Hey again, you might remember me from a little while ago asking you what parts to buy for my new computer. Well... i got all the parts and put em together and the computer worked fine. Then, i added a modem, sound card, and burner from my old computer. I may have switched a couple of the ide cables while doing that. Now... the computer gets power and the fans turn, including the fan on the video card and the processor and case fans but nothing comes on the screen. Anyone have any suggestions on what might be up? I have checked al the wires and they are in securely and the master/slave settings are all correct. The ram and video card are put in correctly. Thanks.

Try removing the sound card and modem. Then see if she starts. It is usually a good idea to only install one hardware device at a time. This way you can tell which one is causing the trouble.

Johnny


Obama: “On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this can be solved, but it’s important for him to give me space,”
Obama: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility."

Check your jumpers on the rewriter. How do you have it configured with your ide cables?

Rrestore the computer to how it was when it booted. Then reinstall components one at a time to isolate the problem.

Shelly

The problem is, i've tried removing everything and nothing still comes on the screen. I've tried it with just the HD, just the HD, GFX card, cdrom and ram. This was the original configuration that worked but now it doesn't. I've set the jumper on the hd to master. I've also tried with nothing but the ram in the motherboard and nothing comes on the screen. I'm assuming that something should come on the screen even if there is nothing attached, but nothing does. I'm afraid something might have happened to the motherboard...

If your monitor, it's cord and connector, the video card, the motherboard, the memory, the processor, and the power supply are all functioning, the PC should post from the bios when turned on. Don't have any data ribbons connected to the MB, only the power supply connector. Just connect the PS to the MB... and the HDD for possibly needed 12v load. You can try having only the power switch lead connected from the case, and you should try clearing the cmos with it's jumper by the method recommended in your MB manual. Don't have to have mouse or KB connected(you will get a KB error on post) if it does post. Make sure the MB is installed correctly in the case, nothing shorted. If you can get it to post, you can start back together a bit at a time to isolate the problem. If you have more than one stick of memory, try them one stick at a time... make sure it and video card are seated completely.

You may have lost one of the 'needed to post' components that was working earlier, for whatever reason.

Take care... Randell

Here is the part list that i have...

600529 1 VISIONTEK XTASY GEFORCE4 TI4400 128MB DDR AGP W/S-VIDEO OUT/DVI-I
A02598 1 MULTIWAVE 512MB PC2700 333MHZ NON-ECC DDR DIMM
A03096 1 INTEL PENTIUM 4 2.26 GHZ (BX80532PE2266D) W/512K CACHE 533MHZ 478-PIN RETAILED (3 YEARS WARRANTY)
Enermax, CS-003-A106USB+EG301P-VB, 2-Tone, 10-Bay, with 2 USB ports, 300W PS, P4, MID Tower Case. ATX $59.00
(http://www.maxpoint.com/pc_cases.htm# the case in the middle)
Lite On 52x Cd Rom - Model LTN-526 -RETAILE-IDE
WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY
MSI Motherboard Model 845G MAX-L 6580-010 Retail
Antec P4 ATX12V 400 Watt Power Supply - Retail

That was the original configuration that worked and i installed Windows XP on.

I have cleared the cmos and i'm going to try the computer again.

I just tried it again after clearing the cmos and it still doesn't work. The monitor still shows nothing and goes to power save after a minute.

Take the battery out for a minute or two. Be sure that the video card and ram are properly seated.

Mark099!

This might be a coincidence but were you grounded when you were messing around in your case? ( see other post http://www.pcnineoneone.com/dcforum/computer/40760.html )

Walter A Robertson

The first time i put everything in i was wearing an antistatic wristband but then when i put in those three extra parts i wasn't but i was careful.

I don't know if this is related or not but the buttons like reset and power on the case don't work even though they are connected to the motherboard. When i turn the power supply on from the back everything turns on though. I also have to turn it off from the power supply because of this too.

