chaintech 7aja2 motherboard (please help)

[mrlugal]

I just received my chaintech motherboard from computergeeks.com and I can't get much activity out of it.

It's powering up with fan action, but no beeps. There is an led light on the motherboard that is red. I'm not sure if this means there is something wrong or what. I can't find a reference to it in the manual.

I originally thought it might be grounded, so I currently have it on the package it came in with still no luck. I also tried clearing cmos.

I have nothing hooked up to it but for the led lights, 256 ram (133), riva tnt2 agp video card, and an Athlon Socket A 1400mhz thunderbird w/fan.

Any ideas?

 

[Buz2b]

Probably not much help but at least a couple of shots in the dark. First, what size is your PS and how old is it? Any chance to try another? Second, (and only because I just was involved in a thread where it happened), double check the location of your PWR switch connections on the MB. If you don't have it on the correct ones, this exact thing would happen. Third, make sure you are plugging in the CPU/HS fan into the one that it is designated for on the MB. Also, make sure the fan that you are using for it is turning more than 2500 (or so) rpm's. Sometimes there is a low rpm sensor on the CPU fan header that will cause this.
The only other possible cause (at least that I know of) would be a bad CPU or incorrect installation of such.
Well, that's about the limit of my suggestions. LMK how it goes and what you find out. Good Luck!

 

[mrlugal]

My power supply is 300w and within 3months old. It worked fine with my ecs k7s5a motherboard. I do not have another, but it meets the specs in the mobo manual.
The power switch (I'm assuming you mean the switch used by the atx case to power on) is in the correct jumper.
The fan is in the correct mb location.
I just took the processor, ram, etc and put it back in my ecs k7s5a and it booted up normally.

I looked more closely at the mobo and there are two led lights. One - I assume - is green and lights up when it is functioning properly.

 

[Buz2b]

Damn! Sounds like you've covered about all the bases I can think of at this time. I'll get back to you if I think of any others and will monitor to see if you get this working. I guess right now it is beginning to look like it is a bad MB and you might have to RMA. I hope not but that is where it is heading. You've been pretty thorough in your testing methodology.

 

[EXman]

You and me were stuck together... I just had to RMA my first compgeeks order... a 4600ti too

call in the morning ask for robert and tell him you want a RMA #. if you do a RMA by e-mail it will take much longer. good luck

 

[clumsum]

mrlugal,

You may try changing your external mb jumper settings to 100MHz for the FSB & CPU if your mb is so equipped and then try to post it.
Just use one stick of memory and try different dimms.
Try changing ALL the other external jumpers to a different pin setting ....... one at a time ...... this has worked for me, with a different Chaintech mb ............. ?

Good luck,

 

[mrlugal]

The jumper for the FSB is soddered (sp?) to 100mhz for this particular model and can't be changed.

I tried the ram and pin suggestions with no luck. I'll probably call in the morning and ask for an rma.

 

[mrlugal]

I just gave it one more wishful try, and it actually reached post. There must have been something loose somewhere. (Most likely ram)

Unfortunately, windows xp is now giving me a blue screen of death on startup. It says something about different hard drive controllers and that I need to remove them if I've installed them. I'll have to re-install xp and hope it goes away.

 

[Buz2b]

I'll have to re-install xp and hope it goes away.

Why not try loading (if you haven't already) the drivers from the CD that came with the MB. XP should overwrite and ignore the troublesome drivers then.
Hmmm, from rereading your post, maybe you can't get to a screen to load the drivers. As a side note, it sounds now like your trouble is with the RAM. Try pulling and reseating the one that is working now a few times. Don't just do it once, do it several times to be sure of a good contact.

 

[clumsum]

Now that it's posting .......... underclock the system and load the os ............ then you can change things and tweek it!