New MB, CPU, memory & graphics card = DEAD!! - 2 Topics Merged....

[Snidley274]

I just replaced my mobo, graphics card, cpu, and memory on my XP system thinking (duh!) I could use the existing hd and be fine - not! Now my monitor is telling me it doesn't see a signal and worse, I can't turn the pc off from the front panel power switch. When I turn on the power from the back, the power supply, the floppy and a couple of the fans start up. When I then power up from the front panel, everything else comes to life but no signal to the monitor again. So I can't see what's happening and can't get into the bios. I tried booting with the XP disc in the cd, and a Win 98SE disc, but the bios has probably got the boot sequence set differently. I'm at my wit's end. Any suggestions? :confused: :confused:

Gigabyte GA-8AENXP-D mobo
EVGA e-GeForce 6800 PCIE-16 graphics card
SB Audigy 2 Platinum audio card
P4 3.4ghz, LGA775 550J 800FSB cpu
2x512 mb OCZ dual 533 pc4200 DDR2 chips
1x120gb SATA hd
Viewsonic VP191b monitor

[Snidley274]

I just replaced my mobo, graphics card, cpu, and memory on my XP system thinking (duh!) I could use the existing hd and be fine - not! Now my monitor is telling me it doesn't see a signal and worse, I can't turn the pc off from the front panel power switch. When I turn on the power from the back, the power supply, the floppy and a couple of the fans start up. When I then power up from the front panel, everything else comes to life but no signal to the monitor again. So I can't see what's happening and can't get into the bios. I tried booting with the XP disc in the cd, and a Win 98SE disc ( hoping to upgrade to XP after), but the bios has probably got the boot sequence set differently. I'm at my wit's end. Any suggestions? :confused: :confused:

Gigabyte GA-8AENXP-D mobo
EVGA e-GeForce 6800 PCIE-16 graphics card
SB Audigy 2 Platinum audio card
P4 3.4ghz, LGA775 550J 800FSB cpu
2x512 mb OCZ dual 533 pc4200 DDR2 chips
1x120gb SATA hd
Viewsonic VP191b monitor

[Budfred]

Please don't take over someone else's thread... I split this off into your own thread...

Edit: I see you did already start your own thread... I merged them together...

[saphalline]

Some mobo's come with the "power button > 4 secs = shut off" as default, so that could be why it won't shut off right away. As to the other problem, it's difficult to say without knowing what you've tried & done so far. Have you just hooked everything up and this is the result? Or have you been messing with things already? You could always just reset the CMOS and see what happens next.

From your description, it sounds like perhaps the CPU's heatsink isn't mounted properly. If the mobo senses the CPU overheating, it won't power-up. Or if the CPU's fan isn't plugged into the correct header on the mobo, it won't power-up. Check those first.

[Sylvander]

Download a copy of my diagnostic flowcharts from here
www.erniek.eclipse.co.uk/downloads/sylvanderdiags.zip
and print them to leaf through.
Begin on the STARTUP chart.

1. Do you see any sign that the "Power-On Self-Test" [POST] is running at startup? [LED's flashing]
2. Do you hear a single short beep shortly after switching on? No?
3. Then your POST isn't completing.
4. Go to the NO POST chart.
5. The POST either isn't running, or at the least it probably isn't reaching the point during POST where the video card is enabled. In which case, even if you have a working monitor that's properly connected, then because the video card isn't enabled, no signal is being sent from it, and the monitor is reporting no input signal.
6. If you can, check your PSU, or replace it with one you know to be good.
7. Even if you assume the PSU to be ok, try a "bare-bones boot".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

TESTING ATX POWER VOLTAGES

See this http://www.ochardware.com/articles/psuvolt/psuvolt2.html
And this http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=152496#post152496

Black = ground
Red = +5 volts
White = -5 volts
Yellow = +12 volts
Blue = -12 volts
Orange = +3.3 volts (?)
Green = power on

Turn the power on. The fans should at least come on so that you know you have power.

Turn on the voltmeter and set it to measure DC voltage. Start with an IDE power connector that is not used. Place the black lead of the voltmeter in the hole of the connector that has a black wire (ground). Connect the red lead of the voltmeter first to the yellow hole and then to the red hole. The voltmeter should read +12v and +5v respectively.

