So how do you boot a motherboard with no case?

[episodic]

I thought I was being smart - hooked up everything in a cardboard box - then realized - hey there is no power switch.

Please keep any thoughts moronically simple for me

 

[Fardringle]

Just short the pins on the motherboard where the power switch would plug in with a screwdriver and that will make the board think you pushed the switch to turn it on.

 

[GeoffS]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
Just short the pins on the motherboard where the power switch would plug in with a screwdriver and that will make the board think you pushed the switch to turn it on.

Beat me to it! I do this all the time to test rigs...

 

[bluestrobe]

I had a little panel I made up for testing motherboards outside of the cases. Handy little thing, sad that I lost it.

 

[Silverthorne]

Here's what I need, at the very bottom. Sometimes it's way to hard to see the pins so a push button already hooked up would be nice.

 

[Silverthorne]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
Just short the pins on the motherboard where the power switch would plug in with a screwdriver and that will make the board think you pushed the switch to turn it on.

It's actually much safer to use the jumper from a HDD so you don't short something out.

 

[RaySun2Be]

I made one out of an old connector from another dead case, and a momentary ON switch I picked up at Radio Shack. Or just short the leads on the connector.

I've used the screwdriver method as well, when the pins were easy to get to.

 

[networkman]

This is one of the reasons I picked up some older junk AT-style cases -- so I could rip out the Reset button/switches(and cable) to use for caseless/crackrack motherboards.

 

[trevinom]

If the MB is sitting on a cardboard box, I can't see how it would be hard to get to header pins with a flathead screwdriver. All you have to do is find the 2 pins that are labeled PWR_Button and make a momentary connection between the two. There is no chance of you damaging the board. At worst, the board won't boot, if you jumper the wrong combination.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

I have my own swtiches

 

[RaySun2Be]

Originally posted by: networkman
This is one of the reasons I picked up some older junk AT-style cases -- so I could rip out the Reset button/switches(and cable) to use for caseless/crackrack motherboards.

Same here....

 

[Wiz]

Yes, that computer junkyard comes in handy at times like these...

When you are not trying to figure out a way to turn all that junk into another cruncher that is...

 

[JC]

I use the tip of a car key, there's a bunch on the kitchen counter by my skeleton cruncher

 

[JWMiddleton]

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be

I've used the screwdriver method as well, when the pins were easy to get to.

, exactly! Or a key, or any metal object that might be handy. I have 4 systems that are sitting on the mobo box, with no case.

 

[Dalephi]

I have a jumper with a small handle on it. Also I marked the power pins with a red marker to remember which pins to jumper. One of my boards is not very well marked.

 

[mondobyte]

I've got numerous wiring setups from compuer cases of computers that have gone to the recycle bin ... works for me

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: JWMiddleton

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be

I've used the screwdriver method as well, when the pins were easy to get to.

, exactly! Or a key, or any metal object that might be handy. I have 4 systems that are sitting on the mobo box, with no case.

Just remember the spurious RF energy will be quite strong, enough to knock out Garage door signal as JW found out

 

[Wolfsraider]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: JWMiddleton

Originally posted by: RaySun2Be

I've used the screwdriver method as well, when the pins were easy to get to.

, exactly! Or a key, or any metal object that might be handy. I have 4 systems that are sitting on the mobo box, with no case.

Just remember the spurious RF energy will be quite strong, enough to knock out Garage door signal as JW found out

Wow lol

 

[Kenazo]

I usually use my wedding ring to short the jumpers.