Dead mobo(?), need technical advice

[ToddlerTN]

I just bought a Gigabyte 8KNXP motherboard along with 2x512MB Mushkin PC3200 RAM and a P4 2.8/800 Prescott. I purchased it all complete from another ATer who had been running it with no problems.

Last night I received the items and installed them in my system, but I can't get the motherboard to boot. Before I press the power button, I have NIC LEDs. When I press power, nothing seems to happen except the RAM LED on the board lights up (a warning not to remove the RAM to prevent damage). If I press and hold the power button again, the RAM LED goes out after a few seconds. Nothing else happens...no fans, no drive power, no video.

I have reseated the power supply connectors (both connectors to the mainboard) as well as the RAM and CPU, and the CPU fan plug. I don't have any PCI cards installed, just an Nvidia AGP card that Google tells me others are using on this mobo with no issues. And there is an AGP warning light on the mobo that tells you if the video card is a problem, and the LED is not lit, so I believe the video is not the issue.

The part that's freaking me out is that nothing tries to boot at all. I would understand if I got fan activity and warning beeps, but nothing like that is happening.

Any assistance is much appreciated.

 

[Fern]

Sounds like you installed it in your case before testing it. I would pull it out and try to get it to boot with only cpu (plus HS+F), ram and vid card installed. Of course hook up the monitor, KB and mouse too.

Put the mobo on a phone book next to the case so you hook up the psu. Plus the phone book elevates the mobo a bit to accomodate the lip of the AGP card.

Good Luck with it.

Fern

 

[ToddlerTN]

I guess I could try that, although all I have installed is the CPU/HS/Fan, RAM and AGP video. I'm not sure how removing it from the case will change anything.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: ToddlerTN
I guess I could try that, although all I have installed is the CPU/HS/Fan, RAM and AGP video. I'm not sure how removing it from the case will change anything.

Eliminates the possibilty of a short to the case.

 

[Concillian]

What is the state of the BIOS clear jumper?

 

[Childs]

Originally posted by: Concillian
What is the state of the BIOS clear jumper?

This sounds like it could be the problem.

 

[ToddlerTN]

Not sure, I am at work and the board is at home. The guy who sold it to me said he did not clear the BIOS before he sent it to me, so it probably is in the normal position. But I will check the position and try clearing the BIOS. I doubt if the case is shorting the motherboard since I just screwed it down onto the standoffs that were there already, but who knows...I'm grasping at straws at this point. At least the guy here who sold it to me sounds like he will make it right if there turns out to be a problem with the board.

 

[Steve]

If the CMOS jumper was set to normal instead of clear, the battery could be drained. A new one is under $3 at Radio Shack.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: sm8000
If the CMOS jumper was set to normal instead of clear, the battery could be drained. A new one is under $3 at Radio Shack.

with a dead or no battery, the system still boots though.
the battery merely retains the settings, the BIOS is still there without battery power.
that will not be the problem.