The other voltages may usually be measured at the motherboard power connector by simply sliding the red multimeter test probe down the hole where each colour wire goes (with the black probe connected to any black wire as before). Really you only need to check the orange wire for 3.3 volts at this connector. If +12, +5, and +3.3 volts are all okay, then your power supply is probably fine.

Unfortunately, a low voltage measured in this way may mean a bad PSU or that some other component (motherboard, etc.) has a short and is pulling the voltage down. Therefore, the main value of measuring voltages is to eliminate the PSU as a source of the problem (if it has normal voltages).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

NO POST and
BARE-BONES BOOT
Install/connect only the power supply, MB, CPU+heatsink+fan, memory, video card, monitor, and keyboard, and make sure the power supply's voltage selector switch is set to the correct voltage and the PS connection to the MB is securely seated.

If there's still no POST, then check the CMOS battery for the correct voltage(3V).

If the battery is ok, then place the MB on a piece of cardboard. If there's now a POST/beep/display, then the MB is shorting out when installed in the case. Check for a loose screw, standoff, etc., inside the case, and also remove any standoffs which do not line up with MB holes. If none is found, then remove all MB screws and metal standoffs, and install paper washers(manila folder paper works good for this) between the MB and the screws/standoffs.

If there's no POST/beep with the MB placed on a piece of cardboard, then proceed with the following:

(1)If MB light comes on, but the PS fan, other fans, and other lights do not work when the 'Power On' button is pushed, then make sure the computer case power button's wires are securely connected to the correct MB terminal (POW-ON, Power On, etc.), and that the wires are not shorting out (bare spots). If that's ok, then remove the power button's wires from the terminal, and momentarily short out the MB terminals with a screwdriver. If the fans and lights now work, then the 'Power On' button assembly is bad.


(2)If the fans connected to the MB and all other lights do not work when the MB 'Power On' terminals are shorted, then the MB or PS is bad. Swap them out.

(3)If all fans and lights work when the 'Power On' button is pushed but there's no POST/beep, then test the following PS leads on the back of its MB connector making sure the connector is installed on the MB and system is powered up with the 'Power On' button:
http://www.ochardware.com/articles/...t/psuvolt2.html
If you do not have a voltmeter, then try a different PS.

(4)If the PS voltages are ok, or there's POST/beep/display with a different PS, then either the MB, CPU, memory, or video card may be bad.
Make sure the correct memory type is being used, remove and reinsert the memory a few times making sure it's firmly seated, and install the memory in different slots.
If no luck, then make sure the video card is firmly seated(some video cards need an extra firm push to seat properly).
If still no POST/beep/display, then either swap out the MB, CPU, memory, and video card, or have them shop tested to find out which one is defective.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Snidley274]

First. let me say thank you for all this great info. This is very helpful and informative. Now, this is what I've done so far:

-replaced the mb, graphics card, and psu (350 w. > 520 w.) with new units and the same problem occured immediately after each replacement.

Why does the floppy and one of the case fans start up before turning the power on from the front of the case?

I will go through Sylvander's flowchart and follow its suggestions.

[Snidley274]

A couple things, I replaced the hd and now have a bare-bones system without an OS. I tried to get into the setup but can't tell if I'm there since I can't get a display. I did reset the CMOS. I do not get any POST beeps.

[Sylvander]

"replaced the mb, graphics card, and psu (350 w. > 520 w.) with new units and the same problem occured immediately after each replacement"
Was this in a bare-bones system, with the board out of the case?
If so, then this leaves only the CPU, RAM, or BIOS settings as suspects.

"Why does the floppy and one of the case fans start up before turning the power on from the front of the case?"
Huh?
This suggests the switch is already on before you switch on the power source. I've had that happen before. Had hit the switch BEFORE switching on the power at the wall, and the PC powered up without any need to hit the switch on the PC.

"I replaced the hd and now have a bare-bones system without an OS"
The HDD should not be connected during a bare-bones boot, so it should be irrelevant whether or not it has any OS installed on it.

"I tried to get into the setup but can't tell if I'm there since I can't get a display."
Don't even try. You won't be able to get into the BIOS [and see what you're doing] unless the POST gives a single short beep and the monitor displays.

