New build just died

[RyanL330]

So I successfully built my first computer a couple of months ago (with much help from the forums!), packed it up and moved it across the country last week, and set it up in my new place this evening. Opened up the case, re-seated everything, plugged everything in and cranked it up. Everything comes up as usual, all my USB hardware gets recognized, and everything seems hunky-dory for ten minutes or so. I pull up iTunes, get Ben Folds rolling, and answer nature's call. When I return the screens are black, no more music, and no response from the input devices. The case lights were on, fans were running, but I could not get the computer to turn off using the case button; so I unplug.

Replugging in the following occurs:

- Monitors go into self-test/analog-digital detection

- Pressing the case on/off starts the computer: lights come on, fans (case, vid card, and processor) come on

- Screens remain blank. No BIOS screen, no BSOD, no nothing.

Being the n00b that I am I have no idea where to start troubleshooting. This is what I am currently thinking:

- Fans and lights come on: power supply OK.

- Switches and fans attach to motherboard and work: motherboard OK

- Monitors go through self test: monitors OK

The frustrating thing is that everything worked great for ten minutes or so, then died. Any suggestions?

[Cricket]

Follow the troubleshooting instructions found here. You must remove the motherboard from the case when doing this.

What are the complete system specs for this computer? List the parts by brand and model including the power supply.

Cricket

[RyanL330]

Originally Posted by Cricket Follow the troubleshooting instructions found here. You must remove the motherboard from the case when doing this. What are the complete system specs for this computer? List the parts by brand and model including the power supply. Cricket

Certianly:

HD1: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10

HD2: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz

MB: ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard

VC: EVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB

1/2 of memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2

Other 1/2 of memory:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2

3.5: SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy

CD-DVD R/W: SONY 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW

CD-ROM: LG Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-ROM

PS: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W

[catacon]

Have you tried the instructions Cricket listed?

[andper10]

I would make sure that your CPU Heatsink is still clipped in securely. One (or more) of the mounting clips could have been jostled out during the move. Also if you took the ram out of the slots during the move did you put them back in a different order than before? If you did that could be causing the problem.

[RyanL330]

OK... got up this morning, gave the machine the benefit of the doubt and hit the power switch: the BIOS startup screen comes on (like normal), goes into the normal "press F7 for setup or hit any key..." then dies. Removed everything from the case and started in on the suggested troubleshooting procedure.

Originally Posted by andper10 I would make sure that your CPU Heatsink is still clipped in securely. One (or more) of the mounting clips could have been jostled out during the move. Also if you took the ram out of the slots during the move did you put them back in a different order than before? If you did that could be causing the problem.

Low an behold, one of the CPU heatsink clips was dislodged. Fixed it, installed 1 stick of RAM, the video card, and the required power hookups. MB "power available" LED comes on, I short the ON/OFF leads, CPU heatsink fan and video card heatsink and fan come on, but nothing else. I've been swapping all the RAM in all the different slots to see if I can make any progress. andper10, could you explain why RAM in different order would cause this?

Again, thank you everyone for your help!

Ry

[flanzig1]

Would recheck that the video card is fully seated and any extra power conections for the VC and mobo are fully connected. May want to reset the CMOS by the jumper or by pulling the mobo battery. This sometimes clears a problem from bad boots.

[andper10]

Make sure that the other 3 pins on the CPU heatsink are still securely clicked inl (sounds like you already did). If you have different sizes of ram (I believe you said you had 2x1GB of XMS and 2x512MB of Value Select). I don't know for sure if it makes a difference, but I was just thinking that it could be causing the problem. I believe that for your motherboard ram has to be in the matching color slots for it to run dual channel. So I thought if you were trying to run dual channel with a 1GB stick and a 512MB stick it could be causing problems. I would put the 1GB sticks in the Yellow Slots and the 512MB sticks in the Black Slots and then if that doesn't work, try the 512MB sticks in the Yellow and the 1GB sticks in the Black. If neither of those configurations work then I would guess that the ram is not causing a problem. I think that you should try clearing CMOS like flanzig said and see if that helps. The fact that your computer worked for a while after the move makes me think that its only problem was overheating, so be sure that the HSF is correctly attached.

EDIT: One set of modules runs default at 1.8V and the other set runs default at 1.9V. Perhaps the XMS is being run at 1.8V and that is causing it to make the PC crash. However, I don't know if it is a good idea to run the Value Select at 1.9V. I also don't know why/how a setting like that could have been changed during a move. Which again makes me think that something is still overheating and causing the problems.

[RyanL330]

OK, tried all of your suggestions (thanks!) and no dice. Attached a hard drive to see what happens, and it spins up fine, but no display, etc. What do I do next? the frustration is begging to wear on me

[flanzig1]

Since you have done the "out of case" build with the basics, lets try one step further. With the parts out of the case; connect up only the PSU/motherboard/CPU with heatsink and the case speaker. When you power on, should get a series of beeps, indicating that there is no ram or video card. This is a pretty good test for the 3 basic parts: If get beeps/parts most likely good. If no beeps, then one of the 3 are suspect. Would start with swapping in a know working PSU.