First build won't boot

Meerkat

Meerkat

Meerkat

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Joined
7 Sep 2008
Posts
55
I got my Computer parts yesterday, spent a day putting them together and when it came to booting it up the Case lights just flashed on for a second and then nothing happened, no fans or anything.

So i'm thinking have I missed connecting the Case power-button to the motherboard? Or could this be some other fault?

Hardware:
Asus P5Q PRO motherboard
Intel core 2 duo 3ghz
Geil 4GB RAM Black dragon
Corsair TX650Watt PSU
HIs ATi-Radeon 4850
NZXT Hush Classic Case

Thanks.
 
no defo not a case power button problem as nothing would happen if you pressed it in that case.

have you plugged in your 4/8 pin mobo power connector ?
 
New h/w these days got 2 power connectors to the MB, the bigger and the smaller one, maybe something like that.
 
You got any other components to try out? Make sure pc speaker is connected, it can tell you what is missing.
 
internal speaker wont do anything if the pc shuts down immediatley after power on

i suggest swapping in a known working psu just to check

oh and try re-plugging your power cable, thats happened to me somtimes :p

edit: infact im willing to bet that its a power cable problem, try using a known working one instead ;)
 
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I don't have a known working PSU as this is my first build,
so it could be a fault with the Power Supply.

Also, I tryed to boot it 3 times just the lights flashed on and off, checked the back of the PSU.

I'll post a picture of the hardware "connected" to see if any of you can make anything out.
 
Check both power connecters, the 24 pin ATX one, and the 4 pin one near the cpu (You can plug in an 8pin one if you have it, but it shouldnt be needed.)

Check that your cpu is seated correctly too, make sure the notches line up, and that the cpu is sitting flat and flush in the socket.

Make sure your RAM is in properly too, fully clipped down and locked in, because if its slightely popped out it can stop a system from posting and turning on.

If you want to as well, trying unplugging anything that is not needed...ie hard drives, cd-roms, floppys, even your graphics card can be removed to free up power. As well as sound cards just for the hell of it.

I alos presume you only have that one PSU? :)
 
Alright then, I will try all of those after I wake up abit more, cannot try the Power-Supply as I only have one.

Also, I don't know how anyone can say building a computer is easy heheheh :)
 
Back to basics - take the mobo out of the case and place it (carefully) on something firm but non metalic (i use a shoe box) connect up the power, attach the case speaker and listen for POST beeps, ensure you have your memory and cpu installed correctly as well. Systematically add components until you find which one is causing the problem (if any).

Effectively you're building the pc outside of the case to start with to minimise the chance of a short and then go on from there.
 
Here's a quick check to see if your PSU is at fault..

Switch off PSU

Remove all connections to PC including ATX leads.

Get a strip of wire and run one end of this from the green pin in the 20/24pin ATX lead to any of the black pins.

Attach one fan to a molex

Switch on PSU ...

Does the fan spin?

If it does, but doesn't work when connected to mobo, then you may have borked your mobo.. However, it maybe worth checking the supply using a multimeter.

If it doesn't, then the PSU is faulty
 
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Meerkat said:
I got my Computer parts yesterday, spent a day putting them together and when it came to booting it up the Case lights just flashed on for a second and then nothing happened, no fans or anything.

So i'm thinking have I missed connecting the Case power-button to the motherboard? Or could this be some other fault?

Hardware:
Asus P5Q PRO motherboard
Intel core 2 duo 3ghz
Geil 4GB RAM Black dragon
Corsair TX650Watt PSU
HIs ATi-Radeon 4850
NZXT Hush Classic Case

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Unfortunately, the P5Q series of mobo's are known to be troublesome with auto settings and ram, and also using 4 sticks of ram. If you are using 4 sticks, just use 2 and get into the bios. From there, set the recommended manufacturer voltage for the ram. If you are using 2 sticks, then just use 1.

If successful getting into the bios, I recommend updating to the latest bios, you'll see pretty much every update has been for memory issues.
 
The PSU fan does not spin, no fan spins, no image is made, I did put the screws in to raise the mobo off the ground.

EDIT, right just tried some stuff, just the mobo, PSU, CPU and RAM connected, when turning it on the CPU fan spins for a second then stops and theres a little green light on the motherboard glowing, does this mean somthing such as PSU problems or Motherboard problems?
 
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Meerkat said:
The green light stays on when theres power, I do regret building my own PC tho ¬_¬
Click to expand...


Don't. It's all part of the fun, although it may not seem like it at the moment. I've been building PC's for around 20 years, you hit snags, just have to find the solution. Sometimes it's hardware and there's nothing you can do except RMA and/or replace. Trial and error is the key, eliminate possible causes of the problem, one by one.
 
Meerkat said:
The green light stays on when theres power, I do regret building my own PC tho ¬_¬
Click to expand...

You mean the green light on the motherboard presumably?

What have you tried? What haven't you tried?

Have it tried it from the basics as said already.

Building a pc from your own is a good achievment, especially if you aren't someone who doesnt it every day.
 
You mean the green light on the motherboard presumably?

What have you tried? What haven't you tried?

Have it tried it from the basics as said already.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it!
OK, disconnected power supply from everything except mobo (24 and 8 pin connections). When switched on, all the fans spin for a second, the green light (on mobo) is on.

Could there be an interlock in the power unit? I mean if there is too much power-- as nothing else is connected-- and the power unit switches off?

I'm about to take out mobo and try the power+fans out of the case in case of a short, any more ideas very welcome.
 
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