Won't Post....

[Naja]

Hi Everybody,

Having issues with a new build--it won't post. Its out of a case, so shorting to the case isn't an issue. Here's the specs:

E8400
Asus P5KPL-VM
Ballistix PC6400 2x 1GB
On-board video
Antec Basiq 350w PSU

The PSU is brand new and a loaner being used solely to check these components.

Power-on is not a problem--its getting power, but with just the above--there is No Post.
We've swapped the RAM from slot to slot and checked each stick alone in each slot. Initially we had the HD and DVD Burner hooked up, but removed them along the way. 100% of the time there has been no post. Nothing on the monitor.

There is no video card in this setup, but the MB should be defaulted to the On-Board video, right? Wouldn't make sense for it not to be, plus does the BIOS use the video (card or on-board) to show the post?

The heatsink and fan were removed. Checked the cpu and pins on the MB--everything seems ok and in order.

Kind of lost at this point. My friend did have the MB on the anti-static bag for the bulk of this process--should we jump through all of the hoops again? There was no post after several things were tried after removing the anti-static bag from underneath the MB. So, I'm thinking that that is not the problem.

What to try next? What to RMA first?

Edit: Yes, I've re-read the sticky. Yes, the 20+4-pin and 4-pin were connected. No Beeps. Power to the optical mouse via the PS/2, but not the rear I/O USBs. 20+4-pin connector is missing the -5volt wire(....?). MB LED comes on. CPU fan works.


Help!

[Kov-Ice]

I have heard that the outside of the anti-static bag can hold electrostatic charge. Hopefully the mobo didn't catch a shock. Do you have a different PSU to try?

[Naja]

Hi Kov-ice,

Thanx, I remembered that about the bag when I re-read the sticky. Memory was telling me to put it on the bag! , so that's what I told him to do--that one's on me!

Basically, that's going to be the root of the problem: We are about 800 miles a part and he doesn't have "PC Friends" to swap parts with or take components to.....Additionally, his other PCs are all older tech (478/184), so he can't just "check the ram in one of his other PCs", etc.

I feel like we're missing something, but I have no idea what and really don't think we are. Stuff only goes in certain places and only plugs in one way.

Plug the monitor into the wall and MB. Cpu, heatsink & fan, plug in the fan. Put ram in. 4-pin plug. 20+4-pin plug(s). That's it. Power-Yes. Post-No.

It's an E8400 cpu (45nm). The MB is 45nm ready, but I assume that it will still require a bios update in order to "unleash the power". Any chance that that would keep it from posting?

The BIOS should be defaulted to the on-board video, right?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Naja It's an E8400 cpu (45nm). The MB is 45nm ready, but I assume that it will still require a bios update in order to "unleash the power". Any chance that that would keep it from posting?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Naja The BIOS should be defaulted to the on-board video, right?

Yes.

Cricket

[TechGaloot]

The anti-static bag is conductive!!! That means it can cause shorts and ruin stuff. You should always do an out-of-case bootup on a non-conductive surface.

You may be in big trouble now...

[Naja]

Ok, so what's the best course of action now....?

His video cards are all AGP, so they won't work for testing in this situation, but he can pick up a cheapo card, I guess. The possibliy of getting a "more compatible" cpu for testing is about zero.

He does have a computer shop near his business, just have no idea what they would charge to check out the components.

The PS/2 plugs worked on the mouse, but not the rear I/O USBs--does that say anything in reference to shorting via the anti-static bag? Or do the USBs not become operational until after the system posts?

Also, the "Beeps" come from the MB--no "speaker" needed, right?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Naja Also, the "Beeps" come from the MB--no "speaker" needed, right?

You need a case speaker hooked up to hear the BIOS beeps...that motherboard doesn't have a built-in piezo speaker.

Cricket

[Naja]

Yep, Thanx! I've been surfing around to see what I can come up with...and pretty much figured that out--But Thanx! for the confirmation.

If the MB bios has an incompatability issue with the cpu--will it beep (with a speaker)...?

What about the PS/2, USB, optical mouse deal? Do the USBs only activate after/during post? If I remember correctly they do, but I'm definitely not sure......

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Naja If the MB bios has an incompatability issue with the cpu--will it beep (with a speaker)...?

When I've encountered CPU incompatibility issues before I'd get either a wailing tone or long beeps repeating until I turned the system off. But this was years ago and I really haven't encountered it recently with the newer motherboards.

Originally Posted by Naja What about the PS/2, USB, optical mouse deal? Do the USBs only activate after/during post? If I remember correctly they do, but I'm definitely not sure......

Sorry, I just recently started using USB mice (I still use PS/2 keyboards) and really don't know when the USB port gets initialized.