"I did reset the CMOS. I do not get any POST beeps"
It was worth a try. So it's not a problem with the BIOS settings.
That just leaves the CPU & RAM as suspects.
If you disconnect all the RAM the BIOS should give warning beeps [if the internal speaker works].
i.e It should do something even without RAM; if it doesn't that would point to the CPU as culprit.

[Snidley274]

This all started when, in my ignorance, I cannibalized the mb, cpu, memory, graphics card and monitor from my original system to build a system for a brother. I then mounted a new Gigabyte mb, new P4 cpu, new memory, new PCI Express graphics card, and the old HDD, and old CD/DVD drives into my old case with a new monitor. For what is now painfully obvious to me I immediately had trouble trying to boot with the original OS on that HDD. I have now cleared up the trouble with the floppy drive by powering it with another power lead from the psu. However, as the POST is not completing, the graphics card is not being enabled (?) and I am unable to power off the pc from the front panel, only from the psu power switch or by pulling the plug or turning it off at the surge protector. I removed the cpu and the memory chips with no change. Until the POST runs and the graphics card is enabled, I don't see what I can do. Any suggestions? Thanks again for all the great help.

[Sylvander]

"I removed the cpu and the memory chips"
Remove ONLY the RAM, NOT the CPU also.
The CPU must be in place [and correctly fitted of course].

[Snidley274]

Yes, I removed the CPU to check the seating and replaced it then removed and replaced AND repositioned the DIMMS to slots 2 and 5 (I have 6 slots). In each case I am unable to get a video signal, nor power down from the front panel and I am not seeing evidence the keyboard is being enabled or seen. I'm curious about the cpu. If I don't have a spare, how can I test its functionality? I now have a virgin WD ATA 100 HDD plugged into the primary IDE as master and the CD drive as slave on that ribbon cable, two 512mb DDR2 533 pc4200 DIMMS in slots 1 and 4, the PCIEx16 card in the PCIEx16 slot, and the cpu on the mb which is still mounted in the case. Tonight I will remove the mb from the case and see what happens when it's sitting on a piece of cardboard.

Replacements I've made:
1. MB
2. graphics card
3. power supply
4. HDD

After each replacement I tested the system with the same results. I'm really beginning to fear I have a defective cpu or memory chip(s) if not some unknown compatibility problem. Although I don't understand the POST issues.

[Sylvander]

"I am unable to get a video signal"
What's more important is...
Is the POST running at all?
If the POST doesn't run, then you have no chance of video or the keyboard being enabled. What you need to do is figure out what's stopping the POST from running [if it isn't running]. Do you see any sign of the POST? LED's flashing?
I had hoped that if you ran a bare-bones-boot with the RAM not connected you'd get POST and it would give warning beeps about the RAM.
If POST didn't run you'd know it wasn't because of the RAM.
You need to connect as little as possible. No good connecting stuff until you get it working with the bare minimum. Only then do you add stuff.

QUOTE
1. The internal power supply turns on and initializes. The power supply takes some time until it can generate reliable power for the rest of the computer, and having it turn on prematurely could potentially lead to damage. Therefore, the chipset will generate a reset signal to the processor (the same as if you held the reset button down for a while on your case) until it receives the Power Good signal from the power supply.
2. When the reset button is released, the processor will be ready to start executing. When the processor first starts up, it is suffering from amnesia; there is nothing at all in the memory to execute. Of course processor makers know this will happen, so they pre-program the processor to always look at the same place in the system BIOS ROM for the start of the BIOS boot program. This is normally location FFFF0h, right at the end of the system memory. They put it there so that the size of the ROM can be changed without creating compatibility problems. Since there are only 16 bytes left from there to the end of conventional memory, this location just contains a "jump" instruction telling the processor where to go to find the real BIOS startup program.
3. The BIOS performs the power-on self test (POST). If there are any fatal errors, the boot process stops.

