help the noobie!! my comp won't start :*(

[pat]

You obviously did not read a lot, either the FAQ or your manual. In your manual, there is a picture of your board, with the connectors explained. The SATA connector are provided by the nvidia chipset while the RAID are provided for the third party controller, the Silicon image chip at the bottom of yor board. The HDD should be plugged in the non RAID connector. note that you can use RAID with them too, if you have 2 identical HDD, but stay away from that now... Just remember that with one HDD, you are not in RAID and the BIOS should be configured as such for the nvidia controller, if set for RAID bu default. Here again, read your manual.

dont plug too much thing for now. you need only the RAM/CPU/videocard to have it POST.

And by the way, did you notice if the floppy cable is keyed?? check to make sure that it will be correctly connected if you ever get the board to POST.

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Nitrom]

BUY A USED OR REFURB MONITOR???

Correct me if I am wrong...but I understand that monitors are manufactured to have a specific life span and then they start to go bad slowly...

Buying a used or refurb monitor is like buying something that will last not too long....right?

 

[pat]

I cannot correct you on that, I did not post that.

You should reply to the message you want to and not the last in the list, if you want more succes with your discussion.

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[loneg1]

yep, that's the problem. No beep, no screen, no boot. The machine seems to be working fine, all the fans are all spinning(cpu fan, psu, chasis fans, video card fan, chip fan), the lights(chasis LEDs, motherboard, etc) are on, but it just won't boost, grr...

It is mentioned in my mobo manual, the chasis speaker connector. Unfortunately, it seems like my chasis doesn't have it. However, in my mobo manual, it says "The ASUS POST Reporter lets you hear vocal messages during POST that alerts you of system events and boot status." It seems like if the problem was encountered druing POST, I should be able to know, unless it happened before the POST proccess.

oh oh .. thanks for the explaination. ya, the "Single Video Card" side is in the slot at default.

GC stands for graphic card right? LOL, ya I have it installed now. I didn't know at first, hehe .. 😛


Thanks for teaching me TAZ 😀 you must had spent a lot of time to type those, thx!

 

[loneg1]

Thx for da reply Pat!

I didn't read the FAQ first, tho I did read my mobo manual thoroughly. It's the only guide I have that shows me the proccess. I swear it doesn't say anything about grounding(nor the chasis manual), and it doesn't say that I should plug the SATA signal cable in the SATA1 slot, instead of SATA_RAID1. It only introduces what they are and who's the provider. It might be a common sense to you experts, but not to a noobie like me 😛 sorry
anyways, I did try to plug the SATA signal cable in the SATA1 connector, but the problem remains.

I did what you've said, unplugged everything except PSU/RAM/CPU/video card, but .. sigh .. the screen was still showing nothing, the activity LEDs on the RAM sticks weren't flashing either.

Thanks again Pat! I must have giving you a headache, dealing with a noobie like me :/
sorry :*(

I've updated my first post with more info about my old PC specs, and current computer parts that I have. In case ne of you might need

 

[loneg1]

I assume that you were replying this to me?

I bought a new <A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=24-172-050&depa=1" target="_new">Iiyama 19" CRT Monitor </A>.

I used the DVI to VGA adapter provided by the video card manufacture, to connect the monitor cable to the new video card.
It works great on my old PC.

 

[loneg1]

After clearing CMOS memory as described in the manual, I've tried to reinstall the whole thing ..

Power off -> unplugged everything -> took out mobo -> took off CPU heatsink(damn .. this thing is hard to remove) -> reinstalled CPU and heatsink -> put the mobo in the case -> plugged the cables (PSU, fans) -> installed video card/2 sticks of RAM -> powered up -----> Problem remained.

Well .. my conclusion is .. it's either the mobo is already damaged(like PAT said, due to grounding), or it's the RAM.

I've noticed that the activity LEDs of my RAM weren't flashing at all. I've tested my new RAM on my old comp, LEDs were flashing constantly, and it worked terrifically. Unless they only flash after or during POST, otherwise if it's working, it should be flashing I guess.

I'm ordering a pair of CMX512-3200C2 from newegg, since they are in the <A HREF="http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket939/a8nsli-d/qvl.htm" target="_new">Qualified Vendor List</A>, I decided to give em a try .. if they work, I'll return the ones that I have right now.

 

[pat]

Where and how did you ground the board?

Oh, the laugh you gave me at the beginning compensate widely for the headache.. dont worry about that...

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[Cybercraig]

Is the CPU H/S fan spinning? 24 Pin Power cable? Sata power cable plugged in tight?

Abit IS7 - 3.0C @ 3.6ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[loneg1]

ya, like I said b4, fans are all working fine.

It's actually a 20-pin Main Power cable. I'm sure that I've tightened all the cables.

 

[loneg1]

well .. it's kinda hard to explain .. I don't think it's the grounding problem anymore. I've even tried to take out the mobo from chasis(cables and everything were still connected of course), and turn on the power, but no luck.

hey, can incompatible RAM cause this also?

 

[pat]

My question is how did you get the board grounded the first time?


-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!

 

[TAZ]

the voice at post works through the sound card not the mobo speaker and it only kicks in after a succesfull self test. if you don't have a mobo/case speaker then you can't hear the bios beeps regardless, but if you're not getting to post and the board is definetly getting power then you're probably right to check the RAM.



________________________________________________________
know your limits, and never stop trying to exceed them!

 

[loneg1]

hmm .. I just called the asus tech support this afternoon. He told me that my Antec 20-pin Main Power connector will not work on my motherboard. However .. after searching on the net, I've found that a 20-pin PSU is workable on 24-pin mobo. But I'm still gonna give it a try anyways, since I'm running out of ideas .. I just ordered a 20-pin to 24-pin adapter. Hopefully it'll do the trick ...

Another thing that I've noticed recently .. is the chip fan of the mobo is a lil bit loud and buzzy. After unplugging it's connecter, the whole system is dead silent. Might it be an indication that my mobo is not functioning well ..?

 

[loneg1]

well, since the manuals didn't mention anything about grounding, so first I lined up the mobo as described in the chasis manual, and then simply tighten it up with screws. After I installed every other parts according to mobo user guide, I've tried to power it up couple times before I realized the grounding issue. Is it possible that I've damaged the mobo already 🙁

 

[loneg1]

ya, I plugged the speaker cable in the mobo everytime I tried to turn the computer on, but I've never heard any vocal message.

well, all I can do right now is to wait for the new RAM and 20-pin to 24-pin adapter to be delivered. If it still won't work .. I'm gonna cry :*(

 

[pat]

Damn.. that was not a small grounding problem, but a major one... I would not be surprised that you killed that board.

You may have killed some expensive pieces of hardware ... Paying to learn...

-Always put the blame on you first, then on the hardware !!!