newb needs miracle

[derspiegel]

Hi everyone,

First build: p4 3ghz, ASUS P4S800-X, 2 sticks 516mb Kinston ram, ati 128Rage-pro

So I've looked through the trouble shooting tips, included here http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409
(Which are great ideas btw) but to no avail.

Here is my status:
Board is out of case with 1 stick of ram and video card only (on a non conductive surface). I also have th case spkr installed

Power up= nothing, no display no beeps
Power up sans RAM = 1 long beep two short beeps. no display

Here's a strange part: I flashed the CMOS and started up wit hthe three components and I got three very rapid beeps and then nothing. I turned the machine off and turned up back on and got NO beeps at all.

Here are some details:
The vid card is from an old mac, but it works there
The ram and mobo are new retail box
The CPU is a hand me down, but came in its original packaging

Wuestions:
(1) Is there anything really simple I am missing/ I looked for a configure bios jumper but can't find one
(2) How difficult is it to get a CPU checked out? SHould I start elsewhere? SHould I just send the stuff back and get new parts?

Thank you computer gods.

[bailey]

what was the reason for flashing the cmos ?

[ktkendall]

How did you manage to flash the BIOS if the PC doesn't work??
What does power up sans RAM mean??
The manual should tell you waht those beep codes mean, which usually points you to the defective component.

[derspiegel]

Hi Guys,

In answer to your questions:

someone suggested flashing the cmos, just in case. This was accomplished on my board with a jumper that is put in place for 5 seconds.

'Sans ram' means without ram. Just a CPU and board. This was a suggestion from the prior thread as well, which said if you still get no beep, then your board or CPU is probably fried.

Anywho, the problem turned out to be TWO incompatible vid cards that were working in other machines.

Now that I'm booting I can begin pulling my hair out over installing a system...

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by derspiegel someone suggested flashing the cmos, just in case. This was accomplished on my board with a jumper that is put in place for 5 seconds.

That's not flashing the CMOS, that's clearing the CMOS. Flashing the BIOS is something entirely different.

Cricket