Curse

mazey vorstagg · Aug 21, 2007, 06:22 PM // 18:22

I recently started building my own computer from scratch, it's my first time.

I've installed the bare minimum to get a picture on the screen but it doesn't work, there's no beep and no picture. Although the fans all work.

I've only got a CPU, 1 GB Ram, PSU, Graphics card. All the case connections are correct.

When I press the on button the case leds light up and the fans for the PSU, Graphics Card and CPU start to spin. However, there is no beep and no image on the screen.

I've checked the case speaker is connected and it is, I'm at a loss of what to do. I've already tried reseating the RAM modules and the Graphics card. I also took out and put back in the CPU and it's fan but to no avail.

A quick internet search and my book both suggest that my mainboard/motherboard is to blame, is this likely? Are they really that easy to damage? (I took loads of precautions and I didn't see any damage occur but my something may have touched it in installation, e.g the brass standoffs when I put it in place or the CPU fan clips.)

Is there anything I can do?

Thankyou

Mazey

MasterPatricko · Aug 21, 2007, 06:48 PM // 18:48

Does your motherboard have onboard graphics? Try plugging your monitor in there - it may be using that as the default. Although if there is no beep it is probably not that problem at all ...
Is your PSU a reliable, brand-name one? Cause the most common reason I know of a system not even POSTing is bad power. Never skimp on your PSU. If you have access to another computer try swapping it out.
Only other thing I can think of: is your CPU a P(entium) 4? If so, have you connected the extra P4 power connector to the mobo?
I assume you checked you've got the right RAM (DDR/DDR2) - try it in a different computer if you can.
Basically keep swapping parts around to try and figure out which one is broken.
Repeatedly moving the CPU doesn't sound smart ... the more times you touch it the more likely you are to break it. :P And I assume you didn't kill it with static or anything stupid like that.
I hope you eventually get a hard drive too BTW :P

mazey vorstagg · Aug 21, 2007, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Thanks.

Yeah I've got all the other parts I'm justing testing now so there's less possible causers of problems.

My CPU is Intel Core 2 Duo, I don't think there's another power cable. I've got another computer but it's a smaller form factor so I can't test either the motherboard or the PSU.

The PSE I'm using is this one, it's got plenty of good stars so I don't think anyone else has had problems. But this is what I can't figure. If all the fans are working, and the CPU fan gets it's power through the mainboard, then the mainboard must be working, right? Or can power still get to parts of it but not others?

I also had an electrostatic wrist strap on all the time so I should have been grounded.

Thanks again

immortius · Aug 21, 2007, 09:15 PM // 21:15

There are (at least) 2 places where the power plugs into the mainboard. A small, square 4-pin connector, and the long atx connector. Both are needed.

Additionally, if you have one of these newfangled PCI-E video cards it needs to have power supplied to it too - maybe even twice.

mazey vorstagg · Aug 22, 2007, 08:09 AM // 08:09

Hmm, I've been following instructions from a book but it was published 3 years ago. I've only plugged in the atx connector to the motherboard.

Thankyou, I'm going to look for other power places

mazey vorstagg · Aug 22, 2007, 08:40 AM // 08:40

MHUHAAHAHAHAHA! *evil frankinstiein laugh*
"It's alive!!!! MHUAHAHA"

In other words: Thankyou very much

immortius · Aug 22, 2007, 08:40 AM // 08:40

No prob.

mazey vorstagg · Aug 22, 2007, 10:49 AM // 10:49

Hmm, a new problem.

Now I've got the system all set up with Hard Drive, CD rom drive and Floppy drive in addition to the things mentioned above. It should be good to go but I'm having trouble installing Window's Vista.

I've set the boot order so that the CD-rom drive boots first followed by the Hard Drive and the CD rom again (my book says do that...). After inserting the windows vista boot/installation CD into my drive I get this error:

Boot from CD/DVD
Disk Boot Failure, insert system disk and press enter

I've tried opening and closing the CD drive but there was no difference.

I've read on the internet that some users have this problem due to overheating and atm my processor is running at 77 degrees C. I'm pretty sure that's too hot but I don't know how to cool it down, there are 3 fans in my case but only one is registered by the motherboard (the CPU fan). I'm going to look into cooling this down.

lordpwn · Aug 22, 2007, 11:57 AM // 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazey vorstagg

my processor is running at 77 degrees C

That's WAY too hot for a Core 2 Duo. It shouldn't really idle at more than 45-50 C or so and it should stay under 65-70 C even under load, and even that's pushing it. I don't think it's causing the CD boot problem but you should look into this right now, it'll burn out at this rate.

