problem building a computer

[m15a]

hi, all. someone just asked me to help them with their problem building a computer, and i have no idea what to suggest. there are little things that anyone can forget, like turning on the power supply, but seems like he has been pretty thorough. anyway, here's his email to me:

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I'm putting together a media server to store all my music and movies, running Linux w/ software RAID 5 across 4 SATA drives, and a fifth drive to hold the OS and boot from.

However, I can't even get as far as installing Linux, because the computer will not even post. I got all the components, hooked them up, flipped the power, and the fans all start to spin up...then nothing. No BIOS, no beeps. The MB, processor, and power supply fans all start up at the same time, and then die half a second later.
- So I unhooked everything except power to the MB, 1 RAM DIMM, and the processor. Same thing.
- My first assumption was the MB was bad, so I called up Asus, and after discussing with them, sent it back. They returned it to me saying it tested out fine.
- So I then tried a known good RAM DIMM, still no good.
- I was using an AMD Sempron in it, I tried an Athlon, still nothing, the fans start to spin up and then die.
- I tried clearing the clock on the MB to no avail. The only other jumper settings on the board are for USB.
- I tried a third power supply, thinking maybe it wasn't getting enough wattage (unlikely with only those things hooked up), and it still wasn't good. - So I figured Asus must be out of their minds, and the MB must be bad, so I got another one of the same type, and it still does not work.
- I'm out of ideas.

The components I am using:
Asus K8N4E-Deluxe MB (Socket 754) http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket754/k8n4-e_d/overview.HTM
Athlon 64 3000+
512 MB Micron PC3200 400Mhz CL3 DIMM
Thermaltake 480W Power Supply
PCI Express video card (can't remember manufacturer)

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thanks for any suggestions you could give.

 

[mechBgon]

Some common newbie mistakes:

1) he didn't put the motherboard on standoffs perhaps?

2) he didn't plug in his ATX12V cable (not optional)

3) he didn't plug in his video-card power cable if so equipped


Also, find out from him precisely what core the processors were, and precisely what model/speed (3000+ or whatever).

If it wasn't any of those issues, then next have him look at the sticker on top of the BIOS chip (example of what a BIOS chip looks like) and report the BIOS revision, which is a four-digit number begining with 10, such as 1005 or whatnot.

 

[wpshooter]

Is he sure that he has the connectors that come from the cases power button ALL on the correct connector pins on the motherboard and that they are ALSO all on the pins in the correct direction (polarity) ????

Edit: See instructions in your motherboard manual.

 

[Fern]

In addition to the above....

Sounds like a mobo short. One of the common causes of this problem.

Remove teh mobo from the case and lay on a phone book and see if she'll boot. I'd leave the drives unhooked (leave 'em in the case, don't needed to boot up) and remove any add-in PCI cards.

Check for an "extra" brass standoff in the case.

Fern