Booting/power problems

[kouter]

I recently bought a DVD-RW, and installed it. Everything booted up cool, except that BIOS didn't find one of my harddrives, so I shut the computer off. I made sure all connections were in secure, which they were, and rebooted. Except...nothing happened, nothing, no lights, no sounds, no fans, etc.

All the hardware works in another computer, however, no matter what I do, my problem computer won't turn on.

I have cleared CMOS, taken the battery out and replaced it, tried a different PSU, I have tried jumpstarting as well.

Here's the weird thing - I plugged in a USB neon light, and it works - which can only mean that power is still running through the board.

Even weirder, my nForce chip is burning up - and my computer hasn't been on for 2 1/2 days (I took out the power cord after I found this out).

WTF is wrong?!

Shuttle XPC SN85G4 v3
FN85 mobo
3000+ Clawhammer
1GB Corsair DDR400
300GB SATA WD
80GB IDE WD
NEC DVD-RW
Radeon 8500
Onboard LAN/Sound

 

[Valkerie]

I've got a few sums

-jumper configuration
-BIOS configuration

-faulty mobo (can happen anytime to anyone)
-you mentioned it was heating up? what's the temp read in the room you're in as well as inside the chassis?

-PSU is overloaded and will refuse to provide power to all parts inside chassis

 

[kouter]

All jumpers are back

BIOS has been cleared

nothing to say about the mobo

Just the chip is heating up, nothing else is getting hot. and I mean hot, like not being able to touch it for more than 2 seconds

Currently, I only have the SATA hdd plugged in...still nothing.

 

[kouter]

bump

 

[kouter]

Is it a possibility that my nForce chip has been completely burnt. I am not 100% certain, but I may have smelt burning computer after the first and only successful boot after DVD-RW installation.

 

[Bozo Galora]

are you saying the nforce chip is buring up with PC off, but with PSU power plug in???
In other words power getting to mobo with PC off.

if so, you may want to check that the little switch/reset series ore installed on the right pins on the front panel electrical block, + and -
Also the ATX 20/24 pin molex in right orientation - I am unfamiliar with your mobo.

 

[kouter]

All the switches are in a single cluster, and the pins match up exactly to the mobo pins

and yes, PC off, PSU cord in (no PSU on/off switch though), nForce is still getting power and burning up

the ATX power was connected as shuttle had it connected (which was the setup that worked for a month prior) when it started doing this.

 

[Insidious]

Some power is normally supplied to a motherboard even when the PC is turned off. BUT it should not be causing hot components as you describe. I believe your motherboard has failed. I don't have a good guess if the motherboard failed on it's own, or if some other problem component caused it. (Look for signs of overheating (discoloration) on all the card and power connector contacts for clues.)

If you have a mis-inserted PCI card or RAM stick, you might save it by disassembling your computer and re-assembling it with care... but doubtful.

-Sid

edit: you said all the hardware works in another computer.... ALL of it? if so, you have almost certainly have a card inserted improperly or you have accidentally shorted something on the motherboard to the mounting stand-offs in your case. What happens if you run your motherboard NOT mounted in the case.... (all cards installed and all connections made.... just not mounted in the case? Also, now that you have found the hot northbridge..... try it again... does ALL the hardware still work in another installation?

 

[kouter]

I have removed the motherboard, and put it back in the case myself at least once (checking for something underneath the board).

I've also, removed, and reinstalled the hardware at least 3-5 times. And even so, the computer booted as it was one time, but didn't recognize the IDE hdd. No components were pulled after shutdown, but it won't turn on after that.

I've moved the hardware into my old computer twice now, and it works just fine...all of it (except the processor, due to differing socket sizes)

And as for checking for discoloration, everything looks fine, but I can't get to the northbridge because of the heatspreader.

I did find it odd, but the Shuttle PSU - ATX connector is missing one pin/wire, while all my other power supplies have all of them. This couldn't be it, could it?

 

[Bozo Galora]

Since the Shuttle system is a SFF (small form factor) that has its own rather minimal PSU (Silent X 240W PSU ), I assume you are not using a regular PSU.
SFF has a dif ATX specification with dif wiring.
Since all the components work It can only be
Bad mobo
Bad or wrong PSU
Improper connection.

The fact you added another load - the DVD Burner - blew things seems to point to too much power draw.
http://www.xoxide.com/sfxmismfofa.html
http://www.provantage.com/buy-7SHCO014-...shuttle-computer-sn85g4v3-shopping.htm

Notice here it says "Shuttle custom form factor ATX specification"
http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?cid=26&id=1594

 

[kouter]

I'm gonna give shuttle RMA a shot, see if I can't talk them into a new motherboard