1st time building PC.

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: the wombat

Originally posted by: ibex333
well, ppl say that you dont really have to use a 24 pin adapter. There'a a sticky in this forum on this topic. But I'd advise you to get one, because one dood said that his mobo fried because he did not use a 24pin adapter. (dont know if this is true or not)

As for me, I tried the CMOS. -- nothing. I reset the cards. nothing. I unpluged all the cables from PSU and pluged them in again. - nothing
It's almost like my WHOLE system is completely dead except the fans. At least that's the way it feels. I dont want to give up, but I think it's time for me to do so, as I have been struggling with this thing for 3 days now. Mabe some part/s is/are defective, but I cannot tell. If I wait too long I probably wont be able to RMA them either. The only way I can do this right I guess is if I take some classes on this stuff. And so, I guess I'll have to declare my stupidity and ignorance and drag this PC to someone who will milk me for my money like I've always done all my life. I feel so low...
People have assured me that building a PC is NOT hard. and ANYONE can do it. NO problem they said! Just read the manual they said. Heh. What can I say. Lesson learned.
Oh, and thanx anyway guys, for trying to help.

Don't give up man! I'm sure you can figure it out!

Heh.. I dont want to give up.. I'm not the "quitter" type. At least not usually. But I see no other options for me at this point.

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: the wombat

Originally posted by: ibex333
well, ppl say that you dont really have to use a 24 pin adapter. There'a a sticky in this forum on this topic. But I'd advise you to get one, because one dood said that his mobo fried because he did not use a 24pin adapter. (dont know if this is true or not)

As for me, I tried the CMOS. -- nothing. I reset the cards. nothing. I unpluged all the cables from PSU and pluged them in again. - nothing
It's almost like my WHOLE system is completely dead except the fans. At least that's the way it feels. I dont want to give up, but I think it's time for me to do so, as I have been struggling with this thing for 3 days now. Mabe some part/s is/are defective, but I cannot tell. If I wait too long I probably wont be able to RMA them either. The only way I can do this right I guess is if I take some classes on this stuff. And so, I guess I'll have to declare my stupidity and ignorance and drag this PC to someone who will milk me for my money like I've always done all my life. I feel so low...
People have assured me that building a PC is NOT hard. and ANYONE can do it. NO problem they said! Just read the manual they said. Heh. What can I say. Lesson learned.
Oh, and thanx anyway guys, for trying to help.

Don't give up man! I'm sure you can figure it out!

Take his advice,don't give up.If something holds you back,take a break and start fresh.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It only takes 1 bad component for your system to not start. You could be doing everything right and just have a bad component.

So.................................. have you tried taking everything out of the case yet?

yeah except the processor.
I'm taking my PC to the computer store tomorrow. I dont think i got any other options, because if something is defective and I cannot find it it time, I wont be able to RMA it.
By the way.. I'm wondering how did you learn to build PCs?? Did u take classes? I tried reading books, but they are ALWAYS outdated. I tried the forums, but people cant SEE my computer so they can only offer advice and that dont seem to help. I really have no idea how people actually learn to build PCs and get hands on experience. I cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on PC parts so I can play around with them, break them, then buy new ones....

I read a lot of guides before I did it. (online guides)
I just used common sense and read the manuals when I needed to. When something didn't go as planned, looked it up and if I needed extra help, asked on a forum like this one.

It doesn't sound like this is your fault.

Do you have any spare parts you can use to try to troubleshoot what the dead component might be?

Are you sure you don't have anything to clean the cpu off with? The same materials you used to get the thermal pad off the heatsink should work. Rubbing alcohol is fine. If you can try it, reseat the processor before you blow money on taking it to somebody.

Do you have any friends that know something about this? Ask them before you pay someone.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: ibex333

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It only takes 1 bad component for your system to not start. You could be doing everything right and just have a bad component.

So.................................. have you tried taking everything out of the case yet?

yeah except the processor.
I'm taking my PC to the computer store tomorrow. I dont think i got any other options, because if something is defective and I cannot find it it time, I wont be able to RMA it.
By the way.. I'm wondering how did you learn to build PCs?? Did u take classes? I tried reading books, but they are ALWAYS outdated. I tried the forums, but people cant SEE my computer so they can only offer advice and that dont seem to help. I really have no idea how people actually learn to build PCs and get hands on experience. I cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on PC parts so I can play around with them, break them, then buy new ones....

I read a lot of guides before I did it. (online guides)
I just used common sense and read the manuals when I needed to. When something didn't go as planned, looked it up and if I needed extra help, asked on a forum like this one.

It doesn't sound like this is your fault.

Do you have any spare parts you can use to try to troubleshoot what the dead component might be?

Are you sure you don't have anything to clean the cpu off with? The same materials you used to get the thermal pad off the heatsink should work. Rubbing alcohol is fine. If you can try it, reseat the processor before you blow money on taking it to somebody.

Do you have any friends that know something about this? Ask them before you pay someone.

