New Computer won't POST

[Tetsuo316]

So, I'm putting together a new SFF computer, and I follow the directions to the "T." I get all the hardware in, close 'er up, plug 'er in, hit the power button, nothin'. I open 'er up, take 'er apart, put 'er together, close 'er up, plug 'er in, hit the power button, nothin'. I try a third time doing everything so very carefully, I even clear the CMOS, but still nothin'. I really believe that I've done everything correctly. The RAM is seated properly, the AGP card is seated properly, everything is plugged in properly, I just can't imagine why it's not working.

My only hypothesis is that the motherboard is dead, but I don't want to risk RMAing the thing and paying restock fees if Newegg gets it working. I think it might be dead due to the heatsink retaining clip jangling around in shipment. It wasn't affixed to anything so it was clanking around inside the case when I got it. I made sure that there were no little pieces rattling around either, but still...

Any ideas? Any tips?

 

[microAmp]

Does the board have a feature where if the HS Fan dies the computer will shutdown? Maybe the fan connector is plugged in a different connector?

 

[Tetsuo316]

I tried both fan headers that the fan cord could reach. Even so, would that cause the computer to not even POST. I meannothing happens when I hit the power button. I can't even tell if the board is getting power since there's no LED to notify me.

Anyway, I'm off to work right now. Please keep the suggestions coming and I'll be back after 8:00 PM PST.

 

[JW310]

Sounds almost like a bad power supply... can you try that power supply on a different system, or try a different power supply with that system? That would be the first thing I'd suspect with the system not powering on at all... next thing to check would be the CPU... a burned out CPU would also be causing the problems that you're having.

JW

 

[RustyNale]

I know it'll be a pain, but remove your motherboard from your case, lay it on a non-conductive surface, remove cpu, ram, etc till bare bones. Then hook up the psu and try starting it that way. If your psu works, add your cpu and hsf. Then your ram, video card, hd. If you get successful powerups each time, then check your case out very carefully to make sure your mobo isn't grounding out on your case. If it doesn't post, at all, I'd try another psu. If the psu is working, best guess is your motherboard needs to be rma'd...

 

[mechBgon]

Besides the good suggestions already given, also try unplugging the front-USB wiring first, if you can do that without a heap of trouble, as a troubleshooting step. And when you press the power button, do the LEDs on a PS/2 keyboard light momentarily?

My understanding is that the power supplies use standard ATX pinout, so you could also try starting it on a different power supply. Good luck!

 

[Tetsuo316]

So, I completely removed the motherboard from the case and set it atop a piece of cardboard. I connected the power supply to the ATX as well as the 12V connectors on the board, and I connected the power switch from the case to the jumper on the motherboard. I still didn't receive a response from the system. Could it be the switch itself?

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, could be. What happens if you just connect the Power Button pins on the mobo momentarily using a screwdriver tip or something?

 

[Tetsuo316]

say what?

 

[mechBgon]

When you push the case's power button, it simply makes momentary electrical contact between the wires, and therefore the pins that the wires plug into. Touching the mobo's Power-Button pins with a metal object has the same effect as pressing the Power button on the case, because it makes a momentary electrical connection. Then the PSU goes "Oh! That's my cue to turn on! :Q" and it turns on (if it's working).

So if that works, then your theory about your faulty case button is correct.

 

[Tetsuo316]

OK, it came on when I did the screwdriver thing. I guess that means that the switch is bad. The only problem is that the connectors from the button to the cable are behind the face of the cage and are going to be hard to reach.

 

[Tetsuo316]

Scratch that - IMPOSSIBLE to reach. the faceplate is riveted on.

 

[mechBgon]

Scums! Well, they better not charge restock on that then.

 

[Tetsuo316]

So... you all think I should write Newegg and ask for the repair RMA? I just hate to set back building this computer. But, if it's broken it's broken.

BTW, thanks mech

I owe you some UT2K3 frags

 

[Tetsuo316]

Update!

It's alive! ALIVE!

Don't ask me what I did differently. On a whim I put everything back in the case and tried the power switch again and it worked!

...

Guess I don't need that RMA from Newegg anymore...

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Tetsuo316
So... you all think I should write Newegg and ask for the repair RMA? I just hate to set back building this computer. But, if it's broken it's broken.

BTW, thanks mech

I owe you some UT2K3 frags

LOL, can't say no to that Hey, good to hear that it's alive and kicking finally