New system will only post sometimes

[Jaylio]

I have just built a new system using the ecs k7s5a motherboard, 1gz duron. I am having a hard time getting the system to post. Sometimes it will post just fine and others it will not post at all. If it will post it will run fine all night. However, when I restart the system or from a cold boot, it might restart fine 5 times in a row, or it might take 10 tries to get it to post and boot up. I am completely flustered. Any one have any ideas? Could this be a bad motherboard? I bought it from newegg, so returning it wont be problem if it is defective. Even when the system wont post, the hard drive will spin, and the cd-rom will spin up. But you will never get a beep and the monitor stays black.

 

[CloroxCowboy]

Check RAM as that has been my problem before.

Then also check the screws that stabilize the Motherboard. I have fixed systems where it was just one missing screw causing all sorts of problems.

 

[Jaylio]

i'll try that thanks.

 

[DARRIN]

What kind of power supply do you have?

 

[Jaylio]

the power supply is a hivision 300watt. I have been using this case in an identical system except that i went from the fic azlle mb to the ecs k7s5a. Upon inspection of the mb, I find that I am missing one of the standoffs, out of 9. I will try finding another one of those and see if that could possibly be it.

 

[HappyPuppy]

The ECS K7S5A can be extremely picky about power supplies. If nothing else works you might try swapping in a name brand AMD approved 350W PSU.

 

[Jaylio]

I have another case and pwr supply, that ive used with ecs before. If either the screw idea or the pwr supply works, I can live with that. Thanks guys, I'll post back what I find tonight when my friend brings me the standoff and my other case.

 

[Bleep]

You know it may just be the push switch on the case. This has happend more than once. just swap the switch connectors on the mb with the reset switch.
Bleep

 

[DARRIN]

I've also encountered that problem with a modem believe it or not. Not sure why but I had a mobo that did not like a modem I stuck in it. It was a good modem. I swapped it out with a different brand and it worked fine. The fans would spin but that was it. I had to reset a couple times to get it to post. Just for the heck of it pull out all your cards except the video and see what happens.