PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!
 

9.12.2008 Update I have updated this procedure slightly to reflect new build procedures. Please follow the steps carefully before starting your own thread. Thank you. -Alaron, BYOPC Moderator.

We're going to start from scratch.

1) Remove EVERYTHING from the case
2) Set the motherboard on a non conductive surface. The motherboard box is perfect for this. DO NOT PLACE THE MOTHERBOARD ON THE STATIC BAG! It can actually conduct electricity! We are going to try and assemble a running system outside of the case.
3) Install the CPU and heat sink. Intel Guide AMD Guide
4) Install 1 stick of RAM.
5) Install the video card and attach the power supply connection(s) to the card if your card needs it.
6) Connect the monitor to the video card.
7) Connect the power supply to the motherboard with both the 24pin main ATX Power connection and the separate 4 or 8 pin power connection.
8) Connect power to the power supply.
9) Do NOT connect ANYTHING else. Make sure you have the power connector on the CPU fan connected.
10) Use a small screwdriver to momentarily short the power switch connector on the motherboard. Consult your motherboard manual to find which two pins connect to your case's power switch. Then touch both pins with a screwdriver to complete the circuit and boot the system.

If all is well, it should power up and you should get a display. Then assemble the parts into the case and try again. If the system now fails to boot, you have a short in the case and need to recheck your motherboard standoffs.

If the system does not boot after this process, then you most likely have a faulty component. You'll need to swap parts, start with the power supply, until you determine what is defective.

When starting a thread about your computer, be sure to include full specifications including brands, models and your power supply. This is important to help us help you.

:)

Special thanks to HAL9000 for creating the original procedure that has helped countless PCs come to life.

Good tips HAL.

Just to add a little, it's always a good idea to have a stick of RAM in your computer toolbox that you know works for sure (16 or 32 MB stick) so you can test for bad RAM.

Sorry, but can you please elaborate on "Use a small screwdriver to momentarily short the power switch connector on the motherboard?" I'm not too sure what you mean or how to short something..

On ATX systems, the front panel power button connects to a pair of posts on the motherboard. You just take a small screwdriver and touch it to those 2 posts at the same time.

It works the fan works as soon as i hit the switch
What do i do next?

Put the bare basics back into the case making sure that you are not shorting out the motherboard anywhere and try again.

This process didn't work for me... i get the same symptoms as i did with everything installed in the case... no display, no beeps. anythign else i can do?

Double, triple, quadruple check that your RAM, video card and your CPU are fully seated. If you still can't get things to go from there, you pretty well need access to another machine for which you can test your parts individually as something is most likely a dud.

Thanks for the tip Hal, this helped me a great deal on my build,
I found that the Athlon slot a cpu was not seated all the way also found a dimm not seated properly. Once I calmed down and followed your advice, the Tyan s2380 board posted without any problems.

Took everything out and powered up fine, but got no display. Only a black screen. The video card is an ASUS V7100pro brand new out of the box. Could this be the problem?

Use only one ram chip make sure it is seated properly. Also make double sure the video card is fully seated. Make sure the motherboard is not grounding lay it on cardboard works good.Make sure the cpu is fully seated. Go over each one of these carefully and post your result. We will try to get you on the right track. Also if you can hook up the speaker and let us know if you get a beep code. If you do get a beep code post the code.

Rechecked RAM, video and CPU all are seated well. Attached speaker cable. Got no beep at all.

If the speaker is connected properly and there is no beep this sounds like a cpu problem. But I'm not sure lets get some more input from some of the veteran members.

Thanx for the tips.

I didn't know that the anti-static bag is capable of conducting electricity.

And to think that I've been placing the MoBo on it!! Oh, boy!! I've been very lucky till now.

help!
 

I'm having the same problems as Mark S. did. I pulled it out, followed the instruction above, and nothing... is there someone who has the time to I.M. me on AOL Instant Messenger? Maybe talk me through what I have done wrong?

My buddy name is Murr43.. I will be logged on all afternoon. Thanks!

no problems; however
 

I recently built a computer for my girlfriend. It works great, but the other day, while I was opening it up to add memory, I noticed that the case is lightly magnetic. The screwdriver I was using wanted to stick to it and so will little screws. What's up?

It's alive!!!
 

It powers up out of the case. Next step??


By the way, thanks

OK, if it's running there, time to take just those pieces and re-assemble in the case. Pay carefull attention to see if there is anywhere the motherboard is grounding out on the case itself. If not, there's no reason why it shouldn't work there as well.

Hal:
Been doin it that way for years (laying everything out on the work bench) and never had a problem, but several friends think I'm nuts and going to fry a MoBo.
I use a formica covered counter top, rather than the shipping box, but its non conductive.

Appreciate all the good info I get from these posts.

Juanito

The White Wire is What ? ? ? ?
 

What is the "white wire" in the wiring for the hdd led, reset, etc. I know one is positive and the other is negative, and which one goes on the #1. I think it is the positive

Thanks - Henry

Look very close on the connector and you will see a very small triangle on one side, that designates the positive wire.

If you can figure out ONE of them, the others will all have the writing on the connector facing the same way.

When building a system, how do you know if you fried the CPU?? I am haveing a rebooting problem with Win98SE installation. Have done several of the suggestions - Still Rebooting every few minutes or so. Is the CPU fried, can I check??

If you fried the CPU, it wouldn't work at all. Most likely you have either a software problem or a hardware conflict. There is the possibility of bad RAM or motherboard.

Also try resetting the cmos either by jumper or removing the battery for 1-5 mins do this with the computer unplugged then re-install the battery. God knows how many times this has worked.
Another thing you can try, I had an instance last week where I set the jumper to auto detect but no post so I set the actuall FSB for the cpu with the jumpers once I done this it booted right up. don't ask me why auto should have worked but did not. Setting the jumper to the cpu recommended FSB did the trick.
Also if you get a beep during power up decipher your beep code here before doing anything else. Usually it is a simple problem you can workout, particulary with a new build. Most new builds are an error on the builders part during the assembly process or the incorporation of incompatible parts. Very seldom when using new quality parts is there a problem with the actual part. If you are at your wits end and you suspect you have a faulty part you can have the indivual part tested at a local computer store, or post your problem in the forum and maybe one of the members can help you further.

Do you have to hold it there the whole time to allow power?
If not, how do you turn it off?

Well ah it is very technical.
Just touch the two posts with a screwdriver and remove it
you will see it power up.
You unplug it lol.

Ok, so I did that and the fans start going but no beeps and no display on the monitor (it just says "no signal"). What does that mean?

NO you use that screwdriver again at the same post - if the computer did power up right - meaning your monitor got a picture or at least the computer beeped for the monitor - then a single touch is enough to powerdown - if it didn't boot successfully, or it hung - then you have to make contact for more than 4 SECONDS on the Pins of PW or the two posts you call it.. that does it..

Klumpdud
(Check to make sure your video card is fully seated also memory chip is fully seated), read the trouble shooting tips above.