new (old) system refuses to work

  • Thread starter Thread starter Peter
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Peter

Hi! I decided to build a system from the components I used to have on my
main machine and am having problems. The system sends no signal to the
monitor. I changed video cards but it did not help. I haven't used the
motherboard in over a year. Could it be that the motherboard is dead?
Thanks
 
Peter:
Hi! I decided to build a system from the components I used to have on my
main machine and am having problems. The system sends no signal to the
monitor. I changed video cards but it did not help. I haven't used the
motherboard in over a year. Could it be that the motherboard is dead?
Click to expand...

what are the components?
 
Peter said:
Hi! I decided to build a system from the components I used to have on my
main machine and am having problems. The system sends no signal to the
monitor. I changed video cards but it did not help. I haven't used the
motherboard in over a year. Could it be that the motherboard is dead?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Geez, I'm gonna have to put this in my sig. Most common complaint is "no
video". Many things have to happen before video. Check the basics. When
you turn on a computer, several things happen . . .

- CPU waits for good power signal (so power supply and mainboard and CPU
must be good)
- CPU starts running POST program stored in BIOS (mainboard, CPU and RAM
must be good)
- After POST, video card is initialized. (at this point, you might get
video, showing various hardware detected and system checking RAM)
- Finally, CPU looks for OS to boot, using boot order stored in CMOS

You are stuck somewhere in step one or two, as your video card is not
getting initialized. Thus, your computer is not POSTing, or not finishing
POST. If you are getting nothing (not even error beeps) then you need to
start from scratch and check ALL your cables, make sure your power supply
isn't dead, and make sure ALL the jumpers on the mainboard are set properly.
Your mainboard could be dead, but this is somewhat unlikely. Most likely,
you have a loose cable, or a cable improperly installed. -Dave
 
All fans are working, so the power supply is fine. I removed the CPU fan,
turned the system on for 10 sec or so, the CPU started getting hot, so I
guess the motherboard is not dead. However, I am getting no beeps when I
turn it on....
Thanks
 
All fans are working, so the power supply is fine. I removed the CPU fan,
turned the system on for 10 sec or so, the CPU started getting hot, so I
guess the motherboard is not dead. However, I am getting no beeps when I
turn it on....
Thanks
Click to expand...

Take the board out of the system and try powering it up to check that
it's not grounding to the case.
Also pull the power rom the board,change CMOS battery and then clear
the CMOS and then add power back to the board.
HTH :)





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I think the CMOS battery might be the reason. I haven't used this board in
over a year. Could the battery lose its charge?
 
Could the battery lose its charge?


yes


Peter said:
I think the CMOS battery might be the reason. I haven't used this board in
over a year. ?


have on
my signal to
the used complaint is
"no basics. mainboard (mainboard, CPU
and you might
get not you need
to power Most
Click to expand...
 
I think the CMOS battery might be the reason. I haven't used this board in
over a year. Could the battery lose its charge?
Click to expand...

Yes.ATX powered systems have a residual current applied across the
CMOS battery when the power supply is plugged into the back of the
system even if the system isn't on.This keeps a trickle charge to the
battery.Depending on the state of the battery it may accept a charge
however for the cost of a new one it's not worth the hassle.
The most common are the 2032 and you can get them loads of places even
ADSA/Wallmart/Staples office supplies chains etc.





--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
remove obvious to reply
email (e-mail address removed)
Free original songs to download and,"BURN" :O)
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm
 
Ok. I changed the battery (took one from another system that worked 5 min
ago), reset CMOS settings, took the MB out of the case, and powered it up.
All fans were working but once again there was no beep and no signs of life
on the monitor. Any ideas?
Thanks
 
integrated graphics? Or PCI card.
Integrated make sure its enabled in the bios
PCI - move it to another slot.
If the machine has been sitting for a while, remove all cards and
memory and reseat them.
 
It's an AGP card - Albratron nVidia FX5600 128MB. I've tried replacing
cards, taking out the memory - same results....
 
Got some memory in it?
Got a keyboard plugged into the keyboard slot?
Lights flash on keyboard when booting?
Got a video cable plugged in?
Got power turned on to the monitor?
Got a floppy conected?
Got the floppy cable the right way around?
Something simple is more than likely the reason..........
 
Yes, there's memory in it. I've tried every slot.

Yes, the keyboard is plugged in

Yes, the lights on the keyboard flash when booting

Yes, the video cable is in

Yes, the monitor is on

Why do I need a floppy to boot?
 
After reading all the posts, I have to say it is very very likely the mb is
dead.
Do you have another mb? try to same video card on the mb and test it.
 
Exactly. I don't need a floppy to see the post screen but there's still
nothing on the monitor and the monitor's power light is yellow, which means
there's no signal at all. I guess I'll end up buying a new motherboard....
 
well other than the simple diagnosis of 'fans spin power supply is
good" which doesn't 'conclusively rule out he PSU, it seems the MB
isn't doing to well. . Have you cleaned the contacts of the cards and
slots?/
 
Peter said:
All fans are working, so the power supply is fine. I removed the CPU fan,
turned the system on for 10 sec or so, the CPU started getting hot, so I
guess the motherboard is not dead. However, I am getting no beeps when I
turn it on....
Thanks
Click to expand...

Fans are very forgiving, voltage wise. I wouldn't be surprised if the CPU
is dead now, though. -Dave
 
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