>> I don't know if this is related or not but the buttons like reset and power on the case don't work even though they are connected to the motherboard. When i turn the power supply on from the back everything turns on though. I also have to turn it off from the power supply because of this too. <<

This is common with the problem you have. Actually, the problem you have is common... it's just that a number of the things already mentioned can cause it, and it can be difficult to narrow it down to which one(or ones maybe). Most common is probably wrong connection somewhere, second is probably card or memory not completely seated, third is probably bad memory or card, after that come PS, MB, and processor(in no particular order). It's not extremely unusual to have a PC do that until the cmos is cleared(by the motherboard manual method).

Take care... Randell

You aren't getting a beep code of some kind? Sounds like you lost your video card but if so there would be a beep. Don't have a spare?

Walter A Robertson

Once, but only once the computer sort of sounded a siren sort of like you hear on an ambulance going from high pitch to low pitch over and over. It didn't stop until i shut off the opwer. It didn't come back the next time i started the computer. I figured something must have been improperly seated that time.

>Once, but only once the computer sort of sounded a siren
>sort of like you hear on an ambulance going from high pitch
>to low pitch over and over. It didn't stop until i shut off
>the opwer. It didn't come back the next time i started the
>computer. I figured something must have been improperly
>seated that time.

That "siren" sound indicated that your CPU was overheated. It may be cooked.

Well... your component list sounds great, you just have to find out which one(or ones) ain't tickin' just right.

If you've tried the setup exactly as I mentioned earlier, and it won't post... then it gets more difficult. When you get down to the essentials, you have to figure out some way to narrow it on down. It's really a process of elimination, and it's not easy without having known good parts on hand to experiment with. Any good components you can somehow come up with to do any switching out with can really help, just have to be careful not to damage any good ones in the process. In MOST cases, changing out a bad component with a good one won't damage the good one... most. You may have to get some professional help to check out some of what you have.

Sounds like your monitor and cable are probably working, at least(they usually are, but it's always a remote possibility).

Take care... Randell

Removed the battery for a minute but still nothing.

Here is what i know....

Monitor is 100% working as i am using it right now in my other computer.
The power supply is working because all the fans are working and its fan is on
Fan on the CPU is working
Fan on the Video card is working
Fan on the case is working
Buttons on the case don't work although they are plugged in...

I believe the motherboard has biult in video so the next thing i'll probably do is test that one out. Is it possible to use the built in video while the agp video card is plugged in? I tried that and there was still the blank screen.

I will probably be able to test the hard drive in my other computer but i'll do that later because i am pretty tired right now.

If i can't fix it i'll probably find a pc shop and go to them. Anyone know how much they usually charge to fix this sort of thing? Just service charge not a broken component. And also does anyone know if the motherboard has a warranty in case thats the part that's not working?

you probably need to disable the onboard video in the Bios. shut down and connect the other card and re-boot.

Walter A Robertson

>> The power supply is working because all the fans are working and its fan is on <<

A PS can work to that extent and still cause the problem if the 'power good' signal is not working right from the PS... but, on a new PS like your Antec it would be pretty unlikely.

>> Is it possible to use the built in video while the agp video card is plugged in? I tried that and there was still the blank screen. <<

I would just pull the agp out, but if the onboard is disabled in the bios, connecting to it won't tell you anything.

>> will probably be able to test the hard drive in my other computer but i'll do that later because i am pretty tired right now. <<

Forget the HDD as the cause of the problem. What it says in post #5 is all you need to post something on the screen. The only reason you plug the HDD to the PS is to provide a possibly needed 12v load to keep the PS from 'self-protecting'(I'm not sure of the load figures for your PS). You shouldn't have any data cables at all plugged to the MB. You can try it without the HDD connected to PS, or temporarily connect to another HDD you have, don't know whether you need the extra 12v load or not.

