"No POST", "system won't boot", and "no video output" troubleshooting checklist

[Proximon]

I think it's pretty well covered by breadboarding, but I've seen it myself. Not that rare.

 

[kyeana]

lol good point, i neglected to read through the breadboarding section before posting.

 

[jsc]

We should include that breadboarding link for sure. I don't completely understand the case switch thing jsc, are you saying to try to boot the build using the reset switch in case the power switch is bad?

Yes.

 

[Proximon]

I really thought the two switches were different, that the power switch itself was more complicated than it is... I got straightened out by someone else last week

 

[jsc]

Nope. Both are just simple push button switches designed for momentary contact. If you look at my little Dysan box, you see the red and black push button switches. I tried twice to superglue the switches into the holes, but I kept getting glue into the switches. Finally, I just went into my "junkbox" and got the two switches.

Hey. I'm a packrat, and that's what packrats do. They save stuff. You never know when you might need something. OTOH, it makes moving Hell.

 

[Proximon]

:lol:

I know the feeling, but it's more books with me

 

[jsc]

Oh, yes. I have a hard time getting rid of books. I have, numerous times, tried the "you cannot buy one until you get rid of one", but I wimp out after about a month.

 

[Proximon]

I lost this link for a bit, but here it is... this can come in handy:

http://www.cwc-group.com/casp.html

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Thanks, I added that to the original checklist.

 

[kubes]

Anyone else notice that since this has been stickied we have been getting a significant lower amount of "my build won't post" threads? And the few we do are much more difficult to trouble shoot it seems. I'm really glad this finally got the attention it deserved.

 

[Proximon]

Ya, we noticed

Oh well, we can't do everything through a forum. At some point you kind of have to surrender on a few of these threads.

 

[Proximon]

 

[clyman]

I know you are past the video card/onboard video thing but I had an ASROCK which is a company started by ASUS in 2002, or so I was told, where you had to first boot with the onboard video, then load the driver for the video card. You were then to shut the computer off and install the video card, change the bios to that video card and then plug the monitor into it. What a pain. Haven't noticed that in the last 30 or so computers I've built.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

hi everyone, new here, I love the tips that shortstuff_mt started and others as well!



100+ great job

Mighty Mouse

 

[littleleo]

I think this is great help for people that are new to assembling their own computers. I would add to #16 to be sure if its a switchable power supply that its set to 115v some power supplies come set to 230v.

 

[randomizer]

I think this is great help for people that are new to assembling their own computers. I would add to #16 to be sure if its a switchable power supply that its set to 115v some power supplies come set to 230v.

You can't assume everyone is from the US. I'd blow my power supply and everything connected if I set it for 115V! It should say something along the lines of "make sure the input voltage switch is in the correct position." It's probably too late if you already tried running the PC with it set wrong though.

 

[Proximon]

I really like this write-up on power outlet grounding:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/264400-28-poor-electrical-ground#t1960163
It's long but I got smarter reading it

 

[drokkon]

You might want to add one more thing to check for: cables running under your mobo that have been "pierced."

I wanted clean cable routing for my recent build, and I've seen people run cables under the motherboard. I'm not sure if they're running them beneath the motherboard or beneath the motherboard tray, but my Antec P180 allowed for very little to run under the tray. As such, I ran a few cables directly under the motherboard, in the area allowed by the standoffs. Bad move! The sharp solder managed to pierce one of the cables, and apparently the bare wire was enough to short the sucker. Rerouted and everything is fine - fortunately I didn't damage anything.

 

[kubes]

@ Drokkon,

You shouldn't be running cables dirrectly underneath your motherboard, they should be under the motherboard tray. The small gap between the board and the tray helps the motherboard breathe some.

 

[Proximon]

Under the tray is fine. Under the MB is not

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Made a few minor changes to the original checklist.

 

[drokkon]

@ Drokkon,

You shouldn't be running cables dirrectly underneath your motherboard, they should be under the motherboard tray. The small gap between the board and the tray helps the motherboard breathe some.

Yeah. As I said, learned that in the school of hard knocks.

Just thought it should be added to the checklist, as it lists other "noobish" things like use standoffs in the first place.

 

[kubes]

Yeah. As I said, learned that in the school of hard knocks.

Just thought it should be added to the checklist, as it lists other "noobish" things like use standoffs in the first place.

Ya I agree. It might not be a bad thing to have in a post, but not sure if it follows the theme for this thread. This is more related to my computer won't boot vs here's a bunch of common mistakes. I guess though if it was added it wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

It was added last week to #13 along with a few other minor changes/additions.

 

[bobdavid00]

Its very nice check list and this information is need when any booting porcess is going on.

Thanks,