New system won't POST

[protozoider]

I just built this system to replace my other. I put it all together and everything was secure and done properly, I made absolutely sure that nothing could go wrong. Even used a anti-shock wrist attachment. Anyway when I went to start it up there was no beep, screen was blank and the lights kept flashing on my CD drives like it kept being reset. I tried just doing barebone CPU, Memory and AGP card. That still didn't do it. I tried every configuration I could think of. I put memory in every slot and even bought a different stick of memory and figured out it's probably not the memory. The processor gets hot so I'm sure that part is functioning. Below is my configuration. I know my video works in the other system and it should be compatible with the new one. The system should boot without a video card, it just wouldn't display.

ASUS K8N-E Deluxe
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Antec 400W Power Supply
Corsair 512Mb PC3200 DDR400 64Mb x 64 bit
NVIDIA BFG GeForce FX 5200
Maxtor 80Gb HD

The rest is really unimportant since I can't even get to the BIOS. My best conclusion is the BIOS either was improperly flashed or was somehow erased. This situation is very similar to a few others I've seen on this forum. I just want to know if others agree the BIOS is in error and that's the reason it won't work. Without memory the CD-ROM should flash but the system shouldn't load. Without the CPU the CD-ROM should NOT flash. I know this much because it works that way with my working MB. I am pretty sure that the CPU is functioning and there must be something wrong with the board.

 

[LtPage1]

no idea, but bump for someone who does.

 

[protozoider]

I know there must be some other people who know a bit about what's going on. I've built 4 computers in the past couple years and never had this problem. The trouble is each situation is so different and ASUS doesn't have any information on their site dealing with this type of problem.

 

[mechBgon]

If it keeps hitting on the CD-ROM drive, probably it's trying to recover its BIOS. What core is your 3000+ using, before I recommend a recovery attempt?

Alternately,

1) pull the plug on the system

2) pull the CMOS battery out

3) move the CMOS jumper to the clear position

4) make a sandwich and eat it

5) move the CMOS jumper back to the Run position

6) insert the battery

7) plug it back in and fire it up. Use one memory module in the blue slot.

If that doesn't get it going, test your parts in a different computer as far as possible, then proceed with an out-of-the-case benchtest on a cardboard surface like this.

Still no dice? Check the 115V/230V slider on the PSU and then try a different PSU. Don't forget your ATX12V cable or nothing's going anywhere.

 

[protozoider]

Trust me, I've done everything I could think of. I did exactly that, didn't eat a sandwich but left the CMOS on clear for about 30 seconds. I even tried switching CMOS batteries. I tried it twice. Yes I did check the voltage setting before I started the first time and more than twice after that. All plugs needed to start were in. One odd thing is you and the manual refer to the "blue" slot for the memory but there isn't one. I know that refers to the DIMM1 slot but it isn't blue. Also it looks like someone took a marker and circled the SST logo on the BIOS chip. I don't know what that means. I can't tell by looking what BIOS version it is. It's all just numbers and letters but nothing like 1007 or anything. I just bought this so I would think the BIOS is probably recent. I don't see why BIOS version would make a difference on my display anyway. I believe my CPU core is Newcastle. Any help would be appreciated. I would rather not send it back and wait for a replacement.

 

[mechBgon]

Right about now, I wish I had broadband for faster researching

You can try the BIOS-recovery approach from CD since Asus seems to indicate that all types of 3000+ are supported by all BIOSes.

 

[protozoider]

Yeah I just found that too. Apparently there is a CrashFree Bios tool to recover a corrupt bios. The problem is, if there is no bios or it was flashed improperly you might not be able to recover. I'm going to try it, but if the bios does not exist then I don't know if it will recover. I would need it to be flashed like the factory does. Does the crashfree bios even work if the bios was somehow deleted? What if the board passed by something magnetic or electronic that would delete it? I'll try it but I don't know if it will work. Is it possible my video card isn't compatible? I doubt it but you never know I guess. I tried a 4x card that didn't work and the system did the exact same thing.

 

[mechBgon]

I tried forcing 1T memory command rate on my K8N-E Deluxe once, and it did what you're describing. I probably cleared its CMOS about six or seven times before it decided to work again I certainly don't intend to try that tweak again So the moral of the story is, if at first you don't succeed... destroy all evidence that y-- wait, no, that's not right...

Good luck Gotta call it a night here :moon:

 

[protozoider]

I just tried restoring the bios with the disc and I think it was working but after some time the computer shut off itself. Then when I turned it on it did everything the same but the disc didn't spin and light up before. So I think the BIOS did update, but it wasn't working. So I turned off the power and the fans started going weird and the MB status light kept flashing. I turned it back on and pressed the power button and it wouldn't start up. I was confused. I took everything out and looked close at the motherboard and noticed nothing but I noticed one pin was somehow missing on the processor. Bad news. Yet good news. Bad news is I have to send it back in and get a replacement. Good news is I found out it was the processor. What I wonder is did the processor damage the motherboard? I'm wondering if I should just send them both in for replacements. I don't know. Recommend both? Thanks for all the late night help. I think I've been up way too long.

 

[stevty2889]

If the computer shut iteself off, why restoring the bios...thats bad news, becuase it may have completey screwed the bios chip. Since your CPU was bad, you wont' really get a chance to test that till you get the replacement chip.