Randell

Try Taking the MB out of the case and being careful to put it on the bag it came in on a piece of cardboard. Use the onboard video and ram and Power supply only, see if it posts.

good luck

Bump

Here's an update. I tried taking out the agp card and using the built in video but it didn't work. I couldn't switch out the ram because i don't have another DDR stick and my SDram doesn't fit.

really gr8 suggestions here, but to me, it sounds like a bad mobo. How old/new is it? in my experience, hardware failures due to defective manufacturing pop up early on. from the specs u provided, it sounds like u have fairly new, good stuff. in fact, i get the impression that you're a heavy-duty gamer, with a setup like that.

u pointed out some potential probs that do frequently occur: i.e. inadequate power supply, agp vs. on-board video, etc., but i don't think any of these are the root cause. good luck.

vietvet69

vietvet69

In regard to POST #12:

You never did clearify if you were getting any P.O.S.T. beeps after the "siren" sound incident? If you are NOT, then it would seem that the MOBO is playing dead. Likewise, the reset switch hasn't got anything to do if the MOBO is not even POST'ing.

My son had a similar problem with his MOBO, and after a lot of frustration (which naturally flowed down to me) we replaced his board under warranty, and everything worked as normal.

Electronics generally fail early, or very late in the life cycle (a rule of thumb...not law). Don't know how long you've had this board, but if it's less than 30 days, take it back to the store. More than 30, and you're looking at mailback to the manuf.

Win

I'm thinking that the mobo is defective now also. I bought it from newegg.com and there is no warranty information listed on their site or on the MSI site. Anyone know if it even has one and how to rma it if it does?

Edit: oh and for the question about the beep and it registering, it doesn't.

Edit2: I found their RMA info on the site. Seems i have 30 days to rma an item. I'm going to probably have the items checked out at a local shop before i go that far though. Do you think this is a good idea or should i just rma it now. I don't want to end up rmaing a working part and find out later another part is screwy.

Before you try and RMA the mobo, you may want to remove the HSF and visually inspect the CPU, looking for visible signs of scorching or overheating. That could be your culprit.

I have never had a problem with an RMA to newegg, the one board I had to send back to them was handled matter of factly and professionally by them.

Scott

Still Crunching To Crush Cancer




Somebody, Stop Me!

I noticed that when i had put in the motherboard i had only put in those bottom screws attaching the motherboard at four of the six points. Those four ponits were to the left side and the two to the right were not there causing the motherboard to bend downward a little bit on that side. After i saw this and i took the motherboard out and put those two extra screws in and screwed the motherboard back in, now there is no power going into the system at all. None of the fans or anything will turn on. I musta really screwed it up....

When I've run into similar problems in the past, I disassembled the entire thing and rebuilt it. I've done that twice and whatever the problem was, got straightened out in the rebuild. Make absolutely sure you have hard copies of whatever build instructions you're using. I suggest the March issue of Maximum PC. It has an excellent article, including troubleshooting. That's my $.02 worth on your problem.

As for NewEgg...ditto to serlv's post! They've always been perfect where RMA's are concerned...at least for me. If they give you any trouble, let me know. The CS manager and I have done some successful troubleshooting for other 911 members. I doubt it'll go that far though. Make sure you make that call to them BEFORE your 30 days are up. As long as you've gotten the RMA # before that time, you don't have to get it back in their hands by the end of the 30 days.

I actually have no written plans of what i'm doing. Everything is up in my head. I've read enough on this over the years and worked on my own computer to know enough about it. Just made this one mistake and now i guess i'm paying for it. On monday a pc shop of a family friend will be open and i am probably going to take it to them to inspect it and see what's wrong with it. After that I will rma the broken parts. I ordered the parts last monday and they delivered em on wednesday so I still have like 3 weeks to go before the rma runs out.

Check that all the case standoffs are lined up with screw holes in the board, and not shorting against a circuit trace, USE A STANDOFF FOR EVERY MOUNTING HOLE IN THE BOARD.

Make sure that the CPU heatsink fan is connected to the CPU fan connector on the board or it will not power up.

Shelly

I should use a standoff for every hold in the board even if it doesn't match up with a hole in the motherboard? Wouldn't that risk causing another short or probably touch a circuit somewhere?

