Weird Startup Problems

[SLCentral]

I had my Shuttle XPC working fine, but I am working on an article for SLCentral so I had to take it apart a little to take some pictures. I left the CPU alone, but everything else was taken out. When I put it back together, I turned it on and all the fans run, but thats it. No POST, no beeps, etc. I've tried resetting the BIOS/CMOS by taking the battery out for 30+ minutes as well as just resetting the BIOS with the jumper for 5 seconds, neither had any luck. Not sure as to what is going on. Also, the HDD LED permenantly stays on when the system is turned on, even if just the optical drive is plugged in. If neither HDD or Optical Drive are plugged in, the HDD light does not go on.

Specs:

Shuttle XPC ST61G4
3GHz P4
512MB PC3200 Crucial RAM (also tried a stick of PC2700 Crucial)
9700 Pro
40GB Maxtor HDD
Lite-On DVD Burner

Please help .

Thanks!

 

[jdw2]

I had that same problem with my machine. I tried different RAM, a MoBo, CPU...low and behold it was the power supply. I suggest taking a look into that. I got fooled cause i saw the fans going on so I thought it couldn't be the power supply

 

[SLCentral]

Damn, a Shuttle XPC Power-supply isn't easy to replace. I think it might be a lack of thermal paste, so I'll add some more onto the current tomorrow morning.

 

[SLCentral]

Tested another PSU, thats def. not it.

 

[SLCentral]

I put some more thermal on (actually cleaned the chip first, then did it), still doesn't work. What could it be?! Did I somehow manage to fry my CPU/mobo?

EDIT: I noticed a bit of leftover thermal paste between two of the edge pins that I can't get out. Could this be the problem?

 

[Fern]

Given that the HDD LED stays on, I suggest you re-check those connections. It IS possible to get the IDE cable coinnected wrong, and when that happens, these are the symptoms.

Good Luck with it.

 

[SLCentral]

What is strange is that even when the IDE cables aren't connected, the problem still happens, just no HDD LED. Even without IDE drives connected, the computer should POST. But it doesnt. Thanks for the help so far, I'll go and check connections anyways.

BTW, I cleaned out that little thermal between the pins, no help.

 

[idcandy]

Hmm, I was going to say it was the IDE LED plug. Same thing happened to me once...Also had this problem with a kicked PSU.

Try removing your mobo and reinstalling it (can you do that easily with a shuttle?). You may have a short between the case and mobo.

Also, reseat your RAM. Try running it as minimalistically as possible: mobo, RAM, processor...that's it (I'm guessing the video output is built into the mobo on a shuttle)...

 

[SLCentral]

I can't really reseat the mobo, well I'm sure I can but its such a pain in the ass on a Shuttle, plus I don't see how it could be shorting. Theres no way anything could get under there. I've been trying it with mobo, RAM, processor the entire time, still nothing, its so frusterating. Though I should mention something. When I first installed it (after taking it apart), I put the RAM DIMM in the wrong way, so I turned it on and the fans turned on for a second, then turned off, but the system remained on. Without noticing, I left it on like this for about 5 seconds. Could this have fried the CPU?

 

[SLCentral]

Anyone know? It's so hard to not play Doom 3!

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: SLCentral
I can't really reseat the mobo, well I'm sure I can but its such a pain in the ass on a Shuttle, plus I don't see how it could be shorting. Theres no way anything could get under there. I've been trying it with mobo, RAM, processor the entire time, still nothing, its so frusterating. Though I should mention something. When I first installed it (after taking it apart), I put the RAM DIMM in the wrong way, so I turned it on and the fans turned on for a second, then turned off, but the system remained on. Without noticing, I left it on like this for about 5 seconds. Could this have fried the CPU?

I would think it's more likely you damaged the dimm slot. I dorked a mobo that way. Wonder if it will post if you take the ram out of that slot? Can't remember if mine would.

 

[SLCentral]

I tried putting it in the other slot, no luck either. BUt I can't remember if i put it in both slots incorrectly. I bet that is the problem.