts, you can now start adding one piece of hardware at a time until you find the culprit.

The folks up there also were dead on about the standoffs. if you did not use plastic or brass standoffs, you are most likely shorting out the mobo to the case. the best way to test this is to remove the mobo from the case and set it on the floor (on top of the static bag it came in) then hook it up outside the case. You can then try to power it up and see what happens.

Good luck! This happens to everyone (even seasoned veterans of pc building) so dont give up and keep trying!

Mike

connyosis · 12-16-2004, 07:43 AM

It does indeed sound like the motherboard might be defective. I guess you could also try resetting the BIOS. Should be a jumper on the motherboard to do this. Sometimes wrong settings in the BIOS can cause behaviour like this.

Spider_08 · 12-16-2004, 08:20 AM

OK. I using the brass standoffs included with the case and have tried booting with the mobo removed from the case. Nothing. The P/S is 350w, which is the recommended size for minimal loading, if I am not mistaken. I have reset the bios, but nada. I have not tried reconnecting everthing step by step yet, but will soon and let you know how that works.

Thanks for all the great advice.

godxzilla · 12-16-2004, 08:22 AM

one more thing. may sound silly but its a P4 so you have to make sure that you also connect the P4 connector from the power supply to the motherboard, or it will not boot.

its a smaller 4 wire (I think 4) square plug coming off the power supply that goes to the motherboard.

Check that.

Spider_08 · 12-22-2004, 07:03 PM

I just wanted to thank everyone for their help and let you know how it turned out.

My final attempt was removing the mobo from the case and connecting only what was vital. Still nothing. So I took her back to the store and had one of the employees check it out. Turns out the motherboard was fried.

So, I got a new mobo and I could not be happier. I am very pleased with my new computer that I built (with help from the folks here at the TFP).

antisuck · 12-23-2004, 02:59 AM

Congrats on your success, Spider_08. Sorry it didn't go so smoothly, but isn't it nice to know that you did everything correctly the first time through and just got bit by a bad board?

godxzilla · 12-23-2004, 04:08 AM

glad to hear it worked out! enjoy it!

sashime76 · 12-23-2004, 11:04 AM

I'm not in the IT/IS field but I have built about 25 PCs from scratch in the past 10 years or so. Learning to build from scratch is the best way provided that you do know a few things about computer hardware. Welcome to the computer nerd world!

SiN · 12-23-2004, 11:11 AM

glad to hear it worked out.

fried mobo's are frustrating, and more common than one would think...

but don't let this first time scare you off...building puters is a cool thing to do.

Bratwurst · 12-27-2004, 12:35 PM

I had this happen to me the very first time I tried to build a computer, but it turned out that I didn't have the proc pushed all the way down into the board. It was a P3, the old Slot 1 type. I was being too gentle and didn't push it all the way into the connectors. So when I turned on the pc nothing happened except the fans spun.

I took it to a guy I knew at the time and he just pushed on the proc til it popped in and turned it on.

12-15-2004, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
Spider_08 Upright Location: Texas	First PC build - Need Help!! This is my first time to build a PC from the ground up. I am using a SOYO P4VTE motherboard w/ an Intel P4 3.0Ghz processor. I have installed all of the components and followed every manufacturer's instruction to a "T" and it will not boot. The fans come on, but nothing else happens. I do not have access to a spare processor so I can not check mine(by replacing it). Any advice would be helpful as I am at a total loss.

12-16-2004, 05:20 AM	#11 (permalink)
whocarz Jarhead Location: Colorado	Post a list of all your components and the wattage of the power supply. It could be that your system needs more wattage than it can put out. Also, be sure that the RAM is securely in it's slot, don't be shy to put a bit of pressure on it to get it in there. __________________ If there exists anything mightier than destiny, then it is the courage to face destiny unflinchingly. -Geibel Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else. -Marcus Aurelius Come on, you sons of bitches! Do you want to live forever? -GySgt. Daniel J. "Dan" Daly

12-16-2004, 05:52 AM	#14 (permalink)
godxzilla Crazy Location: Columbus, OH	I also have a suggestion. I dont know why this happens, but its happened to me in the past. Unplug your IDE cables and see if it boots. You should hear the drives spinning up. For some reason, if you have the IDE cables connected wrong, the machine will hang. If that doesnt work, here is the process I use to troubleshoot Unplug everything. No PCI cards, No reset switch, pc speaker, LED wires, IDE cables, USB, etc. Only whats necessary to post (cpu, memory, video card, power supply and the power button). If it posts, you can now start adding one piece of hardware at a time until you find the culprit. The folks up there also were dead on about the standoffs. if you did not use plastic or brass standoffs, you are most likely shorting out the mobo to the case. the best way to test this is to remove the mobo from the case and set it on the floor (on top of the static bag it came in) then hook it up outside the case. You can then try to power it up and see what happens. Good luck! This happens to everyone (even seasoned veterans of pc building) so dont give up and keep trying! Mike __________________ Mike

12-16-2004, 07:43 AM	#15 (permalink)
connyosis Psycho Location: Sweden - Land of the sodomite damned	It does indeed sound like the motherboard might be defective. I guess you could also try resetting the BIOS. Should be a jumper on the motherboard to do this. Sometimes wrong settings in the BIOS can cause behaviour like this. __________________ If atheism is a religion, then not collecting stamps is a hobby.

