NEW PC Won't Start UP!!!

[Dethredic]

Ok, Well, me and my friend just built my new computer today! It was the first time for both of us, so when we first turned it on, it worked!!! We got the Asus screen, then the screen that showed the slaves/hard drive. But as we hadn't installed an OS yet, we shut it down, got a keyboard and mouse plugged them in, then booted it up again.

This time we got nothing. All the fans started spinning, and everything looked like it was working, but nothing would appear on the screen. We tried several more times, switching the monitor, the plug on the Video Card as well as removing the mouse/keyboard. We let it go for a minute before shutting it off each time. We re checked all the connections too.


I do not hear any beeps from it. Also the mouse lights up, but the keyboard doesn't.

Other things I tried.
- Resetting the CMOS battery
- Using other ram slots, using other PC express x16 slots.
-unplug all non essientials

Any Ideas?

PC specs:
Asus P5N32-E
E6420
2x1 Buffalo Stix
8800GTS 640
OCZ 700W GameXtreme
WD 2500KS

[freakitchen]

Welcome to the forums - please let us know your full system specs, including PSU brand & model.

Strange that it booted the first time, then failed on further attempts. Suggest that you follow the steps in this thread for a core-component-out-of-case build. It will help you identify if anything is faulty.

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

[Dethredic]

Added PC specs, check first post

Also tried with just 1 stick of ram, then just the other, nothing.

[Dethredic]

I tried an out of case build, I took everything apart, then put it back together (non essentials only). Nothing. I think tried only 1 ram stick, I put each one individually in each slot. Nothing. I tried the video card in all the PCI express slots, nothing.

I can't swap parts out, cause I don't have a PC that has compatible parts.

Still have the same problem as before.

Any ideas?

[liambl]

You didnt do anything else apart from plugging in the mouse and k/b. Check that CPU heatsink is not loose. Did you turn it off while it was updating nvram ect, if you did then it may be corrupt bios. Try with no ram in, if it beeps then the pc is working to some extent.

[freakitchen]

Am confused by your last post, you say you took everything apart and put it back together, but did you actually attempt to start the system up while the motherboard was out of the case, using the screwdriver-short technique on the power switch posts?

[joytime365]

It is strange for a new pc to have that problem, but there should be some warranty for the pc , you can get help from the store sells it .

[liambl]

joytime365, this pc was a home build so hes on his own with this problem.
Same question as Freakitchen, it sounds like you rebuilt the pc in its case, not the out-of-case method to ensure that the problem is not case related.

[freakitchen]

joytime365, if you read the first post you'll notice that the original poster built this system, as such, the warranty is on the individual components.

[Dethredic]

well, the second time I did build out of the case.
After I plugged in keyboard/mouse it didn't work... but I have tried without them and nothing.

screwdriver-short technique on the power switch posts

Is that just making a screwdriver touch both metal tongs?

Well, I tried with no ram, nothing, I tried with no ram no HDD, nothing.

[Dethredic]

Tried different CMOS batteries, nothing.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Dethredic well, the second time I did build out of the case. After I plugged in keyboard/mouse it didn't work... but I have tried without them and nothing. Is that just making a screwdriver touch both metal tongs? Well, I tried with no ram, nothing, I tried with no ram no HDD, nothing.

If you did the out-of-case troubleshooter with just the core components and the system still doesn't fire up, then one of the core components is defective or got fried. Without compatible parts to swap around with it's going to be impossible to find out exactly which part is causing the problem.

Do any of the fans start to spin when you touch the 2 PWR ON pins?

Cricket

[Dethredic]

I am still not sure how to the screw drive/power thingy.

Also, this might be important, it might not, but the monitor is always in standby mode, (yellow light). I can turn it off, then back on and I get a green light for a couple seconds, but then it just goes back to yellow.

[freakitchen]

Assemble the system as detailed in the thread, then use the manual to locate which two brass pins on the front panel header are used for the POWER ON switch - the same two posts to which you'd connect the power button from the front of the case. Take a flat-head screwdriver to momentarily short those two posts together - this simulates pressing the power on button.

The thing with the monitor isn't important, the few seconds of green light is just when it's trying to find an input signal.

[Dethredic]

OK, I tried that, and nothing happened. ( I could have done it wrong )

[freakitchen]

In order for you to be able to say that there's definitely a faulty component, you need to be sure that you've done the procedure right.

Set up the motherboard on a flat surface - the Box it came in works well. Install only the processor, the heatsink, one stick of RAM in DIMM A1, and the video card. Connect a Keyboard and the monitor. Connect the power supply to the motherboard - both the 24-pin main power connector, and the auxiliary power connector at the top of the board. It's an 8-pin connector, but 4 pins are covered to allow backwards compatiblity with power supplies that only have the 4 pin connector. If your PSU has the 8 pin, then use it, otherwise, connect the 4 pin to the RIGHT-HAND 4 pins as you look at the motherboard in its correct orientation (the cap covers the LEFT four pins).

Then confirm which two posts are for the POWER SWITCH, and short them. Double and triple check that the RAM and the video card are fully in their sockets.

[Dethredic]

Ok, I just realized what you meant by which posts to short circuit!!! I did that and everything turns on like when I press the power button.

Double and triple checked everything.

BTW, thanks a lot for your help so far dude.

[liambl]

Well it sounds like a something has gone bad, but its hard to narrow it down without swapping in parts until it works. What still gets me is that it worked first time. So you are sure you let it finish whatever it may of been doing before shutting it down?

[freakitchen]

Ok, I just realized what you meant by which posts to short circuit!!! I did that and everything turns on like when I press the power button.

Can you be more specific as to exactly what happens? Is it that the CPU fan spins, the fan on the video card spins, but there is no display on the monitor?

If that's the case, then try this. Position your computer case near to your out-of-case setup - enough so that the wires from the front panel (Power switch, power LED etc.) will reach the motherboard. Find the case SPEAKER wire and connect it to the relevant pins on the motherboard (it will be in amongst the front panel header). This time when you boot up the system, do you hear any beeps from the case speaker?

[Dethredic]

All the fans start spinning when I short circuit.

I can not find the speaker cord on my Antec 900. There is one labeled Audio, but it has 9 pins (2x5) and does not fit. Also coming out of the audio cord are 7 individual 1 pin connectors. I would have no idea which one to use, where.

[Dethredic]

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/24...-building-tips

No speaker???

[Dethredic]

Well, using my supreme thinking skillz (kidding) I ran and stole a case speaker from 2 really old cases i had in my basement. I tried both of them, and I got no beeps.

[Dethredic]

Guess I will try to return the board.

[freakitchen]

On a forum note, please edit your posts if you have new information.

Before condemning the motherboard, try starting up with the video card, and the RAM removed. If the motherboard was working, in theory it SHOULD beep at you when missing these components. If it doesn't, I'd suspect a faulty motherboard, although there are no guarantees. Don't suppose you'd be able to borrow a compatible power supply to test with?

[Dethredic]

I wish I could, but I don't have one. The computer repair shop will be able to test that though.

[Dethredic]

Well, the repair shop said that the motherboard failed. Can some one point me in the right direction to returning it? The sellers RMA period is over.