HELP Building New PC, Im getting NO POST Screen

[bradley10]

Hello,

Im having troubles building my first computer. I started on one computer and couldn't get to work so i started on another one and having the same problem. I took my pc to a computer shop theyt said everything looked great inside the case, and jumpers set correctly. Im totally out of ideals to try.

I was wondering if you or if you know someone that could test my Pentuim500 Processor & my Athlon 600Mhz cpu,. I think something may be wrong with both of them.

When i boot my pc, the power supplies comes on, the fans work, the light on the motherboard comes on, But im not getting any video output on ethier compputer...Not to merntion the Pc's don't beep. I used a AGP Expert?card , All-Wionder-Card, and a (PCI) ATI something . THese cards work in other computers. The monitors of course works because im using one of them now.

If you can help me any kind of way please let me know soon. And How much it will cost me. My goal was to build and sell these two computers for the fun of it.

Thank you for your time,
Bradley Taylor

bradley10@hotmail.com

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**God Bless**

[TVC15]

What I usually do in a case like this is take everything apart and start again. Install the bare minimum you need to achieve post (vga card, memory, processor and internal speaker), attach the power supply and monitor and power up the system.

If you achieve post then you can start adding the other bits and pieces one at a time.

If you don't achieve post then try swapping the components you have installed one at a time with spare ones and see if this improves things.

Failing that, take the stuff back to your supplier and get them to test it all for you. Make sure they don't charge you for the privilege (as my local cowboys do)

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Up every evening 'bout half eight or nine,

I give my complete attention to a very good friend of mine.

[Randy_tx]

The VERY best way to get over the hump of building your first computer is to have a "mentor" watch you every step of the way. There are sooo many things to remember to do along the way http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif In your case, I'm just guessing here.......many motherboards come with the cmos clear jumper set to "clear" setting from the factory (to save the battery I think). You might want to find out where that jumper is and see if it is in the clear position...IT MUST BE IN THE "NORMAL" OR OPERATING SETTING FOR ANYTHING TO POST UP http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[andreadebiase]

I would also look at the FSB jumper setting if there is one. Has to be on 100, when on 133 my pc gave me only fans but nothing on screen. And try a different video card.

[Randy_tx]

Andrea.......if this is his first computer to build....FSB might be a bit advanced for him http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif By the way Bradley, with the comment about the FSB(front side bus) she was referring to the megahertz that the system will run on...ie 66,75,95,100,133 or whatever. In the case of the Athalon you want a 100 mhz setting and the Pentium III 500 also uses a 100 setting.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[Paleo Pete]

Sorry Randy, but I don't think andrea's comment was out of line. Advanced issue or not, the FSB is definitely a consideration, and should be checked. I do like your suggestion for a "mentor" as well, someone who knows what to do and what to look for would definitely be a good thing for a beginner trying to work with modern parts. Not getting on your case, just stating my opinion, I don't think the suggestion was wrong.

That's one of the reasons I always advise starting with obsolete equipment that can be gotten cheap at resale shops and garage sales. If you make a mistake you're not out several hundred dollars...

Bradley:

Check the manual and be sure the jumpers are correct for the CPU, both Randy and andrea have posted the recommended bus speed for your CPU's. Also check with the bare bones system on a table to make sure you're not dealing with a short somewhere. If it posts with CPU, memory, video card and keyboard on a table but does not when mounted in the case, you need some cardboard washers to isolate the motherboard from the chassis so it won't ground against the motherboard. After re-reading everything I think a ground problem is very possible, since you say a computer shop checked and said the jumpers and cables were correct. That doesn't mean the shop was without a doubt right...

If the jumper settings are confusing, they sometimes are to me, see if you can locate a friend who knows how to deal with it to go over it with you. I usually have to check them 3 or 4 times to be absolutely sure I have it right.

Reseat the video card and memory chip(s) to be sure you have good connections.

Are you using a power supply that can handle the hardware? I think a 300 watt unit should work, if you have a 250 watt that might be a consideration. For the AMD you should also make sure it's AMD approved.

If you do need to have your CPU's checked I would think most reputable computer shops should be able to do that.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bassvax]

I have to agree with Pete here...so many of the new mobos out there designed for overclockers and tweakers have all those settings (FSB, voltage, etc) both in a soft bios and via jumpers that it could easily be one or the other. While, you would think they might set it to Jumper-free as default, those ic manufacturing assembly lines get boring. $0.02 for the day http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Jerry

[Randy_tx]

HEY PETE......I thought her suggestion was correct as well......which is why I tried to explain what FSB is in laymans terms. I was afraid he wouldn't know the initialized version of the term is all.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 03-24-2001).]

