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Forums - Computer music & technology
Subject: Woe is me - building my own PC
Original Message 1/24 26-Apr-01 @ 10:49 AM - Woe is me - building my own PC
Yesterday I took delivery of two IBM hard disks, an Abit KT7A system board, 256Mb Ram, and and Athlon processor. Having already bought a Sunteck case, and using parts from my older computer (video, modem, sound, etc) I was going to build a complete system.
So last night I tried to assemble the whole thing. I've been working with computers for yonks, but can't sort this out. Firstly, there were no instructions with the case, so all assembly had to be done by trial and error. Anyway, I connected everything - ATI Video and Voodoo 2 (will be replaced soon with GeForce), DVD, Cd-Writer, disks, memory processor - and nothing happens. When I connect the monitor it seems to power on for a second, then goes back into power-save mode.
I tried removing everything except the processor, memory and video, but still get no beeps, video, or any noticeable activity. The hard disks work as I've re-connected my old computer, as do the video boards, so it's gotta be either the system board/memory/processor or it's something I'm doing wrong. The system board is getting power as the chipset fan turns, and the LED's on the case come on, but that's all I get. The poxy fucking thing just doesn't want to boot or post or anything!
Anyone experience anything similar? I've been told to check that the system board is not touching the case, so will give that a go tonight but I don't think it's that.
Cheers,
Si.
So last night I tried to assemble the whole thing. I've been working with computers for yonks, but can't sort this out. Firstly, there were no instructions with the case, so all assembly had to be done by trial and error. Anyway, I connected everything - ATI Video and Voodoo 2 (will be replaced soon with GeForce), DVD, Cd-Writer, disks, memory processor - and nothing happens. When I connect the monitor it seems to power on for a second, then goes back into power-save mode.
I tried removing everything except the processor, memory and video, but still get no beeps, video, or any noticeable activity. The hard disks work as I've re-connected my old computer, as do the video boards, so it's gotta be either the system board/memory/processor or it's something I'm doing wrong. The system board is getting power as the chipset fan turns, and the LED's on the case come on, but that's all I get. The poxy fucking thing just doesn't want to boot or post or anything!
Anyone experience anything similar? I've been told to check that the system board is not touching the case, so will give that a go tonight but I don't think it's that.
Cheers,
Si.
Message 2/24 26-Apr-01 @ 11:22 AM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
'no instructions with the case' - ?.. er... surely a case just has screws to open it and close it and that's it ?? or did it come flat-packed?.. dont get it?
i also dont know that board, does it auto set the cpu speed etc?
i also dont know that board, does it auto set the cpu speed etc?
___________________________________
I had an idea for a script once. It's basically Jaws except when the guys in the boat are going after Jaws, they look around and there's an even bigger Jaws. The guys have to team up with Jaws to get Bigger Jaws.... I call it... Big Jaws!!!
Message 3/24 26-Apr-01 @ 11:54 AM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
Hehe - eh, actually it came pre-made and the more I think about it, the thicker I sound! It was more to do with the system board going into the case, not the assembly of the case that I was referring to.
Well, they came with these little mounting catches that plug into the case and the board, and the screws come with these little red circular things (not metal), but I'm not sure what these are needed for - possibly making sure the system board doesn't create a circuit with the case?
As for the system board - it uses a Soft-Menu BIOS thing (jumperless), but I don't even get a chance to get in there.
Si.
Well, they came with these little mounting catches that plug into the case and the board, and the screws come with these little red circular things (not metal), but I'm not sure what these are needed for - possibly making sure the system board doesn't create a circuit with the case?
As for the system board - it uses a Soft-Menu BIOS thing (jumperless), but I don't even get a chance to get in there.
Si.
Message 4/24 26-Apr-01 @ 01:16 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
you basically need to try to get any sort of response out of the bmoard to see if it is not shorted. ram proper/ well plugged? try running it with just a graphics on a newspaper...and the basics plugged in. dont even bother with drives. it might be the mboard cicuitry in contact with case, the bmoard cucuitry fucked, of the ram/ cpu wanked. altogether it sounds like a splattered system for the moment.
Message 5/24 26-Apr-01 @ 01:23 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
you basically need to try to get any sort of response out of the bmoard to see if it is not shorted. ram proper/ well plugged? try running it with just a graphics on a newspaper...and the basics plugged in. dont even bother with drives. it might be the mboard cicuitry in contact with case, the bmoard cucuitry fucked, of the ram/ cpu wanked. altogether it sounds like a splattered system for the moment.
Message 6/24 26-Apr-01 @ 02:33 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
Disconnect everything except for the CPU, a floppy drive, video card, and one hard disk. Make sure everything is well-seated, and power the machine on. Set all BIOS options accordingly, like processor speed, etc.. Then see if you can get it to boot to DOS from floppy. Get the bare machine rolling, and then add the rest of your hardware.
