Forgot to use ATX12V PSU... But it won't boot now anyways. *UPDATED*

[MithrandirBooga]

I just built my first system in 3 years, and I forgot to use an ATX12V powersupply, but instead re-used my old 300W ATX powersupply (without the extra 4-pin square power connector) in it.

I haven't been able to get the system to get further than a POST to install any software... could I have fried anything by accident?

I've ordered a 300W Antec PSU which should be arriving in a few days, but I'm just wondering what are my chances that I've destroyed anything.


Thanks!



Update:

Ok, so I got a new 300W Antec PSU and plugged it in... but no go

What happens is that I boot it up, it gets all the way to the "Verifying DMI Pool" text, and then it just freezes. Occasionally it will change some of the characters on the screen to random letters/colors, but it always just sits there, no matter what settings I use in the BIOS. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong?

The setup:

Shuttle MN31L v1.1 nForce2 IGP
AMD Sempron 2400+ Retail
PQI Power 256MB DDR PC2100



Can anyone give me any suggestions about what I should do, what parts may be fried, etc?

 

[moretoys]

Not likely. you'll know when the new ps get there

 

[htmlmasterdave]

Well stupidly somehow when I was recently building my athlon64 system, I plugged the 12V line into the motherboard the wrong way, so that the pins weren't going to the proper pins. I was also really scared after I did this, but I'm typing on it now while it's got a fair stable overclock, so I wouldn't worry

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Nah, Most common problem is it just not booting. Get the correct PSU in there or get a 4-pin adapter that plugs into a regular molex and you should be fine. Hard to fry something from a lack of power..

 

[MithrandirBooga]

*updated*

 

[zodder]

I've found that DMI pool errors or hangs at boot usually have to do with the configuration of the IDE drives. Check those to make sure they are configured correctly (master/slave)

 

[elecrzy]

try resetting your bios on the motherboard. also, your psu might be a little weak if you're going to be running a geforce4 or better video card.

 

[Fern]

I've run my nForce 2 mobo w/o the second 12v connector, no problem. Relax, it's unlikely anything got damaged.

Fern

 

[newParadigm]

Umm, if you're getting funky colors on the BIOS screens and such, I would guess that its an issue related to your video card (specifically its RAM), or your system RAM.

 

[MithrandirBooga]

ok, another update:

What zodder said got me thinking, so I tested out a bunch of configurations; I can get the system up with a CD-ROM only; far enough to start installing windows (then it realises there's no hard disk in the system).

Ok, so I got out an old hard disk of mine with linux on it, and plugged it in, and started the system up with no CD-ROM, just the disk... so it gets to the operating-system-select screen. At this point I jumped the gun and assumed that means the hard drive is borked.

Bleh, so I got an RMA for the hard disk, maybe prematurely, I'm not sure. Because I'm bored, I decided to go back to the system and start messing around with the old disk again, and all of a sudden I'm getting a click-of-death from it on bootup. This disk has been rock solid for me for years; and now it won't book linux up properly at all; it just clicks and then says I have Kernel Panic when it tries locating the filesystem.

So now I decide to plug the CD-ROM in and try wiping the drive and going with a clean WinXP configuration, but when both the CD-ROM and the old disk are plugged in, the old disk isn't detected at all. FUCK. (Keep in mind I've played around with all the cable-select/master/slave settings multiple times).

So, now I think maybe the first hard disk ISN'T defective at all, and I decide to test it out on my regular machine; I took all the drives out and put the brand new drive in... and I get nothing. I boot up, the motherboard detects it properly, but as soon as it comes time to load the OS (which there is none), the screen just goes blank and nothing happens. It doesn't complain about the lack of a boot disk or anything.

So I have no idea what the hell is going on here.


Opinions would be greatly appreciated

 

[MithrandirBooga]

Originally posted by: newParadime
Umm, if you're getting funky colors on the BIOS screens and such, I would guess that its an issue related to your video card (specifically its RAM), or your system RAM.

It's an video-integrated IGP motherboard, so that may be the case

 

[xsilver]

might be to do with the bios option "wait on detect devices" or something --- this option determines if it cant find a boot , how long it will search for before giving up..... by default its a really long time, just change to 3 seconds or whatever....
had the same problem on a friends nforce2 board