A7N8X-E Won't POST at all

[WildRiver]

I'm having the same situation that one of the previous posters is having.
Since his questions weren't resolved, I thought I'd try posting with my own
post.

A7N8X-E board
XP 2200+ processor
256Mb DDR PC2100 Crucial RAM
Antec 300W PSU

I, too, can get the female voice screaming at me when the board is out of
the case and the CPU is removed. When the CPU is reinserted, I get no
voices. Removing the memory doesn't generate a message, although you'd
think it would. The mobo green power light is on, and the CPU fan spins.
At this point, there is nothing else other than the video card hooked up.
Floppy drive is not hooked up, nor is hard drive. Have tried three
different video cards (2 AGP, 1 PCI), two different working monitors, have
reset the CMOS and replaced the battery (as per previous post). Powered
speakers are plugged into rear line out. Still no joy. I get absolutely
no video, no beeps, and no vocalizations. I've reseated the CPU several
times (it's new), and am loathe to pull the CPU from my working machine
(also an Athlon), as I need to be able to check this message board. So,
what else can I do? Flashing the bios or running Memtest86 without having
anything on the monitor would be counter-productive, I'd think. So, what's
next? Can't afford another CPU or board...
JR

 

[Lopaka]

Are the Video cards 1.5v type? I had this symptom once trying a 3v card
and the red led (if you have one)
did not light up. (A7N8X DLX 2.0) <Lo

 

[AndrewJ]

I'm having the same situation that one of the previous posters is having.
Since his questions weren't resolved, I thought I'd try posting with my own
post.

A7N8X-E board
XP 2200+ processor
256Mb DDR PC2100 Crucial RAM
Antec 300W PSU

Just to be sure, the only real reset is:
Unplug PC.
Remove battery.
Move jumper next to battery from 1-2 pins to 2-3 pins for ten seconds.
Put back on 1-2 pins. Replace battery, plug in and reboot.

A PSU on its last leg can give the problems you report.The green board
light being on doesn't always mean there will be enough juice in the
PSU to boot up.
The board is RAM picky and a few have posted that Crucial was their
problem after all.

If you got the board at a good reseller like Mwave or Newegg they will
give you an instant RMA number by email for returning the board or
CPU.
Mwave RMA:
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/form.hmx?UID=&CID=&Back=

Newegg RMA:
https://secure.newegg.com/app/Login.asp

__________
If you give a little they give a lot.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/disco

 

[WildRiver]

Yes, the AGP card is 1.5V -- it's fairly modern.

Are the Video cards 1.5v type? I had this symptom once trying a 3v card
and the red led (if you have one)
did not light up. (A7N8X DLX 2.0) <Lo

 

[Ben Pope]

I'm having the same situation that one of the previous posters is having.
Since his questions weren't resolved, I thought I'd try posting with my
own post.

A7N8X-E board
XP 2200+ processor
256Mb DDR PC2100 Crucial RAM
Antec 300W PSU

I, too, can get the female voice screaming at me when the board is out of
the case and the CPU is removed. When the CPU is reinserted, I get no
voices. Removing the memory doesn't generate a message, although you'd
think it would. The mobo green power light is on, and the CPU fan spins.
At this point, there is nothing else other than the video card hooked up.
Floppy drive is not hooked up, nor is hard drive. Have tried three
different video cards (2 AGP, 1 PCI), two different working monitors, have
reset the CMOS and replaced the battery (as per previous post). Powered
speakers are plugged into rear line out. Still no joy. I get absolutely
no video, no beeps, and no vocalizations. I've reseated the CPU several
times (it's new), and am loathe to pull the CPU from my working machine
(also an Athlon), as I need to be able to check this message board. So,
what else can I do? Flashing the bios or running Memtest86 without having
anything on the monitor would be counter-productive, I'd think. So,
what's next? Can't afford another CPU or board...
JR

Flashing it would probably be futile as there is only one BIOS version, I
think.