[B]A GENERIC PHOENIX BIOS POST
Code_Beeps_POST Routine Description
02h Verify Real Mode
03h Disable Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI)
04h Get CPU type
06h Initialize system hardware
07h Disable shadow and execute code from the ROM.
08h Initialize chipset with initial POST values
09h Set IN POST flag
0Ah Initialize CPU registers
0Bh Enable CPU cache
0Ch Initialize caches to initial POST values
0Eh Initialize I/O component
0Fh Initialize the local bus IDE
10h Initialize Power Management
11h Load alternate registers with initial POST values
12h Restore CPU control word during warm boot
13h Initialize PCI Bus Mastering devices
14h Initialize keyboard controller
16h 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum
17h Initialize cache before memory Auto size
18h 8254 timer initialization
1Ah 8237 DMA controller initialization
1Ch Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller
20h 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh
22h 1-3-1-3 Test 8742 Keyboard Controller
24h Set ES segment register to 4 GB
28h Auto size DRAM
29h Initialize POST Memory Manager
2Ah Clear 512 kB base RAM
2Ch 1-3-4-1 RAM failure on address line xxxx*
2Eh 1-3-4-3 RAM failure on data bits xxxx* of low byte of
memory bus
2Fh Enable cache before system BIOS shadow
32h Test CPU bus-clock frequency
33h Initialize Phoenix Dispatch Manager
36h Warm start shut down
38h Shadow system BIOS ROM
3Ah Auto size cache
3Ch Advanced configuration of chipset registers
3Dh Load alternate registers with CMOS values
41h Initialize extended memory for RomPilot
42h Initialize interrupt vectors
45h POST device initialization
46h 2-1-2-3 Check ROM copyright notice
47h Initialize I20 support
48h Check video configuration against CMOS
49h Initialize PCI bus and devices
4Ah Initialize all video adapters in system
4Bh QuietBoot start (optional)
4Ch Shadow video BIOS ROM
------------------------------------
Your POST [if it runs] doesn't get to here
4Eh Display BIOS copyright notice
------------------------------------
4Fh Initialize MultiBoot
50h Display CPU type and speed
51h Initialize EISA board
52h Test keyboard
54h Set key click if enabled
55h Enable USB devices
58h 2-2-3-1 Test for unexpected interrupts
59h Initialize POST display service
5Ah Display prompt "Press F2 to enter SETUP"
5Bh Disable CPU cache
5Ch Test RAM between 512 and 640 kB
60h Test extended memory
62h Test extended memory address lines
64h Jump to UserPatch1
66h Configure advanced cache registers
67h Initialize Multi Processor APIC
68h Enable external and CPU caches
69h Setup System Management Mode (SMM) area
6Ah Display external L2 cache size
6Bh Load custom defaults (optional)
6Ch Display shadow-area message
6Eh Display possible high address for UMB recovery
70h Display error messages
72h Check for configuration errors
76h Check for keyboard errors
7Ch Set up hardware interrupt vectors
7Dh Initialize Intelligent System Monitoring
7Eh Initialize coprocessor if present
80h Disable onboard Super I/O ports and IRQs
81h Late POST device initialization
82h Detect and install external RS232 ports
83h Configure non-MCD IDE controllers
84h Detect and install external parallel ports
85h Initialize PC-compatible PnP ISA devices
86h Re-initialize onboard I/O ports.
87h Configure Motherboard Configurable Devices
(optional)
88h Initialize BIOS Data Area
89h Enable Non-Maskable Interrupts (NMIs)
8Ah Initialize Extended BIOS Data Area
8Bh Test and initialize PS/2 mouse
8Ch Initialize floppy controller
8Fh Determine number of ATA drives (optional)
90h Initialize hard-disk controllers
91h Initialize local-bus hard-disk controllers
92h Jump to UserPatch2
93h Build MPTABLE for multi-processor boards
95h Install CD ROM for boot
96h Clear huge ES segment register
97h Fix up Multi Processor table
98h 1-2 Search for option ROMs. One long, two short
beeps on checksum failure
99h Check for SMART Drive (optional)
9Ah Shadow option ROMs
9Ch Set up Power Management
9Dh Initialize security engine (optional)
9Eh Enable hardware interrupts
9Fh Determine number of ATA and SCSI drives
A0h Set time of day
A2h Check key lock
A4h Initialize typematic rate
A8h Erase F2 prompt
AAh Scan for F2 key stroke
ACh Enter SETUP
AEh Clear Boot flag
B0h Check for errors
B1h Inform RomPilot about the end of POST.
B2h POST done - prepare to boot operating system
B4h 1 One short beep before boot

[Snidley274]

I just ran the "cardboard" test and still get no indication that POST is running; no beeps, no lights on the kb, nothing. All the fans run including the heatsink fan.

