First build mega issue

[Jel2h]

I've been lurking on this forum for some time now and have finally decided to build my own pc after months of researching it. But I've encountered a problem right off the bat.

My situation is as follows, I'm trying to do a POST first so I've installed the keyboard, mouse, monitor, ram, video card and power cables to the mobo. But when I click the switch on my power supply the monitor remains blank and two orange lights show up on the mobo and that's all that happens.

I'm not sure what's causing this as again this is my first build but I haven't messed with the jumpers hoping they would stay at default because to be honest I'm not even sure what the jumpers look like exactly.

I'm using a DFI Lanparty NF4 Ultra-D, Antec Neopower 480watt psu, x800 xl video card and 2001fp monitor. I'm thinking the problem lies with the jumpers or how I connected the power cables but I'm really not sure. Any help would be greatly appreciated and please let me know if you have any other questions on my parts or what I've done so far.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

did you install the cpu also?

EDIT: and of couse HS/F

EDIT #2: and you need to do the equivalent of hitting the power button too (you can short out the two pins that the power button will eventually get connected to with a screwdriver or something conductive... but just for a second until it starts up)

 

[fireontheway]

Make sure you have the AUX 12V connector connected.Consult the motherboard manual for further info regarding jumper settings and connections.

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
did you install the cpu also?

EDIT: and of couse HS/F

hehe,very funny

 

[Jel2h]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
did you install the cpu also?

EDIT: and of couse HS/F

EDIT #2: and you need to do the equivalent of hitting the power button too (you can short out the two pins that the power button will eventually get connected to with a screwdriver or something conductive... but just for a second until it starts up)

hehe yes the cpu and HS/F is installed. and I've tried hitting the power button but nothing happens. Also on the actual mobo itself it has its own power and reset buttons. I've pressed the power button there after turning on the psu but the only thing that happens when I do that is 4 red lights in the bottom left corner of the board briefly flash and that's it.

I've connected the AUX 12V connector as well.

Edit: I'm not sure if this matters or not but when I put in the AUX 12V connector's pins they match up opposite to what the mobo wants. For example, pin 1 is going into pin 2's hole and pin 2 is going into pin 1's hole (pin 1 and 2 are the ground wires). There doesn't seem to be anyway to make them go into the correct pins asides from taking out the wires themselves but again I'm not sure if this even matters.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

did you line up the 12v connector using the little clip+lock thing on the side of the connector?

I don't understand how you hit a power button on something and nothing happened... the power button on what?

and what "power button" on the motherboard are you talking about?

 

[horizonsonfire]

Edit : nevermind

 

[Jel2h]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
did you line up the 12v connector using the little clip+lock thing on the side of the connector?

I don't understand how you hit a power button on something and nothing happened... the power button on what?

and what "power button" on the motherboard are you talking about?

Yes I lined up the 12V connector using the clip lock thing.

The power button I'm talking about is on the actual motherboard. If you look at the two black buttons sticking out on the bottom of this picture that's what I was referring to pressing.

http://img.neoseeker.com/v_image.php?articleid=1754&image=36

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Oh wow... I didn't know that board had power buttons.

Have you tried shorting out the two pins that the real case power button will be connected with eventually? (I haven't used a board with power buttons on it ever, but I know the method I'm mentioning works)

Also, do you have the CPU fan plugged into the motherboard power connection (or at least feeding it an RPM signal?) I know some motherboards get mad when you try to start them up without a fan attached.

 

[Jel2h]

I've tried shorting the pins that the real case's power button will be connected to and nothing happens. And the fan seems to be properly connected.

 

[mechBgon]

Silly question, I hope: you have the board mounted on standoffs, right?

 

[Jel2h]

I have it on the cardboard box it came in while I'm trying to run the POST.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

This hasn't happened to me, but I read someone had this happen: have you tried a different outlet? (the person's outlet was f-ed up)

Ok... I'll try to go through this to make sure we're all good on everything I can think of

Power supply - set to 120V instead of 240V
main power connection (atx one) - unplug + replug
4 pin one - unplug + replug
switch on the power supply is set to on (the line, not the circle)

Ram - make sure it's plugged in the right way (it would be really difficult to screw this up though)
make sure it's seated all the way in and the clamps are closed on the ends

CPU - take out, use 97% isopropal alcohol to clean off the thermal grease that you used (or whatever you did) and then reapply goo and attach it again
(this happened to me on my first build - for some reason it wasn't seated correctly the first time)

Motherboard - make sure the CMOS clear jumper is in the correct position
Also, clear CMOS and then put it back in correct position

Videocard - reseat it + make sure locking mechanism is in
plug additional power conneciton to videocard

mouse/keyboard - make sure they're connected to the right ones if you're using ps/2 (not sure if that matters)

floppy - try to connect a floppy to it if you have one (probably doesn't matter, but one comptuer i had needed to have a floppy attached to boot up)

that's all I can think of right now...