[Paleo Pete]

Randy: OK, I misunderstood your comment, thought you were saying andrea's comment was out of line. My bad...

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[bradley10]

Yes i know how to Clear the CMOS that how i get my pc to turn.
Thank for your quick reply .
Bradley

Originally posted by Randy_tx:
The VERY best way to get over the hump of building your first computer is to have a "mentor" watch you every step of the way. There are sooo many things to remember to do along the way http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif In your case, I'm just guessing here.......many motherboards come with the cmos clear jumper set to "clear" setting from the factory (to save the battery I think). You might want to find out where that jumper is and see if it is in the clear position...IT MUST BE IN THE "NORMAL" OR OPERATING SETTING FOR ANYTHING TO POST UP http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif





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**God Bless**

[bradley10]

About the Pc maybe grounding it'self sounds like the best reply i got back. So I have to put the washer on the screws in my motherboard. I have brought some motherboard plastic things. i plan to try on my motherboard. SO without the Washer the Motherboard against my metal case will ground it's self out?

* I do have a 300Watt AMD Supply
*I have reseated all the cards and stuff.
* Does AMD Athlons have diffrent bus speeds??Other than 200 FSB?

Thanks
Bradley Taylor


Originally posted by Paleo Pete:
Sorry Randy, but I don't think andrea's comment was out of line. Advanced issue or not, the FSB is definitely a consideration, and should be checked. I do like your suggestion for a "mentor" as well, someone who knows what to do and what to look for would definitely be a good thing for a beginner trying to work with modern parts. Not getting on your case, just stating my opinion, I don't think the suggestion was wrong.

That's one of the reasons I always advise starting with obsolete equipment that can be gotten cheap at resale shops and garage sales. If you make a mistake you're not out several hundred dollars...

Bradley:

Check the manual and be sure the jumpers are correct for the CPU, both Randy and andrea have posted the recommended bus speed for your CPU's. Also check with the bare bones system on a table to make sure you're not dealing with a short somewhere. If it posts with CPU, memory, video card and keyboard on a table but does not when mounted in the case, you need some cardboard washers to isolate the motherboard from the chassis so it won't ground against the motherboard. After re-reading everything I think a ground problem is very possible, since you say a computer shop checked and said the jumpers and cables were correct. That doesn't mean the shop was without a doubt right...

If the jumper settings are confusing, they sometimes are to me, see if you can locate a friend who knows how to deal with it to go over it with you. I usually have to check them 3 or 4 times to be absolutely sure I have it right.

Reseat the video card and memory chip(s) to be sure you have good connections.

Are you using a power supply that can handle the hardware? I think a 300 watt unit should work, if you have a 250 watt that might be a consideration. For the AMD you should also make sure it's AMD approved.

If you do need to have your CPU's checked I would think most reputable computer shops should be able to do that.





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**God Bless**

[bradley10]

Great Comment... Maybe my Voltage is wrong somewhere? Where i don't know.
http://bradley10.tripod.com/back_ground.htm
The lady at the computer shop said the jumpers looked alright on my motherboard.

Thanks,
Bradley

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Originally posted by bassvax:
I have to agree with Pete here...so many of the new mobos out there designed for overclockers and tweakers have all those settings (FSB, voltage, etc) both in a soft bios and via jumpers that it could easily be one or the other. While, you would think they might set it to Jumper-free as default, those ic manufacturing assembly lines get boring. $0.02 for the day http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif





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**God Bless**

[bradley10]

Yeah i know, My Pentuim3 has a 100 bus: I'm guessing the Athlon 600Mhz has a 200 bus? Both Pc's i got a Post Screen when i first put the pc's together,,,,But know i can't get no Post.


Originally posted by Randy_tx:
HEY PETE......I thought her suggestion was correct as well......which is why I tried to explain what FSB is in laymans terms. I was afraid he wouldn't know the initialized version of the term is all.





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**God Bless**

[bradley10]

I have changed diffrent parts in the Pc
alot.

Here a Little more info on my Athlon system...But the Computer shop said everything looked okay inside my case. im using a PIII 500/100bus and a AMD600MhzCPU.
http://bradley10.tripod.com/back_ground.htm


My Two Motherbaords:

PentuimIII Mainboard: http://q-lity.com/products/p3bx.html

Athlon Board: http://www.biostar-usa.com/UserManual/Slot%20A/M7MKE/m7mke.htm


Thanks:
Bradley


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**God Bless**

[wolfmann1]

In regard to not attached the plastic washers to the tiedowns on your mobo...if youre mobo did short itself out, you stand a very strong possibility of damage to the actual mobo. If might not be evidently present, and you may eventually get it to boot...but it may manifest itself in little glitches and errors in windows that shouldn't happen.

