New AMD system won't boot

[Peter Berquist]

New system will not boot for first time builder.

Here is the situation:

Antec 1040
Shuttle AK35GTR
AMD 1800+ Athlon
Crucial 256MB PC2100
ATI Radeon 32MB DDR
Maxtor 40GB 7200
DVD LiteOn 16x
CDRW LiteOn 32x
Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse

Parts from old system: Gateway2000 Monitor, KB, FDD

When power is applied, all fans and HDD spin up but that is all that happens, no beep codes, nothing on the screen. The monitor works fine on my old system, and I have checked all cable connections, and tried reversing the speaker wire connection.
Then I tried putting the memory in a different slot.
Next I disconected all drives except the HDD, and finally tried replacing the AGP card with a known working PCI card.
Each time same result.
I am using the heatsink/fan that came with the processor, and after the power has been on for a few minutes and then turned off, the heat sink feels hot to the touch.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[ski]

Make sure the memory and video card are securely inserted. Give them both a firm push. Sometimes they can be a little stubborn.
Next, try the memory in all of the slots.
If still no luck, disconnect everything except the CPU, motherboard, memory, video card, and power supply module, and place the MB on a piece of cardboard.
If you get a display, then the MB is shorting to one of the standoffs or something else. Try spacers between the standoffs, screws, and the MB.
If there is no display, then there is a bad MB, CPU, Memory, or video card.
Swap them out or have them checked by a shop.

[Whyzman]

Hello Peter,

Is the MB brand spankin' new? You might want to try pulling the battery from the MB and see if perhaps they might have inserted a piece of plastic to preserve the battery.

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May all your dealings in life be win/win!


Whyzman
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Reserved for Punishing Humor...A Pessimist's blood is always B-negative!

[old_kid]

On sequence is as follows

When power on CPU wakes up first with a special wire - "voltage OK" - then sends, via address bus, a signal to System BIOS ROM which will then initiate POST - sounds like you are not even initiating bios

I assume CPU Memory & Board are comaptible - Are jumpers - Voltage/multiplier set properly for CPU?? When installing CPU did you remove protective covering for thermal conductor, Was Heat sink oriented correctly - notch on one side?? (Takes about 2 secs to fry a Processor)- I would check CPU first as it is first in line - any local repair shop could check CPU - might even do it for free



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Old dogs CAN learn new tricks

[ranchdog]

Peter

'Bout the only thing I might add to all of the
above... check the CMOS jumper. Many new Mboards are
shipped with this jumper in the "clear" position.

Sure hope it isn't the processor.

Luck.

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I spent a lot of money on women... liquor... motorcycles.
The rest I just wasted.

[kurt1]

I also have an AMD, but a bit older (550 Athlon K-7). I have had a simliar problem haunt me, go away then come back. I turn on the power switch and nothing happens (can't remember if drives spin or if I get lights). I have to push 'reset' to make it behave normally.

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--
Kurt

[inform]

Hi Peter

I'm having exactly the same problem only mine is with a system that, until the problem occured this weekend, was totally stable. My first thought was that the CPU had gone so I went out and bought a new AMD 1700XP (with new cooling fan - just to be on the safe side) - no luck - it didn't resolve the problem. I've been out today & bought a new motherboard - horror of all horrors!!! it still hasn't fixed the problem. Unless I'm missing the obvious, that leaves two possibilities - memory or power supply (unless the old motherboard fried the new cpu ????). I think my next step is to replace the power supply (but i'm open to advice) as I would have thought that memory problems would generate an audible beep?? I will let you know how i get on. Let me know if you solve yours in the meantime.

Thanks

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Ian

[ski]

inform,

The problem could also be due to a bad or improperly inserted video card.
Sometimes it will creep out of its slot.