no boot boards

[may55]

Hi all
Am hoping someone can point me in the right direction with this.(the manufacturers won't)!
I recently purchased 2 mobo's. #1 is an ASUS A7N266-VM....#2 is a Shuttle AK31.
I have 2 Athlon CPU's...1.2 and 1.1
2 256 DDR 2100 ram sticks

The problem that I'm having is, no matter what combination of the above hardware, I am getting no signal to the monitor.
On the Shuttle I am using a Creative 3D Blaster 32mb AGP card(no onboard video on mobo) The ASUS has video on mobo.
Both hang up during the POST.

Both boards have been in other systems before I acquired them, and I am wondering if the problem could be in the BIOS, or CMOS?
I have tried clearing CMOS, but with same results.

ASUS cust.support advised me to install the battery in upside down for at least an hour to reset BIOS???????????????????
The mobo manual says to clear CMOS with the jumper, BUT, there is not a jumper on the board, where according to the manual there is!

I am a newbie as this is my first attempt to build my own system(s) and any help would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Thanks...may55

[deddard]

Welcome aboard.
Motherboard manufacturers (as well as everyone else) can give all sorts of odd advice - I recently needed to reset my bios, and there were no pins to do it with, so I know where you're ocming from there.
In the boot sequence, make sure that the PC is looking for the right type of card. Many bioses (is that a word?) give the option of vga from AGP, PCI or onboard. make sure you have the right one selected, and if there is onboard video that you are not using, disable it.

[may55]

Thanks deddard
But the problem is.....I'm not getting any signal to the monitor....hence, I have no idea what the BIOS is loading up OR looking for.
When the POST begins there is a flash on the monitor and then everything hangs. I have tried a different monitor but get the same result.
It just seems odd that both the ASUS mobo AND the Shuttle mobo are doing the exact same thing. I know that both processors are good as well as the ram sticks.
I'll just keep pluggin away until either me or the mobos surrender!

[Fruss Tray Ted]

How far does it get timewise like in seconds before it hangs? Do all the fans work? Is the CPU fan connected through the mobo or on a lead from the PSU?

Until you get it figured out, leave just a barebones set up. Connect ONLY the monitor, keys, mouse (corded not cordless), RAM, PSU and mobo. Video card if applicable. Then does it try to boot?

Test all the mentioned items on working systems if possible.

[may55]

Fruss Tray Ted

Both mobos hang after 5-8 sec. All fans (CPU - Chipset - 2 case fans -and video card) work. The CPU fan(s) I have tried both types, board and PSU and all work.
Sadly, I don't have the option of checking all the hardware on a working system.
Any suggestions????

[Budfred]

First thing I would do is focus on one board at a time. Given that you bought both of these setups used, one or both could be bad to begin with.

That said, when you try to boot, do you get any beeps. The beep is the auditory sign from that BIOS that it is booting before it gets to the video and if it won't boot past that point the pattern of the beeps can give you clues to the problem.

I would also try that minimal boot and probably try it out of the case on a nonconductive surface (like a piece of cardboard). I would try both CPUs on one board and see what happens. If it doesn't work, I would set the other board up on a nonconductive surface and try both CPUs on that one. Make sure that the CMOS clear jumper is set properly if there is one and make sure you install the heatsink/fan before doing anything. Also, make sure the CPU fan is plugged into the motherboard.

[may55]

Budfred
I am getting no beep(s) which I believe is telling me that the POST is failing. I have tried to boot both boards without the cases (everything out of the case and on cardboard, including removing the boards from the chassis). I have tried everything that I know how to do, so I'm about to call this fight a draw!
One thing that is curious though, I can't get either board to power the KB. The mouse is USB and it lights up (Logitech Optical) so I might try a USB KB and see if that solves that problem.

[Budfred]

If you get no POST beep, it is likely that both boards and/or both CPUs are dead. The only way I know to confirm is to test a known good CPU in the boards and/or test a known good board with the CPUs. If you are really lucky, it is either both CPUs or both boards, but not all four....

[may55]

Budfred
Thanks, I appreciate all the help you all have given me. I'll see what recourse I have with the manu's.