Completely Stumped - Build Issue

[1ceHacka]

Alright tech veterans, I need your thinkers. I have been working on this issue for about a month now with no success at all. I had some spare parts that I was building a system for my Mother-in-law, and for some reason...its not working out. All parts were in working order before putting this system together.

Here is the issue, when I boot the system with noting but the cpu, fan, psu, and mobo...nothing happens. I have replaced the CPU and the motherboard. I have tried different PSU, different memory (and no memory), different video cards....nothing works. The cpu fan and psu turn on, but I don't get any of the post beeps with either of the Mobo's (1 of them is BRAND new...just arrived today).

I am stumped. If anyone can lead me in a direction of something to try...please post!! Thanks!

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

maybe the bios battery is dead
the HD may be dead
it wouldn't post if the cpu wasn't working

 

[Soccerman06]

^^

does the hdd spin?

oh and post system specs.

 

[1ceHacka]

When the HDD is plugged in it spins. But I can't even get this to post. I have tried two seperate MB's, two PSU's, two CPU's.

Pentium D 820
Asus P5LD2 Deluxe
2x 2GB Gskill DDR2800
Coolermaster 450W PSU


Also,

Another seperate P D 820
BIOSTAR G31D-M7 LGA 775 Intel G31 Micro ATX Intel (brand new)
Another 450W PSU (can't remember brand offhand)
2x 1GB Gskill DDR2

 

[1ceHacka]

AHHHHH I can't figure this out. Not posting makes me think CPU but one is new/working.

 

[TheStu]

At this point you have a lot of different pieces here, and a lot of combinations that you can try, so just start shotgunning it, and remember to be careful with static discharge.

 

[CoachB]

Have you checked to see if the CMOS jumper is in the run position? CPU fan plugged into the CPU fan header? You do have a speaker attached to the mobo?? Are you sure the on/off and reset switches are attached properly?? Lastly, have you tried assembly outside of the case like on a piece of cardboard or plywood?

I'm really grasping at straws so don't be offended if some of these seem to be no-brainers. Sometimes the simple little things are what get you.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: CoachB
Have you checked to see if the CMOS jumper is in the run position? CPU fan plugged into the CPU fan header? You do have a speaker attached to the mobo?? Are you sure the on/off and reset switches are attached properly?? Lastly, have you tried assembly outside of the case like on a piece of cardboard or plywood?

I'm really grasping at straws so don't be offended if some of these seem to be no-brainers. Sometimes the simple little things are what get you.

You said it! I was hornswoggled for a day on a new build because some of the case connectors were reversed where they plugged into the MB. Fans but no post.

 

[1ceHacka]

It seems like they are in correctly. That's my problem though...fans are on but no POST or anything. I don't have to have all the case connectors connected do I? Just have the speaker and power switch connected right now.

 

[Zap]

Something shorting out in the case? Try testing the motherboard outside of the case.

 

[1ceHacka]

I tried the Motherboard both in the case and outside. I took a really close look at the new motherboard, and it looks like there was some damage sometime on a small area near one of the bridge chips. I am gonna have to RMA it and try again I think. The board doesn't have the best out of the box track record after reading more reviews.

 

[1ceHacka]

I tried the other MB and components in 2 different cases as well as sitting on an antistatic bag. Seems like there is a ghost in my components...

 

[Eureka]

Firstly, sitting on an anti-static bag is a bad way to test components. Static-bags work by being slightly conductive, however this can also create shorts. Test it on anti-static plastic or foam.

Also, you said there might be damage. Take a magnifying glass and look at the chip, make sure there's no broken pins or anything.

You may just have a bad board, RMA it.

I wonder what else would make it not post. Not sure if the lack of a cpu would do it.

 

[1ceHacka]

The board I just bought is getting RMA for sure.

I want to see if I am clear on something, what is the MINIMUM required components for a board to POST? I want to eliminate everything not needed so that I can start narrowing this down to the culprit.

 

[stevf]

minimum to see if you can get into bios is psu, mb, cpu(and fan of course), some ram, and video (onboard fine if present) but it doesnt hurt to just try psu, mb, cpu and see if fans spin etc, then add memory and video

 

[1ceHacka]

Yeah, I have been doing that...but even with the PSU, CPU (and fan), and the Mobo, I still don't get a POST beep.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: 1ceHacka
Yeah, I have been doing that...but even with the PSU, CPU (and fan), and the Mobo, I still don't get a POST beep.

You should get a series of POST errors indicating an issue with RAM or VGA. Does the mobo have a speaker onboard? Or do you need to plug one in?

 

[1ceHacka]

I have had the case speaker plugged into the board. The only other switch plugged in was the on/off power switch.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Kinda have to ask, is the speaker plugged in the right way...IOW, if you flip it around and plug it in does it beep at you?

 

[1ceHacka]

At work now, but I know I tried it both ways last night.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Check for bent pins in the socket, haven't see to many boards with bent pins but it happens. Make sure the power connectors are securely in the plugs.