If it isn't one thing, it is another!!

CardinalChris · 04-07-2007, 01:44 PM

Here is the build:

AMD A64 X2 3800+
MSI K9VGM-V Socket AM2 VIA K8M890 Micro ATX Motherboard
CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) DD2 675 Dual Channel Kit
XFX GeForce 7300GS 512MB(256MB on Board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150
SoundBlaster Audigy 2
Antec True Blue 480 Watt power supply
NEC 3550A 16X DVD Burner
Windows XP Pro

I had it working perfectly. I had to disassemble to put a new CPU cooler on and added a UV light. I put it back together, turn it on and get power to everything, but it won't turn on. It sounds like the HD is beginning to spin up, but abruptly stops. The weir thing is that I have an Cooler Master CoolDrive 4. It has power (lights are on), but only one of the power leads off of it are working (my two case fans get no power), and the display is lit up, but nothing actually on the display. I am confused. Can my HD cooler do this to my computer? I literally changed nothing else!!

CardinalChris · 04-07-2007, 06:09 PM

Considering I changed the CPU cooler when this all happened, how can I tell if I fried a mobo or a cpu? I have a hunch it is one of the two. Any suggestions?

FightingChance · 04-07-2007, 08:20 PM

I know it sounds silly, but make sure you have the power switch lead that goes from the case to the motherboard on correctly. If it's reversed it will do what you described, power the system for only a second.

I don't suspect it's a bad HSF mounting, because the system would stay on 5 seconds or more. CPU could be sitting off kilter. Also, one of the RAM retention clips could be unclipped, causing a RAM stick to be slightly out of the socket.

A short somewhere could cause this too (a loose screw between the motherboard and the case, etc.)

If none of this helps, I recommend taking everything out/off and then installing only the minimum of what it takes the make the system run (PSU, mb, cpu, one stick RAM, video card) Time consuming, but sometimes it's the only way.

Wry1 · 04-07-2007, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FightingChance

I know it sounds silly, but make sure you have the power switch lead that goes from the case to the motherboard on correctly. If it's reversed it will do what you described, power the system for only a second.

It is just a (momentary) switch so polarity does not matter on the power switch connections (it matters on the power LED connections).

CardinalChris · 04-08-2007, 01:36 AM

I reinstalled everything and nothing. Ram is OK. I could check CPU to make sure it isn't off. Sounds sort of unlikely, but I have nothing else to go off of. I'll try that and see how it turns out.

Wry1 · 04-08-2007, 10:27 AM

If you haven't tried this already completely remove the motherboard from the case and remove everything except the CPU, memory and video card. Reset the BIOS according to the instructions for the MB and also remove the MB battery and leave it out until you are ready to power the board up again.

Check the CPU, memory and video card to make sure they are all seated properly (completely) in their sockets.

Place the MB on a non-conductive surface and connect the power supply to the MB (and video card if necessary) and you're display to the video card. Now re-install the MB battery and then plug the power supply into the wall. With a small screwdriver momentarily short the power switch connections on the MB (careful, don't short anything else) and hopefully the system will come back to life.

Good luck................

CardinalChris · 09-01-2007, 09:49 PM

And the saga continues...... I replaced the mobo. Now when I power up everything lights up and fades out quickly. Once that happens the power switch no longer does anything. BUT I unplugged it and try again it flashed and faded, but lasted longer. Any ideas what in the heck is going on??

CardinalChris · 09-01-2007, 10:10 PM

I get power but nothing boots up. It is wierd. The only thing I can think is my power supply is bad, but it tests fine with a power supply tester. Bad CPU? Bad PSU? Help!!!

CardinalChris · 09-02-2007, 06:06 PM

Is there a way to test the CPU to see if it is working?

*SRTDodge05* · 09-02-2007, 06:46 PM

Check to make sure the board isnt grounding to the case, also if you put too much pressure on the cpu it can make it not boot. Also i would reset the bios and remove the memory and try them in a different slot.

CardinalChris · 09-02-2007, 09:01 PM

I tightened the cooler to just where it wouldn't shimmy. I think I may have tightened it too much before and think I could have damaged the CPU. I am going to try again and see what happens.

*SRTDodge05* · 09-02-2007, 10:00 PM

Try to remove the bracket for the cpu heatsink and just hold the heatsink on top of the cpu and try to boot the system.

CardinalChris · 09-02-2007, 11:02 PM

I did that, nothing changed. Switched the RAM around also. The PSU still tests out steady. I think the CPU is damaged.....

*SRTDodge05* · 09-02-2007, 11:05 PM

I dont see how it would damage the cpu but you never know. I would try to find a friend or a pc shop that you can test your cpu. I have a feeling its the motherboard.

