Build from old parts

zipzappy · 10-23-2009, 09:59 AM

Hi i just recently put together a PC from old parts, i don't remember exactly what each part is but im going to do my best to list them. heres the problem though, when i turn on the PC i hear the fans and then that one beep noise, but then nothing shows up on the monitor, no BIOS or picture at all,

heres what i have tried so far:

-different monitor
-reseating the ram
-reseating the CPU
-reseating the video card
-different hard drive
-different power supply
-different video card
-reseting the CMOS by removing the battery and then putting it back

heres what im working with

AMD processor 1.0ghz
geforce 2mx video card
1 256 ram (it might be 512) don't remember

FreeNerd · 10-23-2009, 10:26 AM

My wife is always on my case for my computer hardware graveyard, but I keep pulling working systems out for friends and family that need them so the old hardware still has some value to it and it's better than a landfill if you ask me. So I applaud your efforts to reuse / recycle this computer.

Check all capacitors on your motherboard, if they are slightly bulging or even worse, severely bulging and leaking than I would recycle the motherboard and move on. If everything appears to be in good shape than proceed.

Removing the battery may not always clear the BIOS, check the manual if possible and locate the clear BIOS jumper to make sure you have reset the BIOS to factory.

Double check that the RAM is compatible. With a CPU that old it's possible you may need to run PC100 RAM, and if you have PC133 while compatible in most cases there are some boards that won't accept it and must have PC100.

Let me know if any of this helps. If you can reply with exact make / model of your motherboard that would help us out.

Tumbleweed36 · 10-23-2009, 10:30 AM

Bench Test Your System

zipzappy · 10-23-2009, 12:37 PM

thanks for the replies guys, i may do a bench test but before i do that, i want to know which parts i have, the mother board says Elite Group K7VZA on it, is there a way to find out the exact name and model of my mother board and also my ram?

zipzappy · 10-23-2009, 12:41 PM

ok i tried a couple of different ram sticks that i had, and i got the BIOS to show up finally, but now it does not do anything after that, it just stays at the main bios screen where it says this,

Award Modular BIOS

K7VZA Ver 3.2b 04/30/2001

Main Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) 900Mhz
Memory TEsting: 131072K OK

**Tyree** · 10-23-2009, 02:57 PM

Bench test it.
ECS site doesn't have much info on that board.
Here's a link to the Mobo specs.
http://www.motherboard.cz/mb/ecs/K7VZA.htm

zipzappy · 10-23-2009, 06:00 PM

thanks again im gonna run a bench test tonight, ill give you guys the results within a couple of hours

10-23-2009, 09:59 AM	#1 (permalink)
zipzappy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 215 OS: XP	Build from old parts Hi i just recently put together a PC from old parts, i don't remember exactly what each part is but im going to do my best to list them. heres the problem though, when i turn on the PC i hear the fans and then that one beep noise, but then nothing shows up on the monitor, no BIOS or picture at all, heres what i have tried so far: -different monitor -reseating the ram -reseating the CPU -reseating the video card -different hard drive -different power supply -different video card -reseting the CMOS by removing the battery and then putting it back heres what im working with AMD processor 1.0ghz geforce 2mx video card 1 256 ram (it might be 512) don't remember

10-23-2009, 10:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
FreeNerd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 238 OS: Windows 7/Vista/XP	Re: Build from old parts My wife is always on my case for my computer hardware graveyard, but I keep pulling working systems out for friends and family that need them so the old hardware still has some value to it and it's better than a landfill if you ask me. So I applaud your efforts to reuse / recycle this computer. Check all capacitors on your motherboard, if they are slightly bulging or even worse, severely bulging and leaking than I would recycle the motherboard and move on. If everything appears to be in good shape than proceed. Removing the battery may not always clear the BIOS, check the manual if possible and locate the clear BIOS jumper to make sure you have reset the BIOS to factory. Double check that the RAM is compatible. With a CPU that old it's possible you may need to run PC100 RAM, and if you have PC133 while compatible in most cases there are some boards that won't accept it and must have PC100. Let me know if any of this helps. If you can reply with exact make / model of your motherboard that would help us out. __________________ “Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing” ~ Aristotle Last edited by FreeNerd; 10-23-2009 at 10:27 AM.

10-23-2009, 10:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,616 OS: XP Professional	Re: Build from old parts Bench Test Your System __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

10-23-2009, 12:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
zipzappy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 215 OS: XP	Re: Build from old parts thanks for the replies guys, i may do a bench test but before i do that, i want to know which parts i have, the mother board says Elite Group K7VZA on it, is there a way to find out the exact name and model of my mother board and also my ram?

10-23-2009, 12:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
zipzappy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 215 OS: XP	Re: Build from old parts ok i tried a couple of different ram sticks that i had, and i got the BIOS to show up finally, but now it does not do anything after that, it just stays at the main bios screen where it says this, Award Modular BIOS K7VZA Ver 3.2b 04/30/2001 Main Processor: AMD Athlon(TM) 900Mhz Memory TEsting: 131072K OK

10-23-2009, 02:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,356 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Build from old parts Bench test it. ECS site doesn't have much info on that board. Here's a link to the Mobo specs. http://www.motherboard.cz/mb/ecs/K7VZA.htm __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

10-23-2009, 06:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
zipzappy Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 215 OS: XP	Re: Build from old parts thanks again im gonna run a bench test tonight, ill give you guys the results within a couple of hours