Have you tried clearing CMOS? Do it properly! You need to remove the power
cord, and the CMOS battery, hit the power button as if you were gonna turn
it on (obviously it won't turn on, but it should discharge the smoothing
caps in the PSU which can power CMOS for several minutes), then do the clear
cmos as described in the manual.

Also, when you boot it again for the first time, try holding the insert key.

I also recommend just having CPU, RAM and Vid card in for now, don't even
bother with any drives until you see the video initialise.

Good luck.

Ben

 

[WildRiver]

Thanks for the help, Ben, but the machine's still not posting at all. It
may be time to RMA the board to NewEgg and the CPU to AMD. It's possible my
CPU is cooked, but I can't check it on my other machine, as that board
(A7A266 rev. 1.03) will not accept it. As I said, I'm loathe to mess up my
one working AMD machine.

 

[Mike_]

I was having the same problem and eventually received and used some troubleshooting steps
from asus that helped to sort out the problem (I posted the instructions just now in an
earlier thread).

Basically you have to pull everything out, let the computer POST, then put one thing back
in at a time starting with the cpu, memory, then videocard.

What do you have the mb sitting on when it's out of the case?

mike

 

[WildRiver]

When it's out of the case, it's sitting on the antistatic bag it came in.
As I said, when it's out of the case, and the CPU isn't installed, I am able
to get the "CPU not installed" message. As soon as the CPU is installed,
the voice stops (whether or not I have memory installed). There's no video
at all, despite switching cards (AGP to PCI) and swapping PCI slots.

Would a tiny dab of thermal grease on the CPU pins (from messy fingers)
make any difference as to whether the CPU would POST?

I was having the same problem and eventually received and used some troubleshooting steps
from asus that helped to sort out the problem (I posted the instructions just now in an
earlier thread).

Basically you have to pull everything out, let the computer POST, then put one thing back
in at a time starting with the cpu, memory, then videocard.

What do you have the mb sitting on when it's out of the case?

mike

 

[Ben Pope]

When it's out of the case, it's sitting on the antistatic bag it came in.

You think it's wise to put a motherboard on conductive material and power
it? Interesting...

As I said, when it's out of the case, and the CPU isn't installed, I am
able to get the "CPU not installed" message. As soon as the CPU is
installed, the voice stops (whether or not I have memory installed).
There's no video at all, despite switching cards (AGP to PCI) and
swapping PCI slots.

Would a tiny dab of thermal grease on the CPU pins (from messy fingers)
make any difference as to whether the CPU would POST?

Oh yeah, sounds like an excellent idea, especially if you're using Arctic
Silver or another electrically conductive thermal paste.

You cold try immersing the thing in water too. Or iron filings... a
generous sprinkling should be sufficient.

Ben

 

[callsignviper]

When it's out of the case, it's sitting on the antistatic bag it came in.
As I said, when it's out of the case, and the CPU isn't installed, I am able
to get the "CPU not installed" message. As soon as the CPU is installed,
the voice stops (whether or not I have memory installed). There's no video
at all, despite switching cards (AGP to PCI) and swapping PCI slots.

Hmmm..........applying power to a device while resting on a conductive
surface..........hmmmmmm!!!!!

Would a tiny dab of thermal grease on the CPU pins (from messy fingers)
make any difference as to whether the CPU would POST?

Double hmmmmmm..................How would THAT be possible since the CPU
should be installed in the socket and THEN thermal paste is carefully
applied to the CPU die WITHOUT using fingers for the application??????



--
callsignviper


The truth is out there. You just have to look in the right places and ask
the right questions.

 

[WildRiver]

Well, it's quite easy to do, actually, if some of the grease is on your
fingers while inserting the CPU in the socket -- from removing and reseating
it.

 

[Ben Pope]

Well, it's quite easy to do, actually, if some of the grease is on your
fingers while inserting the CPU in the socket -- from removing and
reseating it.

It's also quite easy not to do.

I recommend not doing it.

Ben

 

[callsignviper]

Well, it's quite easy to do, actually, if some of the grease is on your
fingers while inserting the CPU in the socket -- from removing and reseating
it.

