Urgent, Need Help!

[Hossman]

:frown: I am trying my first attempt at putting a complete system together for the first time. I am using an AMK 3333 case w/ Enermax 350 watt PS, MSI K7 Master Motherboard, Athlon 1.4, and Crucial DDR-RAM. I put the system together very slowly/carefuly, being as methodical as I could in order to (hopefully) ensure everything went right. Well, it didn't. Everything seemed to be going well enough, until I tried booting the system up. Everything acts normal, I get all the system lights, hard drive lights, etc., all the fans spin up also. However, all I can get is a Video BIOS screen, nothing else. I've tried everything imaginable for hours now, and I can't get it to work. I've tried various video cards, none worked. I even disconnected everything that wasn't absolutely essential to booting the computer (CD ROM, floppy, Hard drive, sound card), so that I was left with only the cpu, motherboard, and ram, and STILL I could not get past the BIOS screen. After awhile I noticed that the "AGP Power Supply" connector wasn't plugged in, so I thought "well there's my problem!" Plugged that in, same problem. Also of note, the Motherboard comes equipped with an Onboard LED Diagnostic Display, which gives me 3 reds and 1 green (which, according to the manual, indicates some sort of video problem). So, needless to say, am exhausted and at a loss. Any help is greatly appreciated, as I just don't know what to do.

 

[bluesky]

Didn't you say you're getting to bios?
You can access the CMOS program?

 

[Hossman]

I should have been more specific. What I mean is, the only screen that comes up says "Geforce3, Bios version 1.0x, etc." I can't access any real bios/cmos functions, however. Also, once it gets to this screen, the only way to get the computer to shut off is by using the 0/1 switch on the back of the case, as the power button on the front won't work. Kind of fishy...

 

[Buz2b]

As far as the switch goes, press and hold it for about 5 seconds and it will shut off. It is the Soft Off feature that does this. Otherwise you have the wires on the pins wrong for the switch.

 

[bluesky]

Well, that's funny.
Never seen like it. Usually you get nothing, or the CMOS program.
So it's not counting the ram. I guess you've tried reinstalling the ram.
Is the board good for any type of DDR?
From my experience, those LED lights are usuall useless.

 

[Hossman]

Well, here's an "interesting" update for you techies. I have finally gotten the machine to POST, after going through much hassle. However, here's what is baffling me. Once it posts, if I turn the machine off and turn it back on I get the same Video Bios screen, and nothing else. No POST, no nothing. I have to completely disassemble the machine and reassemble it again in order to get it to post again. And further adding to this mess is the fact that as soon as I plug in a keyboard it won't post any more. So basically where I'm at now is I can get it to post, except for when I plug in the keyboard (non-USB), which is obviously very vital for getting into the BIOS and changing the settings. Any suggestions?

 

[Hossman]

Well, I have come to think that I have a mad motherboard. I can get it to post now, but it stops on the memory testing stage and seems to be stuck there. Seeing as I have 2 different sticks of brand new Crucial memory, I have a hard time seeing it being the memory. What do you guys think?

 

[joeyd]

dude take out the geforce 3 and put in another card ... it could be the geforce 3 , i had this problem on my a7a

 

[Slingman]

<Hossman here, on different pc>... I have also tried this config with a gefore2 card and it still won't work, so I really don't think it's a graphics card problem. I'm stumped, only thing I can figure is I got a bad board, and I really don't know of any sure-fire way to test that.

 

[Derik]

Try removing one of the RAM chips, perhaps one is damaged or maybe even the DIMM slot itself. Also, give us some info about what parts you are using to build the rig.

 

[Slingman]

Here are the Parts:
AMK 3333 case with 350 watt Enermax Power Supply
MSI K7 Master
Crucial 2100 DDR RAM Cl 2.5
Gainward Geforce3 PowerPak

I have tried to get the system to post using only these bare essential parts and, it cannot get past the memory testing procedure. Seeing as I have (2) 256MB sticks of Crucial RAM and have tried using both at the same time, only one dimm at a time, etc. (in other words, every possible combination), I am led to believe it is a faulty motherboard problem and not the RAM itself. Further adding to this (theory) of mine is the fact that once I turn the system off, when I turn it back on it won't post anymore. The only way to get a post is to completely disconnect *everything* and then reconnect again. So, I don't think it's very likely that I have two bad sticks of RAM, so that rules that out.

Furthermore, I have tried two different video cards, so it's not the video card.

I guess the only other component to consider is the cpu itself but it's not damaged and the general behavior of the system seems to indicate a motherboard problem to me. As this is my first experience with building a computer completely from scratch (although I've changed around and fiddled with parts for many many years now), I could be wrong. What do you guys think? I bought the motherboard from Egghead, by the way, so I am trying to figure out what to tell them come Monday morning when I try and tell them what I need a new part of.

Just in case anyone needs more info to diagnose this problem, all the fans (system, cpu, and Power Supply), do come on. It's just one thing after another and I don't really know what else to think at the moment... I appreciate any help/suggestions in advance.

 

[Buz2b]

Very likely your board is shorting somewhere to the case or standoffs or something. Erratic behavior like this is a strong symptom of shorts or grounding problems. Have you tried booting the board while it is out of the case? You can set it on the pink foam that came with the board. It is anti-static. This would be the only way to find out for sure.

 

[Slingman]

Actually, trying the board out of the case has to be the one thing in the entire world I haven't tried yet. I'll do it and get back with you on my results. Thanks for the suggestion, this has been a real nightmare thus far.

 

[Slingman]

Alright, here's the final results

I took the mobo out of the case, placed it on the anti-static mat, and hooked up the appropriate power supply connections. Same deal as always. The system powers on, I see the video bios screen briefly, I hear one beep (which is just the normal beep we always hear on post-up), it recognizes the processor, says it is testing the RAM, but won't go any further. Can't use the keyboard for input or anything. After that, a reset or a power on/off will render the machine unable to even post, and it will just stay stuck at the video bios screen.

So, I have exhausted every imagineable course of action at this point and can come to no other conclusion other than it being a faulty motherboard. As I've previously stated, I've tried different combinations of brand new sticks of ram, as well as different video cards. So Buzz, what's your take?

 

[Buz2b]

Just to back track a bit for clarification: You press the power button and the fans come on, the drive lights come on, the monitor shows the Video identity and vid BIOS version. Then the screen changes to the standard boot up screen where you can see the Processor speed and the count-up of the RAM. At this point, during the memory count it fails? What kind of keyboard? Standard PS2? Got a usb one? Nah, probably not it. Is the keyboard plug shorting against the I/O plate? I know you said you tried different RAM sticks, one at a time and both, but when you only put one stick in did you use the same slot? If not try the other to confirm. You mentioned other video cards, did you happen to have a PCI Video card to try? I know, if we had all these extra parts laying around we would be in a different business.Probably bad Dimm Slot(s), AGP slot or board. Sure is funny that you are getting the Post Beep though. My gut feeling is that there is something we have missed; some connection or part or jumper or SOMETHING. Did you try a different keyboard (not necessarily a usb one)? A new CMOS battery maybe? I've seen those cause some very strange things. Even had bad ones on new boards before. Besides, they are cheap ($5.00 for two).
That's about the extent of my &quot;grasping at straws&quot;. If nothing else works then just tell Egghead that you have a bad board.
Just remembered two things that are nagging at me. You mentioned finding and plugging in something called &quot;AGP Power supply&quot;. I am not familiar with that board so what the h$ll is that? I have not seen such a thing. You never did get a way to check the cpu in another known working system did you? I know it doesn't sound like that is the problem but hey, stranger things have happened.