12-16-2004, 08:22 AM	#17 (permalink)
godxzilla Crazy Location: Columbus, OH	one more thing. may sound silly but its a P4 so you have to make sure that you also connect the P4 connector from the power supply to the motherboard, or it will not boot. its a smaller 4 wire (I think 4) square plug coming off the power supply that goes to the motherboard. Check that. __________________ Mike

12-15-2004, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
KnifeMissile Location: Waterloo, Ontario	Is there a video card in the motherboard? Is the monitor attached to the videocard? Did you see the BIOS screen come up? What did it report? If the system fails to boot, the BIOS will report the source of the error (as best it can), which will help you (or us) diagnose the problem. If you haven't done these things, it will be a good start...

12-15-2004, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Spider_08 Upright Location: Texas	I have a G-force 4 video card installed and the monitor is attached, as well. The sytem never gets that far, though. The fans come on then nothing but the buzz of the fans. No beeps, no flashes, no video.

12-15-2004, 05:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	reseat the processor. Take it out and put it back in. See if that helps.

12-15-2004, 06:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
Spider_08 Upright Location: Texas	I reseated the processor and triple checked every connection and jumper. Still nothing. I have thought about the motherboard being defective, but I want to exhaust every other avenue first. So, any more ideas?

12-15-2004, 06:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
a-j Tilted	I assume you checked that the PC speaker is plugged in and checked for POST error codes. Check the mother board/BIOS docs for possible causes of reasons the BIOS never makes it to the POST tests. Most likely it is a CPU/motherboard problem. I think even missing memory will cause POST errors. My dad had that problem with an off-brand mobo and we tried everything but couldn't figure it out and had to return it for a different brand, which worked great on first startup. A final thought is to check the fan is connected to the correct connector. Many motherboards require the CPU fan to be connected to a certain fan connector (for fan speed/failure detection) and will not boot up without detecting a spinning fan.

12-15-2004, 06:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	it sounds to me as if it's not posting at all. I'm guessing power supply or mobo

12-16-2004, 12:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	Did you use enough spacers (8 or 9) between the motherboard and the backplate? Sometimes it makes contact, which is bad, and might cause such problems. Hey, I've seen it happen...

12-16-2004, 04:07 AM	#10 (permalink)
aKula Psycho	Check for post error messages by plugging in speakers or headphones into the green audio port at the back of the PC. I had a similar problem ( http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=78521 ), try reconnecting all the wires from the psu to the mobo. Only connect the mobo to the power and try booting. If this works add the other connections and see if it works then.

12-16-2004, 05:27 AM	#12 (permalink)
noodles Psycho Location: sc	good advice so far; doesn't sound like its posting. take everything apart and put it back together, checking every connection, and do the power supply math.

12-16-2004, 08:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
Spider_08 Upright Location: Texas	OK. I using the brass standoffs included with the case and have tried booting with the mobo removed from the case. Nothing. The P/S is 350w, which is the recommended size for minimal loading, if I am not mistaken. I have reset the bios, but nada. I have not tried reconnecting everthing step by step yet, but will soon and let you know how that works. Thanks for all the great advice.

12-22-2004, 07:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
Spider_08 Upright Location: Texas	I just wanted to thank everyone for their help and let you know how it turned out. My final attempt was removing the mobo from the case and connecting only what was vital. Still nothing. So I took her back to the store and had one of the employees check it out. Turns out the motherboard was fried. So, I got a new mobo and I could not be happier. I am very pleased with my new computer that I built (with help from the folks here at the TFP).

12-23-2004, 02:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
antisuck Tilted Location: Tacoma, WA, USA, Earth	Congrats on your success, Spider_08. Sorry it didn't go so smoothly, but isn't it nice to know that you did everything correctly the first time through and just got bit by a bad board?

12-23-2004, 04:08 AM	#20 (permalink)
godxzilla Crazy Location: Columbus, OH	glad to hear it worked out! enjoy it! __________________ Mike

12-23-2004, 11:04 AM	#21 (permalink)
sashime76 Addict Location: Hoosier State	I'm not in the IT/IS field but I have built about 25 PCs from scratch in the past 10 years or so. Learning to build from scratch is the best way provided that you do know a few things about computer hardware. Welcome to the computer nerd world!

12-23-2004, 11:11 AM	#22 (permalink)
SiN strangelove Location: ...more here than there...	glad to hear it worked out. fried mobo's are frustrating, and more common than one would think... but don't let this first time scare you off...building puters is a cool thing to do. __________________ - + - ° GiRLie GeeK ° - + - ° 01110010011011110110111101110100001000000110110101100101 Therell be days/When Ill stray/I may appear to be/Constantly out of reach/I give in to sin/Because I like to practise what I preach

12-27-2004, 12:35 PM	#23 (permalink)
Bratwurst Insane Location: La la land	I had this happen to me the very first time I tried to build a computer, but it turned out that I didn't have the proc pushed all the way down into the board. It was a P3, the old Slot 1 type. I was being too gentle and didn't push it all the way into the connectors. So when I turned on the pc nothing happened except the fans spun. I took it to a guy I knew at the time and he just pushed on the proc til it popped in and turned it on.