>> should use a standoff for every hold in the board even if it doesn't match up with a hole in the motherboard? <<

Well... I assume he meant install a stand-off in the MB tray wherever it will match a mount hole in the MB.

I can't vouch for this... I haven't actually tried it and I haven't researched it, but I have read a few times not to place a MB with power connected to it on an anti-static bag, as anti-static bags can be conductive. It would be nice to have an absolutely definitive answer for this, as it seems to be a fairly common recommendation, but trading opinions on the subject probably wouldn't be definitive. I'm not offering an opinion... just passing on what I've read.

If anyone knows for sure, it could be very helpful info.

Take care... Randell

Is this your mobo? It looks like there's 6 mounting holes, but they're not where you said. It's not a very good pic, but that's what it looks like to me (I circled them in yellow.)

Yes, thats the correct motherboard. According to that motherboard if you see the two left screws, those are the ones that i neglected to put the spacers in and i believe started the whole mess.

All ATX motherboards and cases are standardized. There will be a hole in the case tray for every mounting hole in the motherboard (six total). Every hole in the motherboard is NOT necessarily a mounting hole.

Shelly

I think you found your problem,if it worked before you added the extra screws and not afterwards,you may have a grounded motherboard.
Take mobo out of case and lay on anti-static bag that it came in and hook everything up and give it a try. That's what a shop would do to test board. Save your money. Good luck.

LilJoe

That is a good idea.

The board may have shorted out by now. Either that, or a hairline crack was put into the board while putting all the cards in when it was improperly mounted.

Looks like it's RMA time.

Mark099!

If it comes down to rma, how should i go about removing the cpu? It was simple enough to install but i don't think it will be that easy to remove, and should i worry about the thermal compound that was on the heatsink after i remove it?

Have you tried it after removing it from the case yet?

LilJoe

I tried removing it from the case but the clips are pretty tight and i didn't want to risk breaking them by prying them apart. I want to make sure there's a correct way to do it first. I took out the board with the cpu and its fan installed.

Easy enough to uninstall the processor. You said retail, just reverse the process on the heatsink and fan retainers, remove the HS&F, then release the processor and take it out. You need to clean off the old thermal compound, if that what you used. If your HS has Intel's special thermal pad, you will need to remove it very carefully and use thermal compound going back. Did you try Shellys suggestion on making sure the processor fan was connected to the correct MB connector?

Take care... Randell

RMA??? What is the proper way to RMA a part that you yourself broke???

It's premature to even be discussing an RMA. There are a multitude of things to eliminate before we conclude the motherboard is bad. There have been a number of good suggestions made that we have not seen a response to.

Shelly

Shelly... would you happen to know anything in particular on the anti-static bag question I mentioned in post #32? I don't ever use one under a powered MB anyway, so I've never paid much attention to it. I've run across the statement in different places about the conductivity. Since a number of folks seem to recommend using one that way, it might be nice to know for sure. I've read 2 or 3 statements from people who stated they damaged a MB that way, who knows?

Take care... Randell

I've read every post so far and i've tried all of the suggestions and none of them have worked. Everything is seated properly and i have power connected to the correct things and it still doesn't work. Hopefully tomorrow i will take it to the computer shop after school and see if they can find out the source of the problem. As i said before i want to do RMA only if i'm completely sure that the part is broken.

Edit: i've even tried the motherboard on an antistatic bag.

I would suspect the CPU or the power supply, long before the motherboard, and pilot error before a of that.

Shelly

Randall, I have tested the bags with an ohmmeter and found them to have a very high resistance. The purpose of an anti-static bag is to not GENERATE static charges through friction. There is conductive foam used for static sensitive devices to keep all contacts at the same potential, but that is a very different animal.

Shelly

Thanks... hard to judge the validity of what you read sometimes, particularly wild claims from unknown folks on the internet. Don't remember where I ran across those statements, or any details, so don't place much credence in them now. Seems like they said the conductive elements were encased in plastic, don't know whether they meant problems if the plastic was scuffed or not. Don't even know if they were speaking of just a certain type of material or not.

Take care... Randell