Boot problem! Please help [Archive] - The PC Guide Discussion Forums

rmill9681

11-04-2002, 10:42 AM

I recently tried to switch the master/slave settings on my HDD's and CD ROM. I made the CDROM the slave to my second HDD and my primary HDD was set as a single drive. I used an older cable by mistake and when I booted up it gave me an error about 80pin cable. So I used a newer one that came with the drive (WD 60GB + WD 30GB) When I rebooted, I smelled burning electronics and immediately shut down. Now it will not boot at all. The fans turn on, so it doesn't appear to be the power supply, but the screen is blank. No beep at all. I have 4 LED's in the back and they are all red, which the MSI manaul says is a processor problem. Anyone know what could be wrong? I tried booting with the HDD individually, but that did not work.

ski

11-04-2002, 10:49 AM

Swap out the CPU.
If that does not fix things, then do the same for the memory, video card, and MB.

Budfred

11-04-2002, 11:00 AM

Welcome to PCGuide!!

It sounds like you may be in real trouble here. If you have access to another CPU that is compatible, I would agree with ski to try it. If you don't, your best bet would probably be to strip it down to basics (CPU, video, RAM) and try to boot like that. If that works, gradually add back components until it fails. If that doesn't work (which seems likely) your only other choice is to try different components and see if any get it working again.

If you need more ideas, post back with more details about your system and what you have done to try to fix it.

Good luck,
Budfred

rmill9681

11-04-2002, 11:03 AM

I don't have any extra parts lying around since this is the first system I build by myself. I think it may be either the MB or the processor.

rmill9681

11-04-2002, 11:51 AM

My neighbor has a AMD XP 1800+ CPU, if I swap that into my system, could it possibly damage her cpu as well? I'd rather just buy a new MB and CPU if there's a chance that I could damage hers.

ski

11-04-2002, 12:39 PM

Don't do it.
You may end up buying 2 CPU's.

rmill9681

11-04-2002, 12:50 PM

Yeah that's what I thought. I'll try connecting just the graphics, ram, and cpu tonight. If that doesn't work, then I guess I'll get a new MB. I'm kinda partial to MSI boards since that's what I have in there now and I never had a problem with it until I started messin around. Anyone know of a good MB. I think I might go with the KT3 Ultra ARU or Ultra-R.

Budfred

11-04-2002, 01:18 PM

If that CPU is compatible and if you don't have a short on the mobo, I would think that it would be safe to try it. I would make very sure that you don't have short first though. To be safe, you could take the mobo out and put it on a piece of cardboard, include the CPU, one stick of RAM, and the video card to test for POST. If still no POST with the borrowed CPU, then something else is the problem. The power supply would be one suspect, but RAM would probably be the next thing to check, then the mobo.

Budfred

rmill9681

11-04-2002, 02:32 PM

thanks for the suggestions. If I put my CPU in my neighbors MB, is there a possiblity that it could damge her MB if my CPU is damaged? I don't see how it could, it just wouldn't post, right?

Budfred

11-04-2002, 03:42 PM

That should be true. I can't think of anything that could be wrong with the CPU that would cause damage to anything else. However, I probably would stop it after post so it doesn't screw up her Windoze settings.

Also, of course, it needs to be fully compatible with her mobo.

Budfred

rmill9681

11-05-2002, 09:30 AM

OK tried it with just the CPU RAM and Video. nothing. Someone on another post said it could be the power supply even though the fans are spinning (CPU fan and system). Also someone said I could have fried the IDE controllers. Any thoughts? Or should I just buy a new mobo and cpu and psu.

ski

11-05-2002, 11:07 AM

Which CPU and video card did you use(yours or neighbor's), and in whose system?

rmill9681

11-05-2002, 11:18 AM

I used mine...Didn't want to chance anything happening to hers...Then I'd be buying 2 new systems

Budfred

11-05-2002, 11:30 AM

You can safely borrow a power supply to test if that is the problem. Unless you have a short in the system, it won't damage a power supply to get hooked up to a bad board. To avoid the possibility of a short, you can take the mobo with video, RAM and CPU out and put in on a non-conductive surface, like a piece of cardboard. Test it there. You could also test the power supply with a specialized tester or multimeter. I wouldn't go out and buy anything until you figure out what is wrong. If it is a short and you install a new mobo with the same metal to metal connection, you will just fry another board.

Budfred

rmill9681

11-05-2002, 01:43 PM

Do you mean a short like a standoff touching the MB circuitry? Or some other short that I might not catch by eye. I have put the MB on some cardboard outside the case and it still won't work. Like before just fans, no beeps or anything. (this is with cpu ram and video). I'll test the psu tonight with a multimeter. thanks everyone. send more ideas if anyone think of anything

Fruss Tray Ted

11-05-2002, 02:14 PM

After you find out if the power supply is good, take the motherboard to have it tested at a shop.

A shorted CPU will burn out a board. A shorted board will burn out a CPU. Don't mix and match at this point. Have the board checked out.

Depending on the short on the motherboard, if one, you DO run the risk of ruining the PS also.

rmill9681

11-05-2002, 03:14 PM

wow...that's just horrible. I think I'll just test the ps and if that's not it then I'm gonna buy a new stuff. I would have upgraded eventually, why not now. Thanks to everyone for all the help.

Budfred

11-05-2002, 04:12 PM

Well, if you do find that the power supply is ok, www.newegg.com has a good deal on ECS mobo and AMD XP 1600+ for about $120 total. I recently bought that set up and it is pretty nice. That is assuming you are not looking for state of the art.

Budfred

rmill9681

11-06-2002, 09:05 AM

Thanks everyone. I just ended up buying a new stuff. Gigabyte 7VRXP, board, AMD 1900, thermalright sk6+, and the new antec stealth(?) 420W psu. Thanks for all the help. I'll keep you posted

rmill9681

11-07-2002, 08:08 PM

FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!! It was the pwer supply. I found someone who had an extra ps and now the pc is up and running...too bad i already ordered new stuff. Anybody who wants a MSI K7T266 Pro2 MB and a 1.33GHz athalon w/thermaltake heatsink and fan let me know.

Budfred

11-07-2002, 09:25 PM

If NewEgg hasn't already shipped, you may be able to cancel the order. Even if they have, you may be able to work it out with them to refuse the order and only pay S&H.

Congrats on figuring it out and fixing it!!:) :cool:

Budfred

rmill9681

11-07-2002, 09:39 PM

I bought from google gear. I think I want the new stuff anyway. If you know anyone that wants to buy my mb and cpu let them know. I'll take B/O

Budfred

11-07-2002, 09:47 PM

Oops, I remembered seeing NewEgg and made a wrong connection. I was actually the one who mentioned them, is my face red! :o

Sorry, I don't know anyone looking for a mobo and CPU right now, but I am sure you could sell it on eBay.

Budfred

rmill9681

11-07-2002, 09:54 PM

you know how much I can get for the msi k7t266, 1.33GHz tbird and a thermaltake heatsink and fan? I;m just looking for estimates...don't want to try and rip anyone off, but dont want to get ripepd off either

Budfred

11-07-2002, 09:59 PM

Don't have a clue myself, but if I were trying to sell it, I would go to eBay and look for similar configs for sale. I think there is even a way to look back at recent sales for a while, but I have never been curious enough to explore.

Budfred