Having major problems with first build

[claudegiz]

Hi all, well after waffling for months and basically giving into my fears, I bit the bullet and built my very first system. I used PCMech's instruction on how to build from scratch. Used both the instructions and the manuals for each devise.

My specs:

Case: - Thermaltake soprano with clear side.

CPU - AMD x2 3800

Memory - 2gbs Corsair Extreme

Motherboard - Epox 9na ultra

Power Supply - Rosewill 550

OS - MS Media Center 2005

Hard drives: a) Raptor 36gb (boot drive)

(all SATA) b) WD Caviar - 160gb (music and photos)

c) WD Caviar - 250gb (pvr)

d) WD Caviar - 400gb (pvr)

The PVR drives will be set in a JBOD array.

For my documents I am using a PATA in an enclosure, connected using a rear USB port.

Optical Drives: Rosewill 16x dual layer DVD +/- RW - PATA

Plextor 16x DVD +/- RW - SATA

Mitsumi 7 n 1 card reader with floppy

Added a front panel controller with additional 4 usb ports, 1 firewire, and audio ports

internal SATA host controller which has two ports. (needed an additional SATA port for the Plextor)

hauppauge 150MCE TV Tuner

EVGA 7600GT Video Card

Creative Audigy Z - sound card

Wireless MS keyboard and mouse

DSL

Logitech x530 speaker system.


At first, I connected everything, re-read the PCMech's instructions, and disconnected all the hard drives, except the boot drive, video card, one of the optical drives. Connected the wireless mouse and keyboard port, and the monitor. Plugged in my monitor. Made sure that the power supply switch was at 115v, the on/off button was off, plugged the socket into my surge protector, flipped the on switch and.......

NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING HAPPENED. No beep, now whirl, nothing, total silence. Now I believe the problem is my power supply. There is this switch called HAL next to the volt switch button. I don't know what it does, but I flipped it up and down and NOTHING HAPPENED. I am sooooo unhappy. I thought that a 115v will not work on a 110v system. However, I noticed that a lot of power supplies are 115v/230v. So ok, what do I do?

Help please.

Claudeth

[Panama Red]

Have you tried it out of the case as outlined in this thread?

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

You should also consider using a wired keyboard and wired mouse connected to the PS/2 ports untill you get the OS installed.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by claudegiz At first, I connected everything, re-read the PCMech's instructions, and disconnected all the hard drives, except the boot drive, video card, one of the optical drives. Connected the wireless mouse and keyboard port, and the monitor. Plugged in my monitor. Made sure that the power supply switch was at 115v, the on/off button was off, plugged the socket into my surge protector, flipped the on switch and.......NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING HAPPENED. No beep, now whirl, nothing, total silence.

Hitting the power supply switch won't turn the computer on, it only lets power reach the power supply. You use the power button on the front of the case to turn the computer on.

Originally Posted by claudegiz Now I believe the problem is my power supply. There is this switch called HAL next to the volt switch button. I don't know what it does, but I flipped it up and down and NOTHING HAPPENED.

That's the fan controller...HAL...High, Auto, Low...high fan speed, auto sets the fan to react thermally (fast when PSU is hot, slow when PSU is cool), low fan speed.

Originally Posted by claudegiz I thought that a 115v will not work on a 110v system. However, I noticed that a lot of power supplies are 115v/230v.

115v will work for a 110v system.

Originally Posted by claudegiz So ok, what do I do?

First, follow the instructions found in the link that Panama Red posted. You don't want any drives or unnecessary components connected for your first POST.

Cricket

[claudegiz]

Actually, I did hit the power on button on the front. I appreciate the explanation of HAL.

[claudegiz]

Thanks Panama. I had double checked my seating. But I will do the short thing, and see about buying a cheap keyboard and mouse.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by claudegiz I had double checked my seating.

The troubleshooting technique that Panama Red posted requires you to remove the motherboard from the case, this is because you're trying to find out if the motherboard is shorting/grounding out to the case or not. If the motherboard is grounding out to the case you'll get nothing on the monitor. If the system doesn't even react when you jump the two PWR ON pins, then you may have a DOA power supply on your hands. If you do need to replace the power supply, pick one off the "good" list found here.

Cricket

[claudegiz]

My motherboard is an Epox 9nap + ultra. I have connected both the 20-pin and the smaller pin from the power supply to the motherboard. However, according to the user manual, I was supposed to do this.

I'm not home right now, so I'm trying to get as much info as possible. I don't have a computer at home until I finish this build. So sorry for the quality of the questions.

[doubloshoe]

when you connected the the powerswitch to the motherboard you might have put it in reverse, try flipping it arround.

[clroberts]

Originally Posted by doubloshoe when you connected the the powerswitch to the motherboard you might have put it in reverse, try flipping it arround.

ATX Power connectors only connect one way. It's not like the old AT cases where you had to put the black wires in the center.

[clroberts]

115v is the setting for America. The other setting is for Europe. What that has to do with is the cycles of the A/C. America is set up on 60 cycles and I believe Europe is at 55 cycles/s. In any case.. I'd start with the PSU. Get a tester from Radio Shack or Circuit city or Comp USA and plug it into the PSU and make sure the PSU is good. Then, I would unplug everything from the system except for the RAM and CPU. You should get a beep about your video card not being hooked up. Then you can slowly introduce things such as the video card, keyboard, mouse, drives, etc. That's the easiest way to trouble shoot the problem.

[DarkPacMan77]

if you do hear the beep... it is good, and remember not to install more than one device at a time after that (as to avoid confusion).

could just be an issue with the power supply overall... Roswill psus are the best out there...

[glc]

You need to connect both the 24 (or 20+4) pin connector *and* the separate 4 pin connector. If the video card has a power connector, you have to connect that too. Do this OUT OF THE CASE.

when you connected the the powerswitch to the motherboard you might have put it in reverse, try flipping it arround.

Nope, that connector is not polarized.

[DarkPacMan77]

my other post should say

"Roswill psus are not the best out there"

I can no longer edit it, so,... yea

[claudegiz]

Hello all, thanks for all the great advice. So I purchased Thermaltake's power supply tester. I connected the 24-pin and the power supply turned on no problem. I then plugged in each Molex (ooo learned a new term), all the SATA power links, and the pin connectors. All of them turned the 12v and th 5v led green. However, when I plugged in the P4 plug, the other connector that I have to use with the 24 pin, only the 12v led turned green, the 5v led did not light. I am assuming that this is my problem?