Hmm.... I read a ton of info on this on the net. Did lots of research. Went to many forums. My current PC's components are too outdated to try in this system for trouble shooting. My "friends" are only interested in vodka and weed. Not much help they are.
I'm pretty much alone in all the things that I like doing. No one I know shares my interests.

Well.. ok... I'll try again... I'll triple check everything.... I'll post here again tomorrow, because I'll probably spend half the night doing this again and again. Oh by the way, since my case has a clear side panel window, I can see that a tiny yellow LED comes up on the mobo. Does this bear any relevance?
Also you say that I can take the CPU out, clear the grease with alcohol and reapply it. The Arctic Silver website says that once the CPU has been powered on the grease "melts" into the microscopic gaps in the heatsink and at this point the old grease can only be cleaned with the "special" solutions that they sell. I dont have those, and this is why I'm reluctant to do what you ask. Mabe it's just their marketing trick, but I cant take the risk..
Oh, one more thing. Have any of you destroyed a component with static? I have taken the necessary ESD precautions (touched the metal surface every time before touching anything inside the case) But I'm wondering if you can instantly tell if you destroyed a card or something else with static as soon as it happens.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You know... I don't know if I'm coming off as an a$$, but for the third time... did you take the motherboard out of the case like I suggested?

Your motherboard could be shorting out of the case and could prevent you from posting. It sounds like you still have the motherboard inside your case.


You can narrow it down to a hardware problem with good certainty if you do that.

Put the foam pad on top of your motherboard box and put your motherboard on it. Connect the powersupply, vid card, ram, and CPU. If it still doesn't work, you have a bad part and none of this is your fault.

I don't think I've ever killed a part with static electricity. I dropped a hard drive in my driveway once, and I had my computer fall out of the back of a van, but no static yet

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You know... I don't know if I'm coming off as an a$$, but for the third time... did you take the motherboard out of the case like I suggested?

Your motherboard could be shorting out of the case and could prevent you from posting. It sounds like you still have the motherboard inside your case.


You can narrow it down to a hardware problem with good certainty if you do that.

Put the foam pad on top of your motherboard box and put your motherboard on it. Connect the powersupply, vid card, ram, and CPU. If it still doesn't work, you have a bad part and none of this is your fault.

I don't think I've ever killed a part with static electricity. I dropped a hard drive in my driveway once, and I had my computer fall out of the back of a van, but no static yet

To add to that,i have never used a grounding strap.

 

[rise]

i don't think this is the problem, just more of an fyi for you. i was looking at getting this mobo and was snooping around the dfi forums and they are apperantly adamant that one uses a 24 pin connector only. no adapter.

but like i said, i can't believe an adapter wouldn't allow you to post.

 

[edmundoab]

yeah will be getting a 24 pin PSU soon,
just wondering if thats the factor my DFI wont boot up
Ram tested fine on my other system

Video card is cool too.
CPU... I wouldn't know since it didn't boot

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You know... I don't know if I'm coming off as an a$$, but for the third time... did you take the motherboard out of the case like I suggested?

Your motherboard could be shorting out of the case and could prevent you from posting. It sounds like you still have the motherboard inside your case.


You can narrow it down to a hardware problem with good certainty if you do that.

Put the foam pad on top of your motherboard box and put your motherboard on it. Connect the powersupply, vid card, ram, and CPU. If it still doesn't work, you have a bad part and none of this is your fault.

I don't think I've ever killed a part with static electricity. I dropped a hard drive in my driveway once, and I had my computer fall out of the back of a van, but no static yet

Ehh.... I did understand you from the 1st time, but I am trying to do everything you said, EXCEPT taking the mobo out of the case. I am honestly AFRAID to power the mobo without the case becaue I dont have the foam pad you're talking about. Mabe I could use the antistatic bag that came with the mobo? But even so, I dont have any descent tables in my room that i can work on. so I'm doing all this on the floor. (no there is no carpet or anything on the floor. I just put some newspapers under the case so that it dont come in contact with the floor) Honestly, I'm freaked out by the idea of doing what you're asking. Imagine me on the floor with the monitor and an open case with powered mobo on top of it.... I dont think you're getting the picture here... Anyway I'll go and try to follow your other advices.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You don't need a foam pad, just something that doesn't conduct electricity.

You can keep the motherboard on its box in your lap if the floor idea bugs you . I guess I'm used to seeing computers outside of their cases so the idea doesn't bother me as much.

There's nothing magic in a computer case, it's just a metal box to keep the stuff inside . There are several people on AT that don't keep their computers in cases at all.

So, did you put all the motherboard standoffs between the board and the plate inside the case? Any problems with that? Do you think you could have done it wrong?

 

[rise]

y the initial fear of laying themobo out on phonebook or box is a little tough to overcome, but it's sound advice OP.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You don't need a foam pad, just something that doesn't conduct electricity.

