New system won't post on first startup

[Computer Hobbyist]

I have just assembled a new system. 900 ghz Celeron, on an Asus TUV4X motherboard. 256 Meg of 133 Ram. I turned on the power. The fans come on as well as the light telling me the board has power. Nothing else. No video. No speaker beeps. Nothing. and when I try to turn off the system, I have to unplug. The off switch just doesn't work. No smell of smoke. No nothing. Where do I start with the trouble shooting?

CH

[Cricket]

Hi Computer Hobbyist,

Have you tried this yet: New Build Problems

Cricket

[Computer Hobbyist]

I have not yet tried to get the thing going on the cardboard box, but i have reseated the CPU, the Ram and the video card, in the case tray. I will try the cardboard box approach tomorrow night. If it doesn't work there, then I am sure I have a bad part, probably the CPU or the motherboard, since I have seen the effects of bad Ram and a bad video card (I think there would be beeps if either of them were bad.) I'll keep you advised.

CH

[mike breck]

Hi Computer Hobbyist,

remove ALL the cards including the graphics card
remove the memory
reconnect the case speaker lead if it is disconnected
power up the mobo and if the cpu and mobo are good, you should get a long beep
Shut down
install the memory and video card
power up and you should get a display
go into into the bios and choose setup defaults or failsafe (whatever the choice is)
Save changes and restart. Hopefully you should get Bootup.

HTH

[Computer Hobbyist]

Originally posted by mike breck Hi Computer Hobbyist, remove ALL the cards including the graphics card remove the memory reconnect the case speaker lead if it is disconnected power up the mobo and if the cpu and mobo are good, you should get a long beep Shut down install the memory and video card power up and you should get a display go into into the bios and choose setup defaults or failsafe (whatever the choice is) Save changes and restart. Hopefully you should get Bootup. HTH

Joy,

I get a series of long beeps. First noise I have gotten out of this thing. I will now install another stick of memory and try again.

BTW I tried this on the cardboard after trying the video card and memory test on the cardboard without joy.

Just installed new Ram stick and new video card. Ram first, test, no joy.
Video Card second, test, no joy.

Is it possible that my first Ram socket is damaged? Is it also possible for me to use one of the others? In short with SDRAM do you have to install in sequence Socket 1,Socket 2, Socket 3 etc. Or can you simply place the RAM in any one of the sockets?

CH

[Cricket]

Hi Computer Hobbyist,

Depends on the motherboard, but I'd stick a known good stick of RAM in the first RAM socket and then power up to see what happens. Make sure the RAM is inserted all the way into the socket and the latches locked in place. If the first socket doesn't seem to work, try the next one as some motherboards aren't particular about RAM placement.

You may have a problem with the socket or the RAM sticks themselves. You did say you got a beep without the video card and RAM installed...try it with just the video and no RAM. Then try it with the RAM installed and no video card. You should get different beep patterns. Can help to isolate where the problem lies.

Also make sure your CPU and video card are installed correctly. The video card can take quite a bit of force to insert all the way.

Cricket

[Computer Hobbyist]

I got a series of long beeps without RAM and video card. I turned it off quickly after establishing the beeps. That left me with RAM and the video card. I took out the RAM and replaced it with a stick I know is good. NO JOY. I did the same with the video card (but with RAM installed.) In fact I have alternately installed both PCI and AGP cards. Again NO JOY. I have not put the RAM in the second RAM socket. I have, however, reseated both the video card and the RAM on several occasions.

I took a good look at the motherboard under a magnifying glass and note that the first RAM Socket is "missing" one pin connection towards the middle of the Socket. None of the other Sockets are "missing" any pin connections. I suspect that's my problem.

I plan to call my vendor as soon as California wakes up, and see about a replacement.

I have learned the value of buying a motherboard/CPU bundle that has been tested prior to shipment instead of buying the motherboard and CPU separately. Worth the extra 9 or 10 bucks.

CH

[Cricket]

Hi Computer Hobbyist,

Looks like you found the problem. I'm surprised that ASUS had such a defect as they're normally very high quality boards. Hope the turn-around time isn't too long.

Cricket

[Computer Hobbyist]

Originally posted by Cricket I'm surprised that ASUS had such a defect as they're normally very high quality boards. Hope the turn-around time isn't too long. Cricket

Everybody makes mistakes. I guess that includes ASUS. I also hope the turn around isn't too long, I am really looking forward to my new computer.

CH

[Computer Hobbyist]

One of my pet "complaints" is that a lot of people never let people know how things turn out. I returned the motherboard to Newegg and they promptly sent me a new board. I got it yesterday, but wasn't able to work on the computer until tonight. I installed the board and the rest of my new parts in my new case and everything works fine. No problems at all. The 900 Celeron is noticably much faster than my daughter's 700 Celeron. From the user's standpoint, it's just about the same as my wife's 800 Duron. Setup of the Asus motherboard is virtually automatic. Jumperless. Nearly, everything is done from in Bios screen. BTW this is the first time I have used an Enlight case. I can't believer how simple the thing is to use. It's too easy.

CH