Cricket

[WJWheels]

I put together quite a few computers and the most usual reason there's been no post with only the mobo, psu, cpu, memory, & vid assembled is because I haven't "snapped" in the memory tight enough. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 tries to get it right.

Just my .02

[Naja]

The ram sticks were swapped around as a pair and individually--I doubt that he failed to make a connection each and every time--but its possible. Thanx for the heads up! I realize that bad ram can keep the system from posting--that's why it was swapped all around.....

Any way to Flash the bios with the latest update under this circumstance--no post....? Floppy drive is available if needed....

[flanzig1]

If you get no POST or video, there is no way of up-dating the BIOS.
My feeling is if all the out-of-case testing was done on the anti-static bag, the motherboard is more than likely kaput. A possiblity that the ram could have gotten it too.

[Naja]

I didn't really think so on the bios, but thought I would ask.....

The only problem I have with the MB being shorted out is--every thing is getting power: The cpu fan, the power LED, The power-on pins when they are shorted for on, the PS/2 plugs....

I checked the USB wireless mouse deal on my pc here--and the wireless receiver does not light until after the post starts, so that may be why he's not getting power to his wired mouse via USB.....


Some one please explain this to me:

The cpu is 45nm (E8400). The MB is 45nm ready (so Asus says)--If there is a bios/cpu conflict--the pc should still boot up, right? And it should move forward to OS install and all that, right? And then just update the bios online to "Unleash the Power",........right? That's what should happen, right?

[amdalex]

It was on the conductive bag = poof, no go, need to try new board.

[Titanium]

Originally Posted by Naja Some one please explain this to me: The cpu is 45nm (E8400). The MB is 45nm ready (so Asus says)--If there is a bios/cpu conflict--the pc should still boot up, right? And it should move forward to OS install and all that, right? And then just update the bios online to "Unleash the Power",........right? That's what should happen, right?

That is what happened with me. Different mobo though. I was using the P5K-E (which Asus also said was 45nm compatible) with the e8400, and everything booted up fine. It just gave me the "Unknown CPU, BIOS update required to unleash the full power". But everything worked fine before I flashed the BIOS.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 If you get no POST or video, there is no way of up-dating the BIOS. My feeling is if all the out-of-case testing was done on the anti-static bag, the motherboard is more than likely kaput. A possiblity that the ram could have gotten it too.

Question- if you put together your motherboard, cpu and ram on the anti-static bag, but move it over to a non-static surface like a cardboard box during testing, is it still possible for the motherboard to die that way?

[Naja]

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 Question- if you put together your motherboard, cpu and ram on the anti-static bag, but move it over to a non-static surface like a cardboard box during testing, is it still possible for the motherboard to die that way?

These guys are saying--Yes. And even though I don't doubt it--I find it hard to believe that this MB is fried when its getting power to everything that can be checked......

Originally Posted by Titanium That is what happened with me. Different mobo though. I was using the P5K-E (which Asus also said was 45nm compatible) with the e8400, and everything booted up fine. It just gave me the "Unknown CPU, BIOS update required to unleash the full power". But everything worked fine before I flashed the BIOS.

That is what I thought that I had been reading, but apparently it works both ways and is somewhat the luck of the draw. The reviews on the E8400 at newegg indicate that sometimes it will post as your's did, and sometimes it won't post at all until after the bios is updated. My friend may have to pay his local shop to find out what's what......

[WJWheels]

I'm sticking with a ram issue. It don't take memory to spin the heatsink fan or light the board led(s), but it does take memory to post to the monitor.

[Naja]

Originally Posted by WJWheels I'm sticking with a ram issue. It don't take memory to spin the heatsink fan or light the board led(s), but it does take memory to post to the monitor.

Honestly, at this point: I'm not discounting anything. But here's a clue from Asus tech support:

the board will work with the processor as long as it has bios 608. If it does not have it more than likely it will not even post. The only ways to flash it at that point is to find a lower quality processor and then flash the bios. Or call (812)282-2787 and RMA it to get flashed.

I would guess that there is little possibly that the MB has bios 608 considering it was purchased on 1-07-08 and the bios608 wasn't released (online) until 1-18-08. So, first priority is now a lower grade processor...If it won't post after that--then we'll start looking at the MB, Ram, etc.

A new psu is on the way: Antec NeoPower 500w. Should do the trick.

If the board will not post, we can send it to Asus to get it flashed--and when it will not post for them--I've little doubt that they will replace it with an updated bios.

Doesn't look like much of anything is going to be happening until this coming week......

[Naja]

Just wanted to update this:

The MB was shipped back to Asus to have a newer bios installed. Took 3 weeks total, but boots right up with no problems....