[Snidley274]

I just pulled both ram chips and powered up. I get a steady alarm/beep tone until I hit the front power switch, then a short delay, then the steady tone again. When I replace a ram chip and power up, I get the same old no-beep-tone condition and no video or other indications the POST is getting very far.

[Sylvander]

Great! :)
So now POST is running and warning you of no RAM.
But when you connect the RAM POST doesn't run.
So something is wrong about this RAM.
Check the beep code at www.computerhope.com/beep.htm to see what it means.
Which BIOS do you have?

[Snidley274]

The mb, a Gigabyte GA-8AENXP-D, uses Award bios and has two OCZ 512mb DDR2 533 unbuffered DIMMS in a dual channel configuration.

[Sylvander]

Means next to nothing to me, sorry to say. :(

Found these:
http://www.memory-configurator.co.uk/GIGABYTE/GA-8AENXP-D.html
http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_Spec_GA-8AENXP-D.htm

Why would connecting this RAM prevent POST from running?
Are you putting it in the wrong slots?
It seems to me to be the correct RAM [what do I know?]
Perhaps you should begin a new thread asking for the help of experts on RAM [and link to this thread].

[Matt]

When you moved your drives from one PC to the other, did you make sure that all the master/slave/CS dip switches were set properly when you installed the HDs and Cdrom drives?

Did you make sure that your primary HD that you’re going to boot from is plugged into your IDE1 channel? This is a long shot, but I had a similar problem when I accidentally installed the master and slave HD on the second IDE channel (Abit mobo). The fans would spin, the debug LED on the motherboard would give me a code that wasn’t defined in the manual, but no beeps or other activity.

[Snidley274]

"I removed the cpu and the memory chips"
Remove ONLY the RAM, NOT the CPU also.
The CPU must be in place [and correctly fitted of course].

In your last response you asked why the RAM would stop the POST from running. I tried with it out and with it in as you suggested above. Am I misunderstanding something here?

[Snidley274]

OCZ Technology has issued me an RMA number for the memory chips. They say "We have discovered that there can be an issue with certain motherboards and this ram" and that they will " get the SPD reprogrammed so that the board will boot properly." Hmmmm...

[Sylvander]

"Am I misunderstanding something here?"
I'm confusing you I think.
This was a rhetorical question.
One that was running in my mind.
One that I don't have the answer to, and I think an answer to that might produce a solution.

""We have discovered that there can be an issue with certain motherboards and this ram" and that they will " get the SPD reprogrammed so that the board will boot properly." Hmmmm..."
Aha, now we may have the answer to the question.
Here's hoping this produces the needed fix. :D

[Snidley274]

Are we satisfied the CPU is not the problem? I guess we won't know until the RAM has been replaced and the system retested. As I am impatient, I have another brand of similar DIMMs being overnighted from Newegg.

[Paleo Pete]

Correct, we don't know if the CPU is faulty or not until we rule out the RAM. But I suspect the CPU is not the problem, RAM is sounding more likely all the time. If you can test the CPU in another motherboard it might be a good idea, or take it to a computer shop and have them test it for you. If you try it yourself, be sure you use a heatsink and fan and some thermal compound. The CPU can be damaged beyond use in 10 seconds without them.

Once you get your new or replacement RAM, try the bare-bones method again, until you get video, and use only one RAM stick for testing at first. Add the second one only after you get a picture. Bare-bones means motherboard, CPU with fan and heatsink attached, RAM, keyboard and video card. Nothing else should be connected to eliminate as much as possible that will make troubleshooting more difficult. You can use a small screwdriver to CAREFULLY short the two power on pins and start the computer, unplug it to shut down. You only need to boot long enough to see a picture and hear one beep. One beep means BIOS is happy, all the hardware should be OK.

Once you get video and put it back in the case, use the same method, bare-bones at first, then add one item at a time, starting with the floppy drive.

[Snidley274]

I just received the overnighted 512mb Mushkin ram and put it in slot 1 and lo and behold, I am looking at the bios setup screen!!! Eureka!!! Hopefully OCZ will return the correct chips on the RMA. Now I can move forward. If only I had a full version of XP laying around. I guess I could try Win98 then upgrade using my upgrade cds. Any advice on installing XP on a SATA drive?

Thanks again for all the terrific help and advice. You will be highly recommended.