You can keep the motherboard on its box in your lap if the floor idea bugs you . I guess I'm used to seeing computers outside of their cases so the idea doesn't bother me as much.

There's nothing magic in a computer case, it's just a metal box to keep the stuff inside . There are several people on AT that don't keep their computers in cases at all.

So, did you put all the motherboard standoffs between the board and the plate inside the case? Any problems with that? Do you think you could have done it wrong?

I doubt the mobo is shorting because I installed all the standoffs VERY carefully. They were brass standoffs included with the case. I put in the mobo first just like they say in the manual to see which holes in the mobo match the holes in the case. Then I installed the standoffs, put the mobo on top, and ccrewed it into place using supplied screws.
As for using the mobo outside of the case, sorry man but the idea of LIVE, high voltage electricity right next to me freaks me out. I know nothing about the rules of electricity and I dont know what is safe and what is not. I might sound like a chicken right now, but how can I mess with forces I dont comprehend? Once an electrician came to my house to repair something. He asked me to touch a live wire coming from a wall outlet to prove a point that I'm grounded because I'm standing on the floor. Hah? How does that help I wonder...
Anyway, the guy was clearly a pro. So I took his word for it and touched it. To my surprise I didnt die, because the guy clearly knew what he was talking about. But this time there's no one to stand here and make sure I dont kill myself.
Anyhow, I tried removing the Hd, and using one stick of ram.... nothing helps. still dead, with fans spinning. I'll expirement some more....

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
You don't need a foam pad, just something that doesn't conduct electricity.

You can keep the motherboard on its box in your lap if the floor idea bugs you . I guess I'm used to seeing computers outside of their cases so the idea doesn't bother me as much.

There's nothing magic in a computer case, it's just a metal box to keep the stuff inside . There are several people on AT that don't keep their computers in cases at all.

So, did you put all the motherboard standoffs between the board and the plate inside the case? Any problems with that? Do you think you could have done it wrong?

I doubt the mobo is shorting because I installed all the standoffs VERY carefully. They were brass standoffs included with the case. I put in the mobo first just like they say in the manual to see which holes in the mobo match the holes in the case. Then I installed the standoffs, put the mobo on top, and ccrewed it into place using supplied screws.
As for using the mobo outside of the case, sorry man but the idea of LIVE, high voltage electricity right next to me freaks me out. I know nothing about the rules of electricity and I dont know what is safe and what is not. I might sound like a chicken right now, but how can I mess with forces I dont comprehend? Once an electrician came to my house to repair something. He asked me to touch a live wire coming from a wall outlet to prove a point that I'm grounded because I'm standing on the floor. Hah? How does that help I wonder...
Anyway, the guy was clearly a pro. So I took his word for it and touched it. To my surprise I didnt die, because the guy clearly knew what he was talking about. But this time there's no one to stand here and make sure I dont kill myself.
Anyhow, I tried removing the Hd, and using one stick of ram.... nothing helps. still dead, with fans spinning. I'll expirement some more....

Ok, I understand. Don't want to make you do anything you don't want to. I don't think there's much "high voltage" going on with the computer though . If you don't open up your power supply I don't think you're in any danger at all. If you've ever accidentaly shocked yourself with a wall outlet, that's worse than anything you're going to get from any of these computer parts. It's not like you're fiddling with it when it's on or anything either. All the wires are insulated and connections have plastic around them.

 

[2Xtreme21]

My friend had nearly the exact same problem as you have. Try this:

Your DIMM (RAM) slots are arranged like so (looking at it with the processor on the bottom):
12 34
|| ||
|| ||
|| ||

Put ONE DIMM in slot "3," making sure you press fairly hard, and then see if it will POST.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: 2Xtreme21
My friend had nearly the exact same problem as you have. Try this:

Your DIMM (RAM) slots are arranged like so (looking at it with the processor on the bottom):
12 34
|| ||
|| ||
|| ||

Put ONE DIMM in slot "3," making sure you press fairly hard, and then see if it will POST.

just tried that.... tried one dimm in slot 3... nothing. then tried one dimm in slot 4... nothing. tries 1 and 2... same. tried without HD.. nothing.
My mobo has diagnostic LEDS in the lower left corner. according to my manual's diagram(if I read it correctly)
if all 4 leds are on, it means system startup.
3 LEDs means CPU detected
2 - DRAM detected
1 - VGA detected
none - system bootup
well in my case, all 4 are on and burning red. If I understand correctly, it doesnt even detect my CPU. I wonder is anyone with the same mobo can confirm the info about the LEDs.
I appreciate your help people, but I am left with no options at this point but to have someone else do this thing for me. ZipZoomFly does not give a long time to return merchandise, so I have to make sure if I dont have anything defective and I cannot confirm, because I will not run my mobo outside of the case.

Someday, when I'll have a descent paying job, I'll take some classes and mabe even get an A+ certification. Then I'll buy a whole bunch of computer parts and build PCs untill I learn how to do this stuff right....