Computer won't post

[wahhee]

I recently built a computer and had it run perfectly fine for 4 days, except for my processor running a little hot (around 47-51C at 100 FSB and 54-57C at 133FSB). I realized that it was definately the heatsink and reseated it (it was on backwards and the thermal pad wasn't completely centered on the processor). While I had my case open, I added my new IDE controller card, new lan card, and new harddrive. But when I flipped on the power, the fans started up, all my drives (except for my floppy) started spinning, but it would not post. No video output, no beeps, nothing! Of course I immediately unplugged everything and went to the minimum (video card, motherboard, processor, heatsink, ram, pc speaker) and it still would not do anything except spin the power supply and heatsink fans. The keyboard didn't light up either at anytime in the past few days while working on it. (People keep asking me about the keyboard lights, but I'm not sure why that's important.)


Here's the specs of all the hardware I'm using:
K7S5A motherboard (version 4 w/ onboard lan, newest ecs bios that was running fine)
Athlon XP 1800+ with retail packed heatsink
Centon 256MB DDR2100
GeForce2 MX400 AGP 4x
Linkworld 400W Power Supply
Proview 17in CRT monitor

and the rest:
Maxtor 60GB 7200 rpm
Maxtor 80GB 7200 rpm
HP 9150i cd-writer
Generic floppy drive (Samsung I believe)
2-80mm case fans


Swapped out parts:
BioStar MVIF KT333 Motherboard (new, returned to the store and they verified that it worked)
Duron 1000 MHz (new OEM)
Voodoo Banshee AGP card
Antec PP-403x 400W power supply (new)
Crucial 256MB PC133 Sdram



I've spent the longest 3 days of my life now reseating cables, swapping out components, and nothing has helped. Here's a list of everything I've tried:
-Cleared CMOS
-Put in a clean floppy disk with AMIBOOT.rom in case the bios got corrupt
-Tried running the mobo out of the case (on top of the anti-static bag that it came with), to verify that it wasn't shorting out on something
-Swapped out the motherboard, processor, ram, video card, monitor AND power supply (not all at once though, couldn't afford keeping another new mobo and had to return that to afford the new processor and power supply)
-Ran system out of the case completely to see if it was shorting out
-Reapplied thermal grease (Silver Lightning)
-Tried running both motherboards without a cpu to see if it would let out a beep code
-Tried removing a part like ram and video card to see if either mobo would give a beep code for that


I am absolutely out of ideas on this. ANY help or suggestions would be grateful, because I can't see what's going wrong.

 

[minendo]

Any chance you may have cracked the core on the processor?

 

[wahhee]

That's what I thought, and tried putting in a new Duron processor, still nothing. (double checked to make sure that it was compatible with my mobo, and it is)

 

[minendo]

Try resetting the CMOS. Also try reseating the video card and ram.

 

[wahhee]

Yeah, I've put the jumper to clear the cmos several times, and let it there for atleast a minute or two each time. Should I try taking out the battery?

And I've reseated the vid card and ram more times than I remember.

 

[minendo]

I had the same exact problem with an ECS k7s5a. I went through the steps of reseating everything. It turned out that my board was dead, but luckily enough I was able to RMA it.

The last thing you may want to check is to make sure that the board didnt shift at all and is being shorted out by not being on the standoffs properly.

 

[wahhee]

Well, like I said above, I tried running it completely out of my case to see if it was shorting out, and even tried a brand new motherboard (wish I could've afforded to keep it though, damn nice board).

I even installed the plastic standoffs and paper washers that came with my board originally. (I didn't when I first started out since there were already those metal standoffs there, and the computers I build at Compaq everyday have those exact metal standoffs and still run fine.)

 

[Willoughbyva]

I had a weird problem with one of my keyboards (or mouse forgot which) that kept my computer from booting. You might have a dead board.


Will

 

[wahhee]

Well, I'm not sure what happened, but now my keyboard lights will flash when the computer powers on, and when my cd drive is plugged in, the light doesn't constantly flash anymore, just flashes like normal when it starts up. Still doesn't post or beep though. :/

Progress maybe?

 

[nihil]

<< I had a weird problem with one of my keyboards (or mouse forgot which) that kept my computer from booting. You might have a dead board.


Will >>



a bad board can sometimes give you an error as you start up but i'm pretty sure that's after the post. some stupid message like "no keyboard found hit F1 to continue." i doubt the keyboard would keep your machine from posting properly.

 

[DaiShan]

how well did you ground yourself before going into the computer? did you fully discharge any static before touching the motherboard? It sounds to me like you may have ESD'd the mobo.

 

[Zclyh3]

I swear I have the same EXACT FUC*ing problem. I'm just going to RMA it. I swear I'm not buying from this company again.

