computer turns on for a half a second, then nothing *Fixed but new problem now*

[sirstarvsalot]

This is my first time building a computer (P3C w/ Asus P4C800 mobo, Antec 350 Watt PS), so there are tons of places were I could have messed up. This is what I have done so far:

1) Apply thermal compound to CPU and Heatsink (did not do the best job, the compound kept sticking to the card I was applying it with)
2) Put in the cpu
3) Put in Heatsink
4) Put in both sticks of ocz ddr 400 ram
5) Mounted motherboard
6) Plugged in main powere connector to board, and the power switch and fan plugs (didn't plug anything else in besides those, didn't touch the jumpers (I read the mobo manual about the jumps sounded like they were all just for optional settings.)

So all I have in is psu, mobo, cpu, and ram. I plug in only power and sound to and power it up. It comes on for half a second, starts to give me and error message saying "No...." (my mobo has vocal POST errors) and just turns off. All the fans start spinning, and the light on the power supply comes on awell. I tried about four more times, all the same.

So what could be causing this to happen? Is my CPU getting so hot in .5 seconds that it has to turn off to not overheat? Even if I applyed the thermal compound poorly, It coulnd't have fried that quickly can it have? I'm really at a loss of what to do here. Any help would be appreciated. Hopefully its just something really stupid I forgot.

 

[Viper96720]

Try using one stick of ram and make sure cpu fan is plugged in cpu fan header. Did you plug the 12v plug? Looks like a square plug. Right between the cpu and memory. The cpu fan plug is right there also. Ocz ram has been known to not run at the speeds they say it should.

 

[wtfiwwm]

what about graphics card? my computer is completly dead without it.

 

[sirstarvsalot]

My next step is to try the video card. viper, I'm not sure exactly sure the 12v is plugged in, I'll check for that. Some one at school told me to plug in the 4 pin cord coming from the psu to the mobo. Is that the same as the 12v?

 

[Viper96720]

Your error message is saying no...............so I was thinking something isn't connected that should be. Try going step by step with the manual.
Yes that's the 12v atx plug. Put everything needed to boot up and leave out any extras you may have. Like a modem or tv tuner card etc... Try clearing your cmos
If your video card wasn't seated good. The computer should still boot up. Just would get a no signal message from the monitor. Try reseating the memory, cpu and video card.
Check over all the jumpers. Do this with the board out. Then when you get it working install it in the case.

 

[dullard]

When I've seen that behavior in the past (twice) it was the power supply thinking it was overheating. Is the fan free of obtrusions, and does it spin up properly?

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Ok fixed that problem that God. I didn't have the 12v atx plug in, must have missed that in the manual. But I have a diffrent and potentially way worse problem. I get the error message "No cpu installed". It says that about five times then it says that I failed the cpu test. The CPU is definatly in. Could it be fried or something? how could it have happend so fast? The computer hasn't been on for more than .5 seconds ever before I got this message. Could I have fried it by not grounding myself, I tried to remember to ground my self but I probably didn't once or twice before I touched the CPU. Could I have put to much thermal compound on and it got into the cpu pins some how? I also heard that asus mother boards have this problem some times, of saying no cpu installed when it really is. http://www.sysopt.com/userreviews/mboards/reviewhtml/AsusTek_P4S533.html see that as a refrence. Any ideas on if im screwed or not?

 

[MercenaryForHire]

You have to really b0rk the thermal compound application in order for it to do that.

I smell a loose cable. Something's not plugged in properly, far enough, tight enough, etc. Check your ATX12v, the fan monitor cable (make sure it's in the plug labeled "CPU FAN") - and what is your vidcard?

- M4H

 

[sirstarvsalot]

no video card in there as of now, I heard that might be a problem, but SHOULDN'T be causing this problem

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Just checked everything, and everything seems to be in right. Fan is in the right spot and all power cables are in right. What are the chances I fried the chip by not grounding myself properly?

Edit: My friend says its probably not seated right, or in all the way. How likely is this, because I lifted the lever, put it on and the cpu just fell down. I closed the lever and that was that. Should anything have clicked? I'm gonna go check it out, but I rather that be my last resort, because it's a huge hassel to take it out and then take the heatsink off.

 

[Hardtarget]

very minimal....
that is pretty weird.. could be a chance that it was broke right out of the box though

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Originally posted by: Hardtarget
very minimal....
that is pretty weird.. could be a chance that it was broke right out of the box though

that is not what I wanted to hear. I heard googlegear doesn't have the best return policy....If it is broken Ill just go right to intel probably.

 

[Viper96720]

Removing the heatsink and pull up the lever and remove the cpu make sure the arrow in the corner of the cpu is next to the hinge of the lever.

 

[Viper96720]

Your cpu shouldn't fry intel has thermal protection. Make sure all your cpu pins are straight.

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Im about to take the cpu out now. But the marked edge is by the lever (I dont have an arrow, but there is a hole in the corner). I checked before I put it in, all the pins were straight, as least as far as I could tell.

 

[Viper96720]

Where's your cpu fan plugged?

 

[sirstarvsalot]

In the slot that says cpu fan right next to it...that better be the right one...

edit: just realized I had the power fan in the wrong place, that shouldn't have given me that eror though. Id test it agian, but the mobo is out of the case now...

 

[Viper96720]

Yep you need a fan plugged into the cpu fan header. Between the memory and cpu. Otherwise you'll get failed cpu test. Ttry turning it off and on a couple of times. Chek your voltages in the bios. Powersupply could be bad. Make sure the board isn't shorted. Lay it on something non conductive like wood.
Failed cpu test seems like something common with asus boards.

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Well, big revalation, took the heatsink off, and the cpu came up with it, not attached to it, just flew up sort of. I looked at the zif slot, and the lever was down. Could my zif slot be broken? I have alot of thermal compound build up around the edges of the cpu. Should I scrape that off, and i have a VERY thin amount left on my heatsink, I can see the brass bottom a little bit. Should I put more on it or no?

 

[sirstarvsalot]

Anyone heard of the cpu just coming out like that?

 

[NelsonMuntz]

Sounds to me like it wasn't seated properly...

 

[Viper96720]

Lift the lever all the way and put the cpu in. You'll be able to tell it's in will be touching the socket. Should feel slight resistance when closing the lever.