Computer problem...I'm loosing some hair...

[eyestorage]

Hey everybody, I've been reading the forums for a while...you guys are awesome!

Here's the problem:

Back in November I left my computer on overnight, only to find it off in the morning (there were no storms that night, and the power never went off at the house because none of the clocks were reset). Well, I thought "No problem, most have surged...I'll just turn it back on." Nope...it never turned on after that.

First things first, I checked the plug and tried in a different outlet, swapped out two other PSU's that I know work, tried different power cables, uplugged my CD-Rom drives, my PCI cards, my video card (each of these were done separately, trying to start it after each were pulled), floppy drive, hard drives were pulled, re-seated and swapped-out RAM, pulled the whole system out of case (barebones) and tried to boot on a sheet of cardboard. Guess what...nothing happened. No beeps, no HD movement, no display, and not a single twitch of any fan (including CPU fan).

Naturally now..."It's the mobo." I bought an Asus P4S800D-X and plopped that puppy in there. The mobo now has an LED light on it letting me know if there is any power making it there. Re-installed everything and praying at the same time...turned the PSU on...little LED on mobo lite up (Yayyy)...hit the power button... aaaannnddd...nothing. Again, not a twitch of anything (fans, HDs, no display, no beeps). Tried EVERYTHING that I did on the original mobo (including barebones boot outside the case) and the exact same thing. Oh-yeah, also re-seated the CPU (just in case).

Well, there you have it...sorry the post was so long, but I wanted to be thorough and not have to annoy you guys with left-out info (even though I'm sure there'll be some). I appreciate any help. Here's the system specs:

P4 2.53ghz (478 socket)
Asus P4S800D-X Mobo
1gb RAM (2x512)
2x100GB WD 7200 HD's
Nvidia GPU (6200)
Usual DVD drive and CD-R drive
Realtek Ethernet Card
Antec 350watt PSU
Windows XP SP2

Thanks for all those that read and help...

 

[mechBgon]

Maybe your case's power button is haywire. Try making direct momentary contact between the two pins that the power-button wire normally plugs into, using a screwdriver tip or whatnot. For most ASUS boards from recent times, that means the two pins marked as "ATX Power Switch" in this pic from an Asus manual. Note that the silk-screened markings on the mobo might seem to indicate the upper row, but that's wrong, they're on the lower row.

Welcome to the Forums, hope it's something simple like this and not something crazy

 

[eyestorage]

Thanks for the quick reply mechBgon! Well, I tried the connection with direct wire to wire and two different screwdriver tips (just in case). Neither of them started-up or twitched anything. I thought that it might have been the power switch myself, but only one store carries switches around me and they don't open until Monday.

I really don't know what else it could be...I wouldn't think the mobo, considering that it's doing the EXACT same thing as the old mobo. Could it possibly be the CPU...can they cause something like that? I would figure it would atleast turn a fan or something though.

Thanks again

 

[wanderer27]

I would try unplugging all your Auxilary connectors - beep speaker, reset, power, etc. - basically all the connectors that go on the bare pins.

Try powering up with just the power connector hooked up. If that doesn't work, remove the power connector and try using the reset connector on the power connector pins - you'll be pressing the reset to attempt power on in this case.

I'd try to do this with minimal periph's hooked up (sound, nic, etc.). Most likely you'll have to have the Video Card.

Another thing to check is the CPU fan plug and connector. Make sure nothing looks wrong with either. I don't think things will start up if your CPU fan is inoperative.

Last thing I can thing of is if you have multiple RAM sticks, try just using one at a time.

 

[mechBgon]

Also, make sure you didn't forget to plug in your ATX12V power cable.

 

[eyestorage]

Well, I've tried booting with just the power connectors to the system panel and then just the reset button hooked (no speakers or LEDs) and it hasn't worked. The ATX 12v power cable is connected (and has been disconnected and reconnected numerous number of times just to be sure). I haven't, however, tried a different fan for the CPU...I'll scrounge one up and see what I can do with it. Thanks everyone.

 

[golgotha]

Maybe your CPU fan died?

 

[boomerang]

Reset your CMOS following the directions in the manual.

I've resurrected many a "dead" board this way.

 

[eyestorage]

Okay, an update:

I've found an extra fan to swap the CPU fan with to see if we have a problem with that and I also did as boomerang has suggested and reset the CMOS. Neither one of these worked after trying numerous was to start-up (two different power switches and a flatblade screw-driver to make contact with PWRSW pins on system panel). Still the same results...no sounds/HD movement/ or fan movement. The LED on the mobo still lights-up quick and no hesitation.

So, after two PSUs, two mobos, three different power switches, different CPU fan, re-seating EVERYTHING about 10 times, resetting CMOS (or attempting to anyways, couldn't finish because of no boot), different RAM, and out of the case attempts; nothing works still.

The only thing left is the that the CPU and I don't have a spare one lying around that fits this socket. Is there anyway of telling if it's okay by visual inspection?? And wouldn't a fan/HD turn if it was just the CPU? Thanks again...

 

[boomerang]

I've never seen a bad CPU, but I would think that visually, scorches, burn marks or a chip in the core itself would be the only indicators in your case. A pin could be broken off, but I'd think you'd have noticed that.

You've run through everything several times and at this point, it has to be the processor. You could pick up a Celeron D the cheapest for a test. Your board supports it. Other than borrowing someone's CPU for a test, I think it's your only option.

 

[eyestorage]

I appreciate everyone's help, hopefully I can fix this. This is my main computer, but after not having it work since Thanksgiving I broke down and bought a new rig:

Antec True-Power II 550watt
Opty 148
Epox EP-9npa+Ultra (not 9npa3)
eVGA 7800gt 256mb CO (470x1100 stock)
OCZ 3200 Value Ram (2x512)
NZXT Nemesis case (3x120mm fans---Panaflo)
ThermalRight XP-90 with 92mm Panaflo
Arctic Silver TGrease
Windows XP SP2 Home OEM
Might get an Audigy 2 ZS or Xtreme Music later on
Using existing HD's/DVD Player-burner/CD burners
For a total of $1038.12 not too bad I guess--

I might pick-up a Celeron D 3.06ghz off of T*g*rd*r*ct...going for $57 after s/h and MIR. I'm gonna' hold-out for a couple of days first though.

Any other input is welcome with my "mystery setup". Thanks for the help everyone!!

 

[eyestorage]

*bump*

 

[eyestorage]

uno mas *bump*-o and that's it