*SRTDodge05* · 09-02-2007, 11:08 PM

Do you have another power supply you can try. I used on of the uv lights in my system a few years ago and it killed my power supply. They use a lot of power and should be on its own power lead from the power supply.

04-07-2007, 01:44 PM	#1
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	If it isn't one thing, it is another!! Here is the build: AMD A64 X2 3800+ MSI K9VGM-V Socket AM2 VIA K8M890 Micro ATX Motherboard CORSAIR XMS2 1GB (2 x 512MB) DD2 675 Dual Channel Kit XFX GeForce 7300GS 512MB(256MB on Board) 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 SoundBlaster Audigy 2 Antec True Blue 480 Watt power supply NEC 3550A 16X DVD Burner Windows XP Pro I had it working perfectly. I had to disassemble to put a new CPU cooler on and added a UV light. I put it back together, turn it on and get power to everything, but it won't turn on. It sounds like the HD is beginning to spin up, but abruptly stops. The weir thing is that I have an Cooler Master CoolDrive 4. It has power (lights are on), but only one of the power leads off of it are working (my two case fans get no power), and the display is lit up, but nothing actually on the display. I am confused. Can my HD cooler do this to my computer? I literally changed nothing else!!
(Offline)

04-07-2007, 06:09 PM	#2
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	Considering I changed the CPU cooler when this all happened, how can I tell if I fried a mobo or a cpu? I have a hunch it is one of the two. Any suggestions?
(Offline)

04-07-2007, 08:20 PM	#3
FightingChance Yes, I am better than you Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 4,068	I know it sounds silly, but make sure you have the power switch lead that goes from the case to the motherboard on correctly. If it's reversed it will do what you described, power the system for only a second. I don't suspect it's a bad HSF mounting, because the system would stay on 5 seconds or more. CPU could be sitting off kilter. Also, one of the RAM retention clips could be unclipped, causing a RAM stick to be slightly out of the socket. A short somewhere could cause this too (a loose screw between the motherboard and the case, etc.) If none of this helps, I recommend taking everything out/off and then installing only the minimum of what it takes the make the system run (PSU, mb, cpu, one stick RAM, video card) Time consuming, but sometimes it's the only way.
(Offline)

04-08-2007, 01:36 AM	#5
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	I reinstalled everything and nothing. Ram is OK. I could check CPU to make sure it isn't off. Sounds sort of unlikely, but I have nothing else to go off of. I'll try that and see how it turns out.
(Offline)

04-08-2007, 10:27 AM	#6
Wry1 No, you're not. Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 313	If you haven't tried this already completely remove the motherboard from the case and remove everything except the CPU, memory and video card. Reset the BIOS according to the instructions for the MB and also remove the MB battery and leave it out until you are ready to power the board up again. Check the CPU, memory and video card to make sure they are all seated properly (completely) in their sockets. Place the MB on a non-conductive surface and connect the power supply to the MB (and video card if necessary) and you're display to the video card. Now re-install the MB battery and then plug the power supply into the wall. With a small screwdriver momentarily short the power switch connections on the MB (careful, don't short anything else) and hopefully the system will come back to life. Good luck................
(Offline)

09-01-2007, 09:49 PM	#7
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	And the saga continues...... I replaced the mobo. Now when I power up everything lights up and fades out quickly. Once that happens the power switch no longer does anything. BUT I unplugged it and try again it flashed and faded, but lasted longer. Any ideas what in the heck is going on??
(Offline)

09-01-2007, 10:10 PM	#8
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	I get power but nothing boots up. It is wierd. The only thing I can think is my power supply is bad, but it tests fine with a power supply tester. Bad CPU? Bad PSU? Help!!!
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 06:06 PM	#9
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	Is there a way to test the CPU to see if it is working?
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 06:46 PM	#10
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Check to make sure the board isnt grounding to the case, also if you put too much pressure on the cpu it can make it not boot. Also i would reset the bios and remove the memory and try them in a different slot.
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 09:01 PM	#11
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	I tightened the cooler to just where it wouldn't shimmy. I think I may have tightened it too much before and think I could have damaged the CPU. I am going to try again and see what happens.
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 10:00 PM	#12
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Try to remove the bracket for the cpu heatsink and just hold the heatsink on top of the cpu and try to boot the system.
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 11:02 PM	#13
CardinalChris Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 120	I did that, nothing changed. Switched the RAM around also. The PSU still tests out steady. I think the CPU is damaged.....
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 11:05 PM	#14
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	I dont see how it would damage the cpu but you never know. I would try to find a friend or a pc shop that you can test your cpu. I have a feeling its the motherboard.
(Offline)

09-02-2007, 11:08 PM	#15
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Do you have another power supply you can try. I used on of the uv lights in my system a few years ago and it killed my power supply. They use a lot of power and should be on its own power lead from the power supply.
(Offline)

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