Make sure you installed the cooler correctly. If it's a stock fan+sink it should have come with a thermal pad (gray-ish stuff that helps fill any gaps between the CPU and the bottom of the heatsink), if not you might need some thermal paste. The stock cooler's plastic "legs" have arrows that look like they indicate how to lock it into place, but as far as I remember turning them that way actually unlocks them. It may require quite a bit of force to snap into place especially if there's too much thermal paste or the pad's a little too thick - don't be surprised if your motherboard starts to bend a bit from the force needed. The heatsink shouldn't move at all once it's properly attached.

Zodiak · Aug 22, 2007, 12:26 PM // 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazey vorstagg

my processor is running at 77 degrees C. I'm pretty sure that's too hot but I don't know how to cool it down, there are 3 fans in my case but only one is registered by the motherboard (the CPU fan). I'm going to look into cooling this down.

Yes that really is too hot under any circomstance for any processor.

I would check to see if the monitor registers the cpu fan at the same speed advertised on the cooler's packaging, it may be a little less due to some motherboards regulating fan speed.

Have a look at your motherboard manual and see if it has a feature that sounds like or is similar to "Cool & Quiet". You should disable this for the moment if temperatures are as you said.

Make also sure that all of the MOLEX connectors on your fans are well secured to the power supply.

Also worth mentioning that even with the cpu fan and case fans, make sure the chipset fan on the motherboard itself is operational.

Did you apply Thermal Grease to your cpu fan before installing it?

Socrates The Mauler · Aug 22, 2007, 12:52 PM // 12:52

Floppy disks are sometimes needed to install XP if your machine cannot boot off the CD. There are different setup disks for XP pro, home, service pack 1 and 2. I have had to use these before, and they will get the installer running with the proper drivers so your CD drive can be read. I am too lazy to find the correct links so happy hunting.

He's using Vista. It comes on a DVD yes? And you putting it into a CD drive.....

lordpwn · Aug 22, 2007, 01:02 PM // 13:02

He's building a new computer. I don't think it should have any problems booting from a disc.

Zodiak · Aug 22, 2007, 01:51 PM // 13:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socrates The Mauler

He's using Vista. It comes on a DVD yes? And you putting it into a CD drive.....

I thought the same at first, which would clearly be the reason why he cant boot from it, but I believe he said something about CD/DVD above, which let me to believe that his drive could read both.

If not the case then theres your problem.

immortius · Aug 22, 2007, 01:55 PM // 13:55

Can you even buy non-DVD drives anymore? :P

Besides fixing the overheating issue, the only other idea I have is making sure the CD/DVD drive's data cable is correctly plugged in to the motherboard - is your bios detecting the drive? Does sound like the overheating is the main issue though.

mazey vorstagg · Aug 22, 2007, 04:16 PM // 16:16

Sorry I haven't reported all day.

It's all fixed and Vista is running upstairs. I fiddled with the fans and such and it now runs about 40 degrees most of the time so it's well within limits

.

The problem was me being stupid *doh* and not realizing that I had only a CD drive not a DVD/CD drive. Once I went out and bought a new drive it all worked smoothly (well almost

)

Thanks to you guys for all your help! Next time I post I'll be posting from a new pc

Coridan · Aug 22, 2007, 04:28 PM // 16:28

congrats on making your first PC work!

Zodiak · Aug 22, 2007, 05:10 PM // 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by mazey vorstagg

Sorry I haven't reported all day.

It's all fixed and Vista is running upstairs. I fiddled with the fans and such and it now runs about 40 degrees most of the time so it's well within limits

.

The problem was me being stupid *doh* and not realizing that I had only a CD drive not a DVD/CD drive. Once I went out and bought a new drive it all worked smoothly (well almost

)

Thanks to you guys for all your help! Next time I post I'll be posting from a new pc

heh... some of us THOUGHT that was the case but your phrasing led to confusion

Heat seems ok but if your running powerful hardware, it will tend to get hot real fast under a good size load, you might consider something other then a STOCK cpu cooler, which usually only do the bare minimum, which is not saying much, it basically only prevents your cpu from melting.

One thing I CAN suggest however and you will most-likely be thankful for knowing this.

get some Swiffer pads and squares to size for your fans that pull Air inside your computer, not the CPU cooler but the external ones. This prevents multiple things:

- It prevents dust build-up
- you wont have to clean the interior of your case as often
- you wont find the back of your computer all dusty (no dust in, no dust out)
- lesser dust means lower temperatures and higher fan speed
- dust causes electrical shorts that can be bad

All in all, for a cheapo box of Swiffer pads, they make excellent air filters. This idea comes from Maximum PC

lordpwn · Aug 22, 2007, 05:35 PM // 17:35

The Core 2 stock cooler is actually quite good if you don't plan on overclocking. With decent case ventilation it can keep a Core 2 Duo E6600 under 55 C at 100% CPU load.

mazey vorstagg · Aug 23, 2007, 08:51 PM // 20:51

Well, here's a post from my new pc

All ready for the GWEN event

thankyou