Removing thermal paste (especially slightly conductive thermal paste) from
fingers is NOT that difficult and highly recommended when handling sensitive
electronic components.

I always clean the thermal paste from the CPU prior to removal and
reinstallation. It only takes a few minutes and prevents the problems you
have described. I also avoid touching the CPU die AND pins with my fingers
when installing/removing a processor from one of my systems.


--
callsignviper


The truth is out there. You just have to look in the right places and ask
the right questions.

 

[WildRiver]

I always clean the CPU (and my fingers) before reinserting the CPU, as you
mentioned. Somehow, I missed some, and a bit of it got on a couple of the
pins the last time I reinserted the processor. Although you suggest
avoiding touching the CPU's die with your fingers, I find it's easier to get
a thin, even coating of grease with an index finger than with a credit card,
business card, etc. As I'm always quite careful about ESD, that's not a
real issue. Anyway, I mentioned the tiny amount of grease on a couple of
the pins almost as an aside. It's possible, I suppose, that could affect
whether the board posts. Again, the CPU was new -- although it has been
removed/reinstalled several times, and I am fairly certain it works. Just
not 100% postive, as I don't have another board into which I can insert it
and test. So, I'm still at the "it's not posting at all" stage, although I
do hear the "CPU not installed" message when I test it outside of the box
without the processor inserted. I'm just trying to determine if there's a
remote possibility that the CPU may be bad. Wouldn't I get the "CPU not
inserted" message if it weren't functioning (but inserted)? And, how can I
clean the tiny amounts of thermal paste from between the pins on the
underside of the CPU? Any suggestions? Lighter fluid? Acetone? What tool
would be small enough to do it without bending anything? Straightening bent
CPU pins when you're blind is a bitch, let me tell you, so I'd like to avoid
that if possible. Thanks.

 

[callsignviper]

I always clean the CPU (and my fingers) before reinserting the CPU, as you
mentioned. Somehow, I missed some, and a bit of it got on a couple of the
pins the last time I reinserted the processor. Although you suggest
avoiding touching the CPU's die with your fingers, I find it's easier to get
a thin, even coating of grease with an index finger than with a credit card,
business card, etc. As I'm always quite careful about ESD, that's not a
real issue. Anyway, I mentioned the tiny amount of grease on a couple of
the pins almost as an aside. It's possible, I suppose, that could affect
whether the board posts. Again, the CPU was new -- although it has been
removed/reinstalled several times, and I am fairly certain it works. Just
not 100% postive, as I don't have another board into which I can insert it
and test. So, I'm still at the "it's not posting at all" stage, although I
do hear the "CPU not installed" message when I test it outside of the box
without the processor inserted. I'm just trying to determine if there's a
remote possibility that the CPU may be bad. Wouldn't I get the "CPU not
inserted" message if it weren't functioning (but inserted)? And, how can I
clean the tiny amounts of thermal paste from between the pins on the
underside of the CPU? Any suggestions? Lighter fluid? Acetone? What tool
would be small enough to do it without bending anything? Straightening bent
CPU pins when you're blind is a bitch, let me tell you, so I'd like to avoid
that if possible. Thanks.

I use lighter fluid to remove thermal paste and then isopropyl alcohol to
finish cleaning the CPU die. I suppose you might try cleaning the pins and
socket in a similar manner. You might be able to clean the pins with a
toothpick that has been slightly dampened in lighter fluid. If any of the
thermal paste got into the CPU socket I'm not sure what type(s) of
problem(s) you might see. Maybe what you have described.


As far as the board not posting it seems you've tried what you can. The only
other things I can suggest would be different ram and a different power
supply. I know you have Crucial ram but sometimes that can be the problem.
You also have an Antec 300 Watt which should be sufficient but sometimes the
simplest things can cause the strangest problems.


If you can't test with different ram and power supply then maybe an RMA is
the only answer.

Good luck.


--
callsignviper


The truth is out there. You just have to look in the right places and ask
the right questions.

 

[WildRiver]

Thanks for the follow up. Yes, it's time for an RMA.
JR