Built My First Computer - Won't even power up! HELP!

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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
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0
Okay I just finished building my first computer I've ever built last night. I've been trying for hours to figure out why it won't power up. Absolutely nothing happens when I hit the power button.

If it's important for me to post my system specs I will if someone tells me too.

But I've checked the power supply to the motherboard 50 times. The case I bought came with a power supply in it so I can't get in there to check that. The power supply is set to 115V.

The only thing I can think of is that the buttons on the front with all the LED lights and things are plugged in wrong, but I don't even think they are. I'll post what each cord says on it and can you tell me which one is the power supply and such?
They are:
DC SW
Reset SW
Speaker
Power LED
H.D.D. LED

Just those 5.

Help, I know I didn't post much - ask me questions and I'll answer them.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
The motherboard manual sorta sucks. Or else the labels suck.

The mothboard manual gives me slots for:
SMI
POW-ON
HDD-LED
POWER-LED
SUSPEND-LED
SPEAKER
RESET

So I'm assuming it goes like this

SMI = nothing
POW-ON = DC SW
HDD-LED = H.D.D. LED
POWER-LED = Power LED
SUSPEND-LED = nothing
SPEAKER = Speaked
RESET = Reset SW
 
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Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
1
0
The DC SW is the only one that MUST be plugged in. That's what allows the switch on the front of the case to power up the power supply.

1) is that DC SW cable plugged into the correct pins? Check the motherboard manual.

2) is there a power-switch on the power supply at the back of the computer. If so, is it ON or OFF?

3) is the large bundle of cable from the power supply plugged in all the way to the ATX connector on the motherboard?

amish
 
UberNeuman

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
Start with just the Power On wire and find the slot on your motherboard. Make such you didn't hit the switch on the back of the power supply - shuting it off...

Keep pluging the wire in and switching the power on until you find its proper place on the board...
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Thanks for the help guys. I've been doing this and I'm pretty positive I have the power on the right part - I've tested a bunch anyway. Also, does the circle or the line on the switch on the back of the computer stand for power on? It's been bugging me even though I've tried both. It just bugs me because I can't think of which one means power on.

Oh well, I'll keep trying. Thanks for the ideas and if anynoe else has an idea it would be very helpful.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
I have an ABit KR7A. I'm going to take some pictures soon and upload them so you can help me I think.

I plugged in the graphics card, sound card, and NIC already, I don't know if that's good or bad.

I also have a CDRW, DVD, floppy, and one HD connected.
 
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owensdj

Golden Member
Jul 14, 2000
1,711
6
81
apemanttt, whenever you have a problem getting a computer you're building to power-up, you should disconnect everything you possibly can. Try powering on your system with just the power connections and the power switch connected to your mainboard with no cards plugged in but the video card.

I had that happen once. It turned out that the mainboard manual had the pin configuration for the power, reset, etc. connections upside down.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Yeah I've only tried one outlet, but it works becuase my printer was working off that same outlet and plug in last night.

I'm putting some pictures up - I don't know if they will even help.
 
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Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
3,758
4
81
First of all check the power switch in the back. I know this seems elementary but I gotta do this because i didnt put it together. Next make sure the power is on 115 and not any higher. Next check the pinouts on the mobo. Also check the clear cmos pins. One more thing, do you have a power supply that will run this board? Just a couple of questions for ya to ask your self.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
owen, I think I'm going to try your suggestion. Here are the pictures:

http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140010.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140011.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140012.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140013.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140014.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140015.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140016.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140017.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140018.JPG
http://www.geocities.com/dlindhol2000/P6140019.JPG
 
bigboxes

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,838
12,341
146
Well, assuming that you have got the case wiring properly seated on the proper mb headers, and you have checked to make sure that the psu is properly seated in the mb connector, then just try to start your pc with nothing more than your video card and go from there.
 
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Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
3,758
4
81
do you have power to the mobo? does the leds come on on the mobo? if not your mobo is not getting power. if you have yahoo messenger send me a message at stello_23 I will help as much as possible. i have this board so i am probably gonna be able to fix your problem
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Sorry but what exactly are the clear CMOS pins? This board is jumperless too by the way.

It's set to 115V. I can't really get to the power supply. It's 300W - hopefully enough.

Thanks guys for helping so far - it really has been kind of you - we can get it, please keep helping!
 
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Tbirdkid

Diamond Member
Apr 16, 2002
3,758
4
81
right by the battery is three pins. if you put it on the two inside towards the pci slots i believe that is the running way if they are closest to the front of the case that is the clear cmos way. look at it real close it is the only jumpers on the board.
 
bigboxes

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,838
12,341
146
Again, you will have to read your manual to identify the location of the CMOS jumpers. Usually it is a set of three pins on the mb and two are connected by a jumper. You reset the CMOS by moving the jumper from one pair of pins to another pair of pins and leave for a couple of seconds and then move the jumper back to its original position.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Yes! I think the jumper was on the wrong ones!

I'm switching it and I'll see if it works!

Thanks so much guys, especially stello!
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Stello is the man! The CMOS jumper was et wrong, so now we got the mobo powered but I can't get the computer running still. I'm just moving around the power cords and things now.

Thanks again guys
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
Okay this is how I'm setting up the pins now
Does it seem right?

SMI = nothing
POW-ON = DC SW
HDD-LED = H.D.D. LED
POWER-LED = Power LED
SUSPEND-LED = nothing
SPEAKER = Speaked
RESET = Reset SW


 
bigboxes

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,838
12,341
146
Yeah, looks like you have the case wires hooked up properly.

Now, start with just your video card, get into your mb bios, make the proper settings for your cpu, memory and such.
 
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apemanttt

Member
May 31, 2002
185
0
0
:(Well I can get the light on the mobo lit up - the orange light - meaning my mobo is powered. But the power switch will not do anything, the fans won't start, the LEDs won't light up. I don't understand what could be wrong.

Hmmph.
 
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RamzaBeoulve

Senior member
Dec 15, 2001
225
0
0
If the LEDs don't work, then you have the LED jumpers on upside down. I made the same mistake with my computer :p
 
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