HELP i cant boot my transplant!

[mburgio]

I just transplanted my computer into a new case and installed a new HSF. Installed my Abit KR7A into an Antec Sonata case. I thought I connected everything the way it was but when I press power, all the electronics fire up, fans, LED's, CD-ROM/DVD-ROM's etc... but the HDD doesnt do a thing. No activity. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[mburgio]

UPDATE: If I pull the IDE ribbon from the hard drive and then power up, The HDD fires up. So without a ribbon connection the HDD responds, with the ribbon attachment, the HDD is dead when I boot up. Can anyone please help?

 

[Mrvile]

Uh, try switching IDE cables?

 

[mechBgon]

1) you mounted the motherboard on standoffs, correct?

2) unplug the case's front USB/Firewire wiring from the motherboard

3) confirm that the springy finger things on the I/O shield aren't getting into the mobo's USB or network jacks at the rear

4) if necessary, take the motherboard back out of the case, lay it on cardboard, and benchtest it that way.

 

[mburgio]

1. yes on standoffs

2. unplugged it but it didnt help

3. Nothing that I can see.

It isnt necessary for a cable to be connected to the FDD connection on the motherboard even though there is no 3.5 drive installed right? I noticed there was a cable connected to it before I moved it to this new case but that shouldnt matter right?

 

[ribbon13]

no you don't have to have a FDD or its cable at all

 

[mburgio]

No other advice here guys? I'm wondering why the RED LED on the motherboard which is the reset LED is lit up fixed when i turn the power on. I'm guessing it shouldn't be.

 

[shekondar]

make sure you don't have the IDE cable on backwards

 

[airfoil]

I suggest you pull all the case LED cables out and carefully reinstall them referring to the manual all the time.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, HDD will always initialize when power is supplied even without the ribbon cable. If cable kills it then something is setup wrong. Check cable and BIOS setup. Jim

Edit: The red led is usually the power led. There is no Reset Led. Jim

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: mburgio
No other advice here guys? I'm wondering why the RED LED on the motherboard which is the reset LED is lit up fixed when i turn the power on. I'm guessing it shouldn't be.

Look at the third and fourth photos on this page and check yours to make sure it's oriented that way.

 

[mburgio]

UPDATE: Ok, so I disconnected everything, removed the motherboard from the case, laid it on cardboard and ONLY connected the main power, video card, one DIMM memory, HSF, keyboard, and the power switch connector. Hit the power and the same thing happens. Fan goes on, all three LED's on the motherboard light up and thats it. Never goes to CMOS on the screen. What's going on? Is my board fried?

On a separate note, does a phillips screwdriver that is magnetized damage a motherboard if you use it on the screws that fasten it to the case?

 

[V00D00]

It could... but I doubt it. You never said if you tried using a DIFFERENT ide cable.

 

[mburgio]

The IDE cable isnt even connected anymore. The BIOS screen should show up without any drives connected. So as I said, I cant even get to a BIOS screen with just the above minimum components connected. I dont get it.

 

[myusername]

double check your HSF installation (esp make sure you took any protective film off the base of the HSF before install). If all looks good and cpu passes visual (all pins okay and no cracks or thermal paste smeared where it's not supposed to be) try swapping memory modules and slots.

 

[jlf2]

I have the same problem and wondered if you were able to resolve this.
Thanks,
Jeff