Good luck man...those plastic washers are important, for obvious reasons.

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http://www.geocities.com/wolfmannjack/wolfmannpc.jpg

[bradley10]

So none of the Mainboard should touch the case....So u think my mother is grounding itself out?

Thanks,
Brad

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**God Bless**

[Paleo Pete]

OK, hang on, starting to look like a dog chasing its tail here...slow down, take it one step at a time, and eliminate whatever possibilities you can. Work on one board at a time, forget the other until you get results with it. Going back and forth will only confuse matters more.

Have you tried running the board out of the case to find out if you do actually have a ground problem? You can either set it up on a table if the cables will reach, or insulate it inside the case with cardboard or a plastic bag, but make sure nothing can touch any metal anywhere. If it works, that tells you it's a ground problem.

Motherboard manufacturers try, but they can't make one board that exactly fits the mounting methods of every case out there, so now and then one of the solder joints touches the chassis. Eliminate that possibility to find out if it's the problem.

Use only motherboard, CPU, memory, video card and keyboard, nothing else. Then if you do get POST, add one thing at a time starting with floppy. Make sure it boots with floppy then hard drive, then try mounting it with washers and see. Again start over, with the bare bones setup, add one thing at a time.

And make sure the power connector is installed correctly. If it's backward you'll get no POST at all, and could fry the motherboard very easily.

I'm not positive but I don't thing the Athlon 600 would run at 200MHz FSB. 100MHz would be more likely.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[Randy_tx]

Bradley: The Athalon 600 can ONLY work at ONE BUS SPEED: 100 mhz. It should be 100 mhz @ 6 multiplier with a 1.6 core voltage.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[rtd2x]

I had the same exact problem and it turned out to be that the EIDE connectors were on the wrong pins. Have you checked those out yet? Make sure the red side of the EIDE cable is facing towards the HD power supply and also check to see if the red side of the EIDE is aligned with pin 1 on the motherboard EIDE controller. The HD should be "keyed", meaning the EIDE cable will only go in one way, but the motherbord might not be "keyed."

RTD2

[This message has been edited by rtd2x (edited 03-26-2001).]

[bradley10]

HELP!! I want to Install Another Heat Sink to My PentuimIII CPU. I tore tore the Large Heat Sink off my CPU this morning to put my New HeatSInk & 3 Fans Cooler on my CPU. I need to know how do i do install the Heat Sink and do i need glue orsomething on back of my CPU and HeatSink?


I have pictures of My CPU and COOLER below>:
http://bradley10.tripod.com/PIII_CPU.htm


Thanks ,
Bradley

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**God Bless**

[Randy_tx]

Nearly all good heatsinks have "posts" which push "through" the cpu and lock......forming a tight enough fit to permit cooling.....I think it's time you find someone to assist you though at this point - you dont want to DAMAGE components and messing with cpu's and heat sink install's on PII's,PIII's and Athalon's can do JUST that unless you are experienced at it.

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[bradley10]

Hello Randy,

I took my PentuimIII to the Computer Doctor, (Not Me of course lol) and thier going to install my motherboard, CPU, Ram, 20.GigHard drive for me. Thier going to build the pc up the POST screen. They said it would take about 2 hours, so they will charge me 140.00 dollars. So i decied to do that. I can pick my PC up tomrrow morning. They also are going to install my Heat Sink & fan on my Processor.

Im leaving now to pick up some cans on the side of the road so i can pay for my pc repair service.


Talk to you later,
Bradley

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**God Bless**

[bradley10]

Hello


Can anybody tell me if thier any big diffrences in IDE and EIDE devices. Im looking at CDRW and hard drives, Does it really matter? I guess i just have a standard grey cables. My motherboards have IDE on the slots or whatever written on the board. Im guessing it dosen't matter.

Later yaw!!
Bradley

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**God Bless**

[Randy_tx]

Hope you find a lot of cans......gonna need em for that CD Writer http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"As hard as a rock & dumb as a brick"...Windows CEMeNT

[rtd2x]

No their not the same EIDE (ATA-2) is the current standard it is incorrectly referred to as IDE (ATA).

RTD2


Originally posted by bradley10:
Hello


Can anybody tell me if thier any big diffrences in IDE and EIDE devices. Im looking at CDRW and hard drives, Does it really matter? I guess i just have a standard grey cables. My motherboards have IDE on the slots or whatever written on the board. Im guessing it dosen't matter.

Later yaw!!
Bradley