cant get computer to boot

[thesaint]

i just took a bunch of my old computers and tried to put them togeather to make one good one. they are all older componets but they all still worked. when i boot the system i get no beebs or display. i tried switching the video card and got the same results. i then switched the memory sticks to see if i had bad memory. still the same. i then switched processors with the same results. i double checked all connection to make sure everything was tight. all was. i tried the video card in a different computer and it worked. would a dead battery for the bios backup give me these results? what eles could it be. thank you for any replies.

[snow]

Try resetting the CMOS (it's what you called the BIOS backup)

if there's a battery that looks like a watch battery, then you can just pop it out and restart, shut down the computer, pop it back in and then you might be able to get display if everything else is set right

if the baterry is an older Nickel version (I forget what they use, I'm a hobbiest) then you need to set a jumper

there may also be some other jumpers that need to be set to configure everything properly (volatage, multiplier, bus speed} for the different processor that you've put in there, so I'd suggest getting the board book so you don't fry your junk toys

you can find motherboard books online at manufacturer websites using the model number on the board

hope that helps. Junk hardware is fun stuff to play with cause you aren't out anything if you burn it up

[Cricket]

Hi thesaint,

If the motherboard is still in the case, you'll want to remove it to remove the chance that it's shorting against the case. Follow these instructions: New Build Troubleshooter (http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12753)

Also, could you list the parts you're using. It helps if we know what kind of parts are involved. Brand and model of motherboard, CPU, video card, etc...

:) Cricket