• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

KT7 and Athlon 900 Won't boot

D

dstidolph

Member
I was upgrading a friends computer from a BH6 Celeron 300A to a ABit KT7 RAID with 900 MHz Thunderbird. I'm using a Taisol CPU fan rated for 1.1 GHz and I used copper paste instead of the tape (had to scrape off the old stuff).

I switched the compents and using the old 64 MB PC100 memory stick (we have another on order, but hasn't arrived yet) it came on first time! I went into the bios and set the speed (it came up as a 600 MHz?) and did some modest settings (like setting PnP OS to true).

When it booted Windows 98 it started detecting the new components and it had to reset several times (normal). During the reset I checked the cpu temp and found it never climbed over 113 degrees (I also verified by touching the heat sink part to make sure it was reading correctly - warm, not burning hot).

It locked up when trying to scan the NIC (an ISA 3Com 3908B card) so I powered it down and removed it. When I powered it up it suddenly started listing a HUGE number of components at the end of the BIOS boot (MANY duplicates) but before the Windows 98 boot (All interrupts were filled with multimedia devices and such). It did not boot correctly and then I had to reset and now it will not boot at all.

The video never turns on the monitor now. I tried removing the ram to get a beep out of it and it will not beep. I tried clearing the CMOS - no change. I have not tried removing the AGP card yet (just a dumb Trident card - waiting on a GeForce MX), but I have made sure that card and the others were seated correctly. I have heard how fragile the Thunderbird chips are so I was very careful putting in the chip. The system did seem to run fine for about 30-45 minutes. The power supply is a 300W (I think - I have to check). I have tried pressing reset and Ctrl+Alt+Del.

I'm getting to the point I think I will have to send the motherboard+cpu combo back.

Anyone have any advice?

David Stidolph.
Austin, TX
 
Your first mistake was removing the Chomerics T725 Phase Change Thermal Compound but thats unlikely to cause your problems unless the copper paste is conductive and some squeezed out onto the resistors ontop of the cpu. Seems like lots of ABIT boards have this problem, try to return it.
 
Thank you for the fast response.

I thought that the tape type stuff they put on those heat sinks doesn't conduct heat all that well. Silver paste is supposed to be the best, but I got some copper paste from a friend.

I spread a VERY small amount (used a card to spread it thinly and evenly over the blue chip) and made sure none went over the sides. If it had, it should not have worked for the time it did - right?

I thought maybe I used too much force putting in the chip or putting on the heat sink, but I really did try to do it just as gently as I could.

David.
 
DaddyG is right. The Chomerics T725 Phase Change Thermal Compound on the TaiSol should not be removed. It provides excellent cooling, as it got my 1Gzt T-bird to 1150Mhz with no problems whatsoever.

I'd reset the jumper, reapply the compound and try again.
 
Um, I scrapped off the compound so there is no way to put it back on - it does not peel off. Like I said, the temp did not rise above 113 degrees so I don't believe it is a heat problem (verified the temp by touching the heat sink - only warm). The problem happened last night and this morning I tried to reset the bios (move the pin over for 30 seconds and move back without powering up?) but the system still will not go. I tried removing the memory to get it to beep and it did not. It does start the fans spinning when I power up and if I hold the power button down for four seconds it powers down, but the video never comes on or beeps the speaker (and it did before).
 
Just thought I'd mention that it booting up at 600Mhz right off the bat is a perfectly normal occurance for a KT7. It does that no matter what speed proc you put in it the first time, not sure what the reason behind it is, but it's meant to.
 
If you're trying to reset the BIOS, make sure you unplug the power cord before moving the jumper or you'll be wasting your time.
 
Oh... Didn't know that...

Sometimes I don't bother to read the instructions - been doing it so long I think I know everything. 🙁

Thanks, I'll try that when I get home. Any other advice to try? I figure I can always try to pull all the cards, check the power supply, etc.

David.
 
I have the same problem with my new computer... im gonna return the KT7-RAID and try for an ASUS or some other brand... Its really pissing me off and I dont know how to fix it. 🙁 no Video at all for no reason at all...
blah.

oh yeah, talking about how "fragile" socketA's are... check out this report:
http://www.torturetest.com/reviews/adam/crush.htm
 
In the order you listed things it sounds like you might have left the PC plugged in... if you just turned it off on the front and not through the power supply you may have fried the MB when you unplugged the NIC. Its not likely but it can happen. Also the thermal pads suck, paste is better. I went from 48C full load with that goopy thermal crap to 43C with Artic Silver.
 
Dulanic My 1Ghz Tbird is running 100% stable at 1.2Ghz. Not bad for a TIM (pad) that supposedly "sucks".
 
This is just a copy/paste from abit kt7 faq


Nothing happens when I try to boot, or only fans start. What's wrong?

The most common cause for this is if the CPU is incorrectly seated in the motherboard. Try, try then try again! Also, if
using an AGP graphics card, check it is seated correctly. Try without AGP card screwed into slot - this can sometimes
cause the AGP card to rest in the slot at an angle. Again, try then try again - have you seen how fine the AGP edge
connectors are?! Also try reseating your DIMMs (you may have to press them very hard into their sockets!).

Have you set the correct CPU speed in the BIOS? If not, remove your power lead from the computer case, clear the
CMOS with the jumper on the motherboard and then reconnect the power. Reboot and immediately hit Delete to go
into the BIOS setup. Enter SoftMenuIII and set the correct CPU speed.

Another cause of this problem can be if you have a short-circuit on your motherboard due to the way you have
mounted it in your computer housing. Check the traces near your mounting studs, and generally make sure there is no
contact whatsoever between the PCB and any part of the case.

Have you correctly connected the case's power switch to the "Power On" switch header (pins 8-9) on the PN1 header
on the motherboard?

edit----
Did you reinstall windows or just swap your drive from your old computer? If you just swapped it and didn't atleast delete everything from the device manager that could have caused some of your problems in windows.
 
I want to thank people for their help. By removing the extra cards it reliably POSTS. I am going to replace the power supply. The next step is going to be reinstalling windows. That will wait for me to get the new memory in.

Thanks for the help - especially about the advice to remove the power cord. That one I did not know (though I checked and it is in the manual - would be nice if I would read them on occasion).

David.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top