 

[inCreek]

I had the same problem with K7S5A and AMD XP 1800+. I tried with different Video cards, RAM sticks and out side the box. Then I returned it and got another one of the same MB. This time took it to the local computer repair shop and they check it up. (I was concerned that my NEW case/PSU may be causing the problem). But that MB was also dead. The CPU checked out OK with another MB in the store.

I returned MB and CPU. A lot of customers have the same problem while there are many who got it working in many of the forums. The MB is apparently very sensitive to the PSU. You need a PSU with atleast 400W.

I am waiting to get another MB and Processor. Is it possible that the PSU in my case is frying the MB. How can I check the quality of the MB. I am happly with the dealers return policy(Outpost). No questions asked returns.

 

[wahhee]

I don't think that ESD would be a problem because I always make sure to touch the metal around my case and power supply before doing anything major like that, and when I went in the first time to reseat the heatsink and add the cards, I didn't even touch the motherboard. Besides, I tried a new mobo that was later verified to work by the place I bought it from (they test all returns before actually giving you your money back).

And I do have a 400W power supply. Even tried another new 400w one just in case.

I'm going back later today to exchange this Duron (and in the process, make sure THAT works also) and pick up a new video card to test my system with. If this doesn't work, I'm just gonna fork over $40 to this computer shop and let them try to figure it out, because I'm absolutely stumped. I even told my case to several other computer technicians that work with me at Compaq, and they all had no idea what to do either.

 

[Zclyh3]

Wow...stumped techicians. hehehe..

That just goes to show you...ECS sucks. I won't buy from them ever again. Actually I never did cause my friend bought it and I'm assembling his computer. I only buy VIA chipsets.

THERE IS A WHOLE FUC*ING FORUM ON THIS PROBLEM AT HARDWARE ANALYSIS. CHECK IT OUT.

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/694/

 

[wahhee]

Yeah, I read that forum just now. Just a bunch of 'ecs sucks' and not much info or help. Tried jiggling and flicking the agp card as suggested (tried it on both of them that I have actually) and no help there.

Even though all signs point to a bad motherboard, why wouldn't the newer one I tried work? Gah, too much confusion.

I think I'll just be dropping it off at the shop tommorow and give them the $40 they want for a diagnosis fee. I still have about a week left on the 30 day returns/warranties on everything I have, so atleast I'll be able to RMA whatever needs it (except the ram though, damn store policies).

 

[Zclyh3]

I bet you anything the computer place will also be stumped about it. I'm thinking about taking it in also. Taking it in a shop. I don't want to deal with the POS mb anymore.

 

[KeinoDoggy]

Believe it or not I have seen this problem with some motherboards when the PS2 mouse and keyboard were installed incorrectly into the others port.

 

[wahhee]

Keyboard/mouse shouldn't be the problem. Mouse isn't plugged in and keyboard is installled correctly. Even so, I've tried a few times even without a keyboard plugged in to see if it would come up to a 'keyboard error' screen like it should.

At work last night, we had an intel system that had the exact same problem. Turned out the processor had several *very* bent pins. Replaced the proc and it booted up fine. Atleast its much easier to see the pins on these socket A amd's than it is those little pentium 4's.

Oh well, I'm taking it in to the shop in a few hours. If they can't figure it out, like hell I'll be forking over $40 to them.

 

[SKiTZoCraZy]

Hello,

So the computer powers up but no post?
Sounds to me like AGP problem.I've had LOTS of them with SOYO boards.
Try using a PCI video card.If that works then you know your problem.

Good luck!
Sucks to take stuff to techs.

 

[wahhee]

Yeah, tried 2 different agp cards with no luck. The thing ran completely fine until I just went in to reseat the heatsink. Didn't even touch the agp! *bleh*

We'll see what they come up with though. About 8-9 more days left that I can actually return this stuff. Atleast that shouldn't cost me more than shipping.

 

[FrankBlack]

My p3/via based ECS dv6aa would not post until I switched out the memory I was trying to use. Memory which worked fine in another system! Keep Trying

 

[SKiTZoCraZy]

Hello

Seriously try a PCI video card. I can almost say its the agp slot.If you dont have a PCI video card ,then I understand.
I've returned 3 Soyo Dragons (known to have those issues) ,an Epox,and an Abit Kt7 board because of bad AGP .
I've also returned 2 Tyan Tiger MP's for having bad IDE .

Sometimes they just send out bad boards.

 

[wahhee]

I'm definately tired of running to the computer store and returning a product (processor, motherboard, etc) and getting something else. It is cheaper (theoretically just gas money and a lot of patience). I was meaning to take it in yesterday but didn't get a chance to. So I'll definately take it in later today. I'll first explain the problem though to see if they have a solution where I don't have to pay $40, but if I can find out what exactly is wrong, its still worth it.