troubleshooting pc, first time builder

[zenajoy]

I put together a AMD 64 athlon CPU with a biostar motherboard N4SLI-A9
chipset/NVIDIA nForce4 CK8-04 SLI. I have the Radeon 9200 video card
with a Maxtor hard drive Diamond10. I have 2- 512MB DDR memory sticks.
I was using and old CD drive and CDRW drive from old computer. I was
able to load windows me with the XP upgrade. While loading drivers
however my older cd player was going out. I went and purchased a 16X
DVD writer from Toshiba. After installing the new DVD-RW/CD-RW player
plus keeping my CDRW along with it is when my problem started. Upon
trying to Boot I now have a blank screen (flat screen) that is
recieving power (checked cables, pins ect.). my fans and floppy have
power but both DVD and CRW DO NOT get power(no lights or do not run).
Lights all work on tower but shut off button in front now doesn't work,
must turn off tower from back. I have the jumpers in the correct
positions, checked all cables and plugs are in properly. Thought maybe
it was the new DVD player so went and exchanged for another new one but
am having same problem. My Rosewill tower came with it's own 400watt
power supply installed in it. I'm thinking maybe it is a power supply
problem????? Does anyone have a clue what's going on here? This is the
first time ever doing this and really could use some help... Thanks

 

[Bob M]

I put together a AMD 64 athlon CPU with a biostar motherboard N4SLI-A9
chipset/NVIDIA nForce4 CK8-04 SLI. I have the Radeon 9200 video card
with a Maxtor hard drive Diamond10. I have 2- 512MB DDR memory sticks.
I was using and old CD drive and CDRW drive from old computer. I was
able to load windows me with the XP upgrade. While loading drivers
however my older cd player was going out. I went and purchased a 16X
DVD writer from Toshiba. After installing the new DVD-RW/CD-RW player
plus keeping my CDRW along with it is when my problem started. Upon
trying to Boot I now have a blank screen (flat screen) that is
recieving power (checked cables, pins ect.). my fans and floppy have
power but both DVD and CRW DO NOT get power(no lights or do not run).
Lights all work on tower but shut off button in front now doesn't work,
must turn off tower from back. I have the jumpers in the correct
positions, checked all cables and plugs are in properly. Thought maybe
it was the new DVD player so went and exchanged for another new one but
am having same problem. My Rosewill tower came with it's own 400watt
power supply installed in it. I'm thinking maybe it is a power supply
problem????? Does anyone have a clue what's going on here? This is the
first time ever doing this and really could use some help... Thanks

Take one of the drives out and see if the computer boots up. You're
PSU is probably not good enough. Even though it's a 400w PSU it doesn't
mean it's a good one.

Bob

 

[Guy]

I assume you are using IDE for the hard drive and the optica
drives....it reads like you checked your optical drive jumpers; i
you set both drives to cable select (CS), you remove that as
possible cause

I recommend you put your hard drive on IDE 1, and both optical drive
on IDE 2

There is no reason that your power switch should not work. Verify th
pinouts in your manual. BTW -- if you hold down the case-front powe
button for five seconds, it should shut down the machine.

Verify that all of the power connections to the motherboard ar
connected.

Are you getting any POST code beeps? Waht BIOS does this board use?


Other troubleshooting steps to try

-Unplug your mouse and keyboard and try to boot

-Clear your CMOS -- described in your manual -- then try to boot

Make sure your CPU heatsink fan is plugged in.

HTH

 

[djs0302]

I put together a AMD 64 athlon CPU with a biostar motherboard N4SLI-A9
chipset/NVIDIA nForce4 CK8-04 SLI. I have the Radeon 9200 video card
with a Maxtor hard drive Diamond10. I have 2- 512MB DDR memory sticks.
I was using and old CD drive and CDRW drive from old computer. I was
able to load windows me with the XP upgrade. While loading drivers
however my older cd player was going out. I went and purchased a 16X
DVD writer from Toshiba. After installing the new DVD-RW/CD-RW player
plus keeping my CDRW along with it is when my problem started. Upon
trying to Boot I now have a blank screen (flat screen) that is
recieving power (checked cables, pins ect.). my fans and floppy have
power but both DVD and CRW DO NOT get power(no lights or do not run).
Lights all work on tower but shut off button in front now doesn't work,
must turn off tower from back. I have the jumpers in the correct
positions, checked all cables and plugs are in properly. Thought maybe
it was the new DVD player so went and exchanged for another new one but
am having same problem. My Rosewill tower came with it's own 400watt
power supply installed in it. I'm thinking maybe it is a power supply
problem????? Does anyone have a clue what's going on here? This is the
first time ever doing this and really could use some help... Thanks

Disconnect either the DVD or CDRW and see if your computer boots. If
it does then shutdown and disconnect the drive you have connected and
connect the previously disconnected drive instead and restart the
computer. If it boots then chances are it's probably the power supply.
Not all 400 watt power supplies are created equal. A power supply
actually has 3 different voltage outputs, a 3.3 volt, a 5 volt, and 12
volt. Disk drives get their power from the 12 volt output. A power
supply today needs to supply a bare minimum of 15 amps on the 12 volt
output. 18 to 20 amps would actually be better.