-Craig
-Craig
Message 7/24 26-Apr-01 @ 04:28 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
Jasper
Posts: 424
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I had exactly this problem with my asus a7v / tbird900, it was caused by my heatsink not being seated correctly on the processor, this should have caused the processor to burn out in seconds except that it was actually seated on about 75% of the surface (25% of the thermal compound was untouched). The processor overheated and failed to work correctly before the motherboard could post the test so no warning beeps. At least this is what I deduced, dunno if it's entirely correct.
After about an hours worth of fiddling I managed to seat it correctly and the whole thing booted as far as the bios (see below).
Sorry about the story but a bit of background might help you spot some similarities.
Other than that the power supply could be faulty.
Also if you have ata100 connectors AND normal IDE leads supplied make sure you use the correct leads in the correct ide slot, not sure of the implications but it caused me a headache - this caused mine to fail during the bios check.
What size power supply is it? 300watts is recommended for athlons, but you should be able to boot with just basic cards etc with a 250watt one (mine is).
The little rec circular things are risers and intended for the use you mentioned.
Also check the mboard manual to see if there is a bios reset jumper, if there is pull it off and replace it then try to boot. There might still be one even with a jumperless bios.
Is your ram seated correctly, and if you have an agp card make sure it is seated all the way, some have retainers on the bottom ( a piece of plastic that pulls off) if this isn't there the card can be moved slightly.
unplug the drive for now as you don't need it connected to get the pc to post.
can't think of anything else I've come accross.
After about an hours worth of fiddling I managed to seat it correctly and the whole thing booted as far as the bios (see below).
Sorry about the story but a bit of background might help you spot some similarities.
Other than that the power supply could be faulty.
Also if you have ata100 connectors AND normal IDE leads supplied make sure you use the correct leads in the correct ide slot, not sure of the implications but it caused me a headache - this caused mine to fail during the bios check.
What size power supply is it? 300watts is recommended for athlons, but you should be able to boot with just basic cards etc with a 250watt one (mine is).
The little rec circular things are risers and intended for the use you mentioned.
Also check the mboard manual to see if there is a bios reset jumper, if there is pull it off and replace it then try to boot. There might still be one even with a jumperless bios.
Is your ram seated correctly, and if you have an agp card make sure it is seated all the way, some have retainers on the bottom ( a piece of plastic that pulls off) if this isn't there the card can be moved slightly.
unplug the drive for now as you don't need it connected to get the pc to post.
can't think of anything else I've come accross.
Message 8/24 26-Apr-01 @ 05:19 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
Cheers all :-)
I'm gonna check out the risers, and make sure that the system board is installed properly.
antskony - what do you mean by putting the motherboard on newspaper?
I think the problem could be what Jasper has described, so I'm off home now to try it out. I've since installed 2000 on one of the hard disks so at least there's something to boot to if I can get it working.
Thanks for the help folks,
Si.
I'm gonna check out the risers, and make sure that the system board is installed properly.
antskony - what do you mean by putting the motherboard on newspaper?
I think the problem could be what Jasper has described, so I'm off home now to try it out. I've since installed 2000 on one of the hard disks so at least there's something to boot to if I can get it working.
Thanks for the help folks,
Si.
Message 9/24 26-Apr-01 @ 06:52 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
i mean isolate the board from anything conductive. It could be shorting if it is contact with anything conductive- case etc. the best way to isolate the motherboard to check it for life is properly mounted or on paper/ in it's box, etc. if it doesn't work out of it's box, it's either the ram / cpu / circuits that are dislodged/charred. or the graphics card could conceivably be a bit dodge with that board...shorting it out, preventing a boot up. i had a mate could only install his graphics by using a pci to install 98 and then putting in the agp beside it(rare). if it's not shorting, there's good chances it's fucked...(you might have sparked it even being extra careful)
in the mboard manual, it'll tell you if there is a set number of beeps for different problems.. 2 beeps for no ram-3 beeps for no cpu etc. no nothing means no mboard life. at worst dig a hole in the garden, and give it a decent burial.
in the mboard manual, it'll tell you if there is a set number of beeps for different problems.. 2 beeps for no ram-3 beeps for no cpu etc. no nothing means no mboard life. at worst dig a hole in the garden, and give it a decent burial.
Message 10/24 26-Apr-01 @ 07:30 PM - RE: Woe is me - building my own PC
This is EXACTLY the same problem I had - it turned out it was the M/B shorting on the case, but from some of the risers AND from the 5.25" bays - basically the case was slightly too small, and was contacting.
Fixed it pretty easily by bending the bay slightly.
Fixed it pretty easily by bending the bay slightly.
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