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Building Computer - Won't boot. Please Help!

T

TheBends

Member
It's been a couple years since I last built a computer and I am running into a problem with a new one I am currently building. Here are the parts I have purchased:

P4 2.8C
ASUS P4P800SE
Radeon 9600XT 128
NEC ND-2500A
Maxtor 120gig HD
1 Stick of Crucial DDRAM 512mb DDR400 (PC3200)
XDreamer II ATX Case (which appears to not have a PC speaker so I can not hear error beeps)

Built the system and can't get it to boot. I get no video, no spinning hardrive and the DVD drive will not even open with the power on. If I unplug the IDE cable from the DVD drive it will allow me to open the bay.

Could my problem be that I am not using the ram in pairs? I thought one stick would do but after reading the manual it sounds like it must be used in pairs? Would not having the correct memory cause the system not not even boot with video? Someone here at work told me that Crucial was not certified memory for that motherboard but I don't think that is my problem.

Could the motherboard be defective? I have never seen a situation where the DVD drive would not open unless I unplug the IDE cable.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I lost a lot of sleep last night thinking about what could be wrong.

Thanks,
Chris
 
What happens if you try the system with just CPU, RAM, and Video card? Every system should be able to boot (that is, POST) with just those components. Yank a PC Speaker from another case to get your beep codes.

PC3200 RAM doesn't need to be installed in pairs. However, you might check the manual to be sure the RAM is in bank 0, slot 0.
 
I have not tried just the CPU, RAM and Video Card. I had all three of those plus the Harddrive at one time. No luck.
When I get home tonight I do plan on hooking up a speaker from an old case to see if I get anything.

So, from your comments it sounds like if I still don't get any video with just CPU, RAM and Video Card that I may have to RMA the motherboard?

I was hoping my problem would be that I just needed to buy another stick of memory.

I am really bumming because I was so looking forward to playing with my new computer this weekend.

Thanks for you input.
Chris
 
The next thing to try would be to pull the board out of the case, lay it on some cardboard and see if it will work there.

You can follow the same procedure, just processor, memory and video card. Uh, hook up the power supply too. 🙂

Start the system by momentarily shorting across the pins on the mobo the power switch would connect to.
 
Sorry for the ignorance but why would I want to try the MB out of the case? Do you think something could be shorting it out? A standoff or something?
 
You are looking for fundamentals. Taking the board out of the case and laying it out on cardboard, or a raw plywood sheet (unpainted) will get you there. sometimes a motherboard and case do not like each other, or you have made a mistake that will become apparent if it works out of the case. I would go further, and try an old video card you know works, whether PCI or AGP, and try a module of memory from another system you know works.

We all make unbelieveable mistakes in setting up these systems. The way these guys recommended helps get you out of your mode. It is difficult to fix anything when you are frustrated and confused.
 
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