BIOS wont even come up!!!

[BG4533]

I recently upgraded my system and have now ran into a lot of problems. After
setting the new motherboard, processor, etc up I attempted to turn it on,
but when I did nothing seemed to happen. I looked closer and noticed the
drives were spinning, heatsink and motherboard and video card fans were on,
but nothing was coming up on the monitor. The BIOS screen never came up.
This is the problem that exists now that I cant figure out.

The previous system was a Duron 700, Abit KT7, 256MB PC133, MSI GF4 MX 440,
Antec 300W PSU, etc.
The upgrade was to a AMD XP1700, MSI KT3 Ultra2-R, and 256MB PC3000.

After the upgraded system did not work, I attempted to revert to the old
system, but I then got the same problem with it. I do not have a clue what
caused it, but at the time I presumed it was the PSU.

In attempting to fix this system so far I have tried everything I can.
I have done this with both the old and new setup, with no change in
functionality.
-I have used swapped out the PSU with an Antec 350W unit I have, did nothing.
-Using an old pentium 2 system I have, I verified the 350W PSU, graphics
card, and the PC133 memory worked.
-I have tried numerous other video cards and monitors that I know work, but
still have the same problem.
-I have no way of testing the original PSU, and I am afraid of plugging it
into the P2 system.

What is the minimum that must be hooked up to a motherboard for the BIOS
screen to show up?
-I have tried running the system with only, the video card and motherboard,
but it didnt change anything.
-I have also tried running without memory, with processor and without
processor, with memory.

If I buy a new board can a processor fry it?
And if I buy a new processor can a board fry it?

Anyone have any other ideas on how to fix this?

I would like to just scrap it and start over, but I dont have the money now,
so I need to find out the minimum I have to buy if any to make it work.

Thanks.

 

[DieHardware]

Have you checked if the MB is grounding out on the case? ATX connector plugged in all the way? Double checked the correct orientation of all cables(floppy?), and the HSF(plugged into the CPU fan header? RPM sensor?)? Are the jumpers(CMOS) set correctly? The RAM and videocard seated properly? My $0.02. Edit:spelling

 

[mechBgon]

So... neither the old board/CPU/RAM nor the new board/CPU/RAM work with the PSU that used to work on the old setup. Try taking the motherboard out of the case, look very closely at the seating of the RAM and video card (did you get the AGP card down past the second layer of contacts? Push REAL hard on it and rock it) and use the 350W PSU. Make sure you're not putting the heatsink on 180° backwards, which is guaranteed to cause major problems (the step cut into one end of the heatsink's base must match the solid end of the CPU socket). Good luck.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: DieHardware
Have you checked if the MB is grounging out on the case? ATX connector plugged in all the way? Double checked the correct orientation of all cables(floppy?), and the HSF(plugged into the CPU fan header? RPM sensor?)? Are the jumpers(CMOS) set correctly? The RAM and videocard seated properly? My $0.02.

And a very valuable .02$ it is. You should normally check all these things after upgrading any major component in your system (never know if you knocked something out or loose).

 

[nealh]

Groundings are important..when I replaced a mobo..some of the old brass standoffs did not match any holes and forgot they were there and I got the same problem....

also very important make sure you clear the CMOS as well...I placed a new HSF and hate take the cpu etc and forgot to clear cmos and nothing happened and I ws s*itting twinkies till I cleared the cmos and boom all worked..I thought i crushed my cpu or something

 

[BG4533]

I have tried all of this. Still no luck. Everything seems to be grounded right. No drives are hooked up, so cable orientation isnt the problem. The CMOS has been reset many times now. Everything is in right.

Any other suggestions?

 

[DieHardware]

Any beeps? Checked for bent pins in the VGA connector? Tried a different monitor?

 

[TourGuide]

I had this same thing and I had a GF4 that went bad on me.

When I swapped a GF3 I had in, BAM everything booted up fine. Try a different (read, known working) video card.

 

[Mallow]

this forum makes me think too much... (goes back over to the hot deals forum )

 

[BG4533]

No beeps from the speaker. I have tried 3 monitors and 4 video cards, all monitors and video cards work in other systems.