 

[Jel2h]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
This hasn't happened to me, but I read someone had this happen: have you tried a different outlet? (the person's outlet was f-ed up)

Ok... I'll try to go through this to make sure we're all good on everything I can think of

Power supply - set to 120V instead of 240V
main power connection (atx one) - unplug + replug
4 pin one - unplug + replug
switch on the power supply is set to on (the line, not the circle)

Ram - make sure it's plugged in the right way (it would be really difficult to screw this up though)
make sure it's seated all the way in and the clamps are closed on the ends

CPU - take out, use 97% isopropal alcohol to clean off the thermal grease that you used (or whatever you did) and then reapply goo and attach it again
(this happened to me on my first build - for some reason it wasn't seated correctly the first time)

Motherboard - make sure the CMOS clear jumper is in the correct position
Also, clear CMOS and then put it back in correct position

Videocard - reseat it + make sure locking mechanism is in
plug additional power conneciton to videocard

mouse/keyboard - make sure they're connected to the right ones if you're using ps/2 (not sure if that matters)

floppy - try to connect a floppy to it if you have one (probably doesn't matter, but one comptuer i had needed to have a floppy attached to boot up)

that's all I can think of right now...

Thank you very much for that, I'll get right on going through the list and let you know how it turns out.

 

[Jel2h]

Something else that I would like to get cleared up.

Is it alright to have 1 stick of 512mb ram in the mobo for now while trying to run the POST? I will eventually want 2 sticks of 512mb in there once everything is running correctly.

Edit: I don't think it matters with the problem I'm having though because I tried putting in the other stick of ram and nothing changed.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Oh, I thought in your PM you meant you only had 1 stick available so you couldn't try 2 sticks.

Did you put them in the right slots for dual channel mode?

(I know nothing about this and don't know if you need dual channel to get a post with A64)

anybody else have any ideas for this guy?

 

[mechBgon]

Consult the manual for which slot to use a single stick in, it can make a difference.

From your first post, if I understand right, the system won't even spin fans or drives when you try to start it. Am I on the right track there?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Jel2h
Something else that I would like to get cleared up.

Is it alright to have 1 stick of 512mb ram in the mobo for now while trying to run the POST? I will eventually want 2 sticks of 512mb in there once everything is running correctly.

Edit: I don't think it matters with the problem I'm having though because I tried putting in the other stick of ram and nothing changed.

Check the motherboard manual and make sure you're putting them in the correct slots. Some motherboards a REAL picky about what slots you use.

*EDIT* Doh!

 

[Jel2h]

mechBgon - yes you're on the right track, the fans don't even spin.

Jeff7181 - I hadn't thought of that, will try it, thanks.

 

[mechBgon]

If the board is getting power but won't start up, then the next thing I'd check is to ensure its Clear CMOS jumper is not in the Clear position by accident (the manual will show which position's for normal operation and which is for clearing).

If it still won't go after that... heck, take out the video card and the memory, see if it'll spin fans with them uninstalled. Are you sure your CPU's in the socket the right way? The gold triange points away from the lever hinge on A64's.

 

[Jel2h]

I checked the CMOS jumper and it was in the right position according to the manual.

I checked the cpu again and made it sure it was in the right spot. Then I took out the ram and the video card and still the fans are not spinning. But, on one attempt it looked like they wanted to or were just about to start spinning and then nothing happened.

 

[mechBgon]

Weird Try with the CPU itself removed from the socket, as well as the RAM and video removed. A completely-bare board should still power up when you hit the power button. The PSU's fan can be your power-up indicator. If that doesn't work, then my guess is either the PSU or the motherboard is not working properly.

 

[Jel2h]

the problem isn't that i'm connecting the psu directly to the wall outlet is it? i don't need to connect it to a surge protector do I?

Edit: It must be the PSU that's causing all the problems because I've tried 3 different wall outlets now and am getting the same results. The PSU's fan is not even turning and the mobo seems to be in good working condition. I tried turning it on using just the barebones mobo and nothing changed. As an update what's happening when I'm turning the PSU on is as follows: according to the manual the standby power LED is lighting up orange, the DRAM Power LED is lighting up orange and when I press the power button on the mobo or short the pins the Diagnostic LEDs briefly light up red. And that is all that is happening, no fans moving, no other noises, nothing... Very frustrating experience for my first build to say the least

 

[Blain]

Are you jumping the correct pins on the MB to start?

 

[ShadowBlade]

is your power supply switched on?