Computer won't start up!

Jonney Napalm

Jonney Napalm

Jonney Napalm

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Joined
8 Jan 2009
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22
My system was working fine until this morning, when I decided to tidy the computer room up.
I disconnected my pc and moved it into another room, took off the side and cleaned the dust filters on the intake fans.
This evening I put it back into the computer room and it just won't start up.
When I turn on the power supply at the switch at the back, the mobo lights come on and the little lcd poster thingy says 'Welcome' and then starts counting time from when power was applied.
When I push the case power switch, nothing, zilch, nil.
I've checked the switch with a multi meter and it seems fine, I've even tried shorting the pins on the mobo, but still nothing.
I disconnected my psu and shorted the pins in that and it springs into life no problem, so I'm ruling that out.
I've had a good look round and can't see any loose wires, and have rechecked any connections I can see.
I beginning to think the mobo is borked, why, I don't know.
Anyways, it's an Asus Rampage II Extreme with a Corsair 1000w Psu.

Any body got any ideas of anything else I can check out?

Damn, that old saying 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' is ringing round the inside of my head.

Thanks, Jonney.
 
The Cpu is overclocked mildly to 3.2 using the CPU level up function in the bios and the memory voltage has been upped to 1.65v because that's what my 6Gb of Corsair says it uses.
I have pulled all the power connectors from the board and re-seated them and also tried clearing the CMOS.
Still no luck.
The bios LED, and the power,reset, toggle, confirm and select switches on the mobo illuminate and the ROG illuminated bit.
Infact the ROG illuminated bit flashes, albeit slowly and the sound card also illuminates.
Just doesn't seem to want to go any further when you press the power button.
It's like the mobo isn't giving the signal to the psu to power up.
 
Unlikely but your psu could be dying too, i had a similar scanario on a p5wdh deluxe that was psu related. Is the the cmos battery properly seated? a modular cable undone slightly, jumper pins all in and correct place?
 
This morning I decided to swap the old, quiet x800 in this general-use box for the 8800GTS sitting on the shelf looking bored. In theory a straight forward swap, and I took anti-static precautions while de-dusting the box while I was at it.

But I ended up spending all morning debugging a curious BIOS boot lock-up which turned out to be nothing more complicated than me not re-connecting a power connector to a SATA drive properly. The resulting error confused me completely, proving just how rusty my hardware skills have become!

Anyway, that doesn't help you but it does mean I can sympathise with your troubles today. :-)

In the end I went back to first principles and unplugged *everything* except the graphics card. That worked fine, so I added the DVD drive and booted from a Linux CD, then started adding HDs when that went well. However it sounds like your problems are a bit further back in the chain. I have a spare power supply (just a cheap, low power one) which I use in situations like yours just to rule out PSU issues.

Good luck finding the problem. There is nothing quite like the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach which comes when you hit the power switch and nothing happens!*

Andrew McP

*Actually there is... when everything starts perfectly, but after three seconds you smell burning. :->
 
Well I stripped it all down and tried to get it too post with just the bare essentials outside the case and it still won't fire up.
I did check the CMOS battery was seated properly, but surely if it wasn't even fitted the pc would start to boot, but fail with a CMOS error?
I've pinned out the PSU and all pins are supplying the correct voltages, so I can only assume it's a borked mobo.
Oh well, here's to the fun RMA'ing a 7 month old mobo. (not purchased from OC'ers btw)
 
I had a very similar fault with my old Asus A8N-e mainboard that exhibited this behavior every few months.

I never did track down the cause, though the audio on the board failed a few months later and I replaced it. It doesnt help that the PSU also failed shortly after that so I've effectively swapped out both components that are likely responsible with your system.

I'd be more inclined to try an alternative PSU first and THEN look towards the mainboard as a possible fault. Good luck ^
 
I would try an alternative PSU if I had one TBH, but as I haven't, I've got no real option but to try and RMA the mobo and hope that it is the problem.
As I say I've checked the PSU output and it looks good, but I can see where your coming from.
I really wish I had a shelf full of spares at times like these, because it would make life so much easier.

Thanks to all for your suggestions, fingers crossed.
 
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