I'm stumped!

[starlounger]

Ok, I build PC's quite often and do upgrades and whatnot and I'm totally stumped. Either way I'm trying to help out my friend who's computer just won't post at all. Here's a what's going on.

1. When first inspecting her computer, I tried changing out the power supply, memory, and CPU with an identical system (her parents have the same one). Nothing happened so I assumed it was the motherboard.
2. Ordered her a brand new motherboard put it in the system. Plug in the power cord and it already starts powering the CPU fan and HD (but the HD will only go on when the IDE is disconnected.
3. Swapped memory, nothing happened.
4. Swapped power supplies nothing happened.
5. Popped her CPU into my MB and her CPU is fine.
6. Popped her memory into my MB, it's fine too.
7. I've got nothing plugged into the thing, removed the one PCI device, and everything else is onboard (including video).
9. I've made sure the CPU and RAM are properly seated a million times.
10. I've even cleared the BIOS on a couple of occasions.
11. And set DIP switches to an FSB of 166 which is standard for this CPU, and have also tried at 100, or 133 which ever is default.

Here are the things that really have me puzzled:
1. Connecting power to the Power Suply will turn the computer on.
2. Having no Pwr. Button connected to the main pin header doesn't seem to effect it.
3. Won't power off even if it is connected via the power button.
4. HD won't spin unless IDE is unplugged.

The Hardware:
Asus A7V400 (mATX)
AMD Athlon XP 2600+ (tbred)
512MB Samsung RAM (single DIMM)
Generic 300 watt power supply (have tried with my good 350 watt too)
WD 80GB HD

Pretty barebones machine, and I can't even get a post screen.

Suggestions?

 

[Pathogen03]

Take it out of the case, it sounds like your motherboard may be grounded.. try just laying all the pieces on a cardboard box and booting it up.

 

[starlounger]

I just tried that and it's a no go...still does the same damn thing. Do you think it's possible that the new MB was dead out of the box?

I just find it really weird that it's having the same exact problem as before, and I know that the CPU and RAM are good because I've tested them in my own PC, and I've tried my PSU in their computer with the same results.

 

[daniel49]

how does the harddrive repond say if you slave it off a good machine can it be read?

 

[starlounger]

I'm pretty sure the hard drive is fine, and I'm not concerned about it considering the computer won't post.

 

[leegroves86]

hmm, sounds like someone is in a pickle. BUMP