Computer will not start or boot.....

[Tango2201]

A7V8X-X motherboard
AMD 1.4 Ghz T-Bird
256DDR PC2100
Radeon 9200SE 8X/4X
40GB Maxtor

After plugging everything in, I tried starting the system but it would just stay on for about a second and shut off. I wouldn't be able to attempt to turn it on again unless I unplug the cord. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[FrequencyX]

Thunderbird Procs have a tendancy to run pretty hot. I would doublecheck your heatsink/fan . Did you apply thermal grease ? Or is the thermal pad in good shape? Kindof sounds like overheating to me.

 

[guidot]

My old T-bird ran at about 150 deg at idle.

 

[mechBgon]

Tango2201, start by checking your heatsink's direction compared to the third and fourth photos on this page. Also, you have some thermal grease or a thermal patch to transfer the heat from the CPU core to the heatsink, right?

Those symptoms could also be caused by a short-circuit condition and here are some possible causes to check:

• the mobo is not mounted on top of standoffs and therefore the underside is grounding out on the case
• the springy EMI contacts shown in the last three photos on that page are getting into the USB or network jacks and shorting them out (easy to check visually)
• the case has front-USB outlets but their cable is wired funky and so they're shorting out the mobo's header (unplug the case's front outlets as a fact-finding step)

Check those and see if I hit paydirt somewhere in there

 

[Tango2201]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Tango2201, start by checking your heatsink's direction compared to the third and fourth photos on this page. Also, you have some thermal grease or a thermal patch to transfer the heat from the CPU core to the heatsink, right?

Those symptoms could also be caused by a short-circuit condition and here are some possible causes to check:

• the mobo is not mounted on top of standoffs and therefore the underside is grounding out on the case
• the springy EMI contacts shown in the last three photos on that page are getting into the USB or network jacks and shorting them out (easy to check visually)
• the case has front-USB outlets but their cable is wired funky and so they're shorting out the mobo's header (unplug the case's front outlets as a fact-finding step)

Check those and see if I hit paydirt somewhere in there

I tried most of the things you said and had the same outcome. I will try to boot the system with the mobo outside the case now and see how that works. I sure hope that the CPU is not fried or anything else for that matter. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Tango2201]

^

 

[Fern]

I will try to boot the system with the mobo outside the case now and see how that works.

Well, did you try that?

Fern