cotir2005

I just finished my build... sorta... i only have 1 gig of ram installed and am using and old cd drive until my dvd drive comes in. I was all excited to turn on my new pc but when i plugged everything in...... nothing. the green light on the front of the case comes on but when i push the power button nothing happens. ive checked and double checked all my wiring and everything looks good. am i missing something? i thought the psu should be able to work on its own without a computer behind it am i wrong? any help is greatly appreciated. my pc stats are located to the left

Deleted090308

Hi,
I know you've double checked the wiring - but please check the power button connection again.
If that doesn't help - try removing the power button connector on the motherboard and short the power pins with a small screwdriver.
Also - try resetting BIOS.

Nicholas

cotir2005

how do i reset the bios? doesnt the pc need to be on to access them? i tried reading about the cmos but the jumper is on normal... this is my first build and to be honest im kinda scared to try different things... there arnt even any fans running or anything... all i get is the little green light

Deleted090308

Unplug the computer. Open the case. Remove the little lithium battery (it looks like a silver coin) on the motherboard. Put the battery back in after a couple of minutes and turn the computer on. If/when the computer boots you will get a "checksum error" message - enter BIOS and load default settings (or something similar). Don't forget to save before you exit BIOS.

cotir2005

nothing... i removed the battery waited 3 minutes and put it back in. turned the psu back on and the little green light on the front came back on but nothign else

Deleted090308

You will have to take the motherboard out of the case and do a bench test (instructions written by mattlock138)

Bench build:

A) Place the motherboard on top of the motherboard box with nothing under it but the box >>> anti static bags are only anti static on the INSIDE not outside

B) install the cpu, thermal grease, heat sink & fan plug in the cpu fan wires

C) plug the psu power connectors to the motherboard (should be a 24pin connector and a four pin 12volt cpu power plug needed aslo

D) install one stick of ram (check mobo manual for the proper slot to use with a one stick configuration)

E) install the video card >>> you may have to hang the motherboard over the edge of the mobo box to allow the cards riser to extend beyond the bottom of the mobo >>> this is why I love the mobo box trick

F) connect video card to the monitor

G) connect keyboard and mouse to the motherboard

H) hold the motherboard up to eye level and examine the cpu and heat sink carefully >>> makes sure the heat sink is not bearing any pressure on any of the mobo "guts" several weeks ago I was servicing a sytem, the user installed a cpu cooler that squashed the snot out of a capacitor, all he had to do was rotate the heat sink 180 degrees and this would not have happened >>> it was an offset style heatsink >>>>> the mobo at eye level helps alot !

I) on another note >>> before plugging in the PSU connectors into the mobo connectors >>> check to be sure there are no tiny pcs of plastic shavings in the two mobo plugs 24 pin and 4 pin cpu plug !

J) you can use either a precision screw driver (small blade) place the case real close to the mobo bench build and use the case switch connected to the motherboard jumper for the PWR switch on the mobo

fire that baby up >>>> at this point we are only looking for a bios screen >>> if the cpu fan spins and stays spinning and you get a bios screen then you are ready for step #2

Step 2 / shut down and install rest of your memory only

Step 3 / connect a hard drive outside the case also >>>> install OS

if all is cool >>>>> put it together in the case >>>> here is where things get clumpy >>>> less room for your hands; so your bound to wiggle something loose and not get the smoothest of sailing on your first fire up inside the case >>>> but you KNOW all components work! you proven that outside the case >>>> you at that point just double check all connections and jumpers

Deleted090308

While you have the motherboard out of the case - check that the standoffs in the case match the mounting holes on the motherboard (no more, no less).

speedster123

This motherboard requires a 4 pin molex power leed or something besides the 24 pin power plug?
A power power supply?
How much was this, and do you have a better unit to try?

redsunx

ohhh sucky thats the worst that can happen maybe it is your psu in general
and when you press the power button look at the outlet if theres a test button popping out and a red light tell me

edit:result to the mobo manual and reset the bios using the jumpers

speedster123

????
Come again?

redsunx

um thats the worst that happens when you get a new system happend to me twice but he got it now so yeah

cotir2005

got it working on the bench test... now i just have to find the time to put it all in the case and hope that it still works

Deleted090308

Good news. Remember to check the standoffs.

cotir2005

so i was all excited when i got home from work today... i showed my dad my comp and he said he was proud of me for doing such a good job and then i put it all back in the case and.... nothin... what the heck is going on?!?!?!?! i have all the standoffs that are needed no more no less... what are the red rings... if i only need those to make it work im going to be ticked... please tell me thats all it is

Deleted090308

Strange... Those red rings - what size are they and what are they made of? What's the make and model of the motherboard?

cotir2005

they look like they are just cardboard washers... is it possible that it is grounding out on the case? the details of the motherboard are in my computer stats

Deleted090308

I have to learn to look at the left side of the screen .

IMO, there's two possibilities - Either a short to ground (the case = ground) or a power switch that is faulty/the switch wiring is cut/the switch isn't connected to the correct pins. Were you able to start the computer with the switch when bench testing?
Your motherboard has 9 mounting holes:
ecs2.jpg
If you're using those holes there shouldn't be a problem with short circuits.


A very good guide written by Zazula:
How to troubleshoot motherboard issues

cotir2005

I did have it running during the bench test. All went great. it only doesnt work in the case. I have the OS installed and i was even starting to install the video card and motheboard drivers

Deleted090308

And the power switch is OK?

cotir2005

wow am i an idiot... so in all my excitement i forgot to plug in the wires for the tower... the hard drive led, the power switch etc... well no fear anyone its up and running