New PC won't boot - ideas anybody ?
Discussion
Today I tried to build a new PC - I have the following problem.
HDD and CD only work if IDE cable is not connected to board. If connected, they do not exhibit any signs of working.
I have tried several HDD's and a couple of different types of IDE cable - always the same result.
There is nothing appearing on the screen, the screen power LED just flashes as if in standby.
Please tell me if the following spec is a sensible one : If there anything glaringly obvious as a known conflict ?
2 off Corsair 1GB DDR RAM (2*512 kits) 2GB in total
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe motherboard
Asus CD S520 CD Rom
MSI GEForce FX 5200 TD - 128MB Graphics
Intel P4 HT Northwood 3.0 GHz chip 800 MHz FSB
1 off - 80GB Maxtor Diamond Max +9 ATA 133/7200 HDD
Will be Win XP Pro if I can get the thing to boot.
Any ideas greatfully received.
Simon
HDD and CD only work if IDE cable is not connected to board. If connected, they do not exhibit any signs of working.
I have tried several HDD's and a couple of different types of IDE cable - always the same result.
There is nothing appearing on the screen, the screen power LED just flashes as if in standby.
Please tell me if the following spec is a sensible one : If there anything glaringly obvious as a known conflict ?
2 off Corsair 1GB DDR RAM (2*512 kits) 2GB in total
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe motherboard
Asus CD S520 CD Rom
MSI GEForce FX 5200 TD - 128MB Graphics
Intel P4 HT Northwood 3.0 GHz chip 800 MHz FSB
1 off - 80GB Maxtor Diamond Max +9 ATA 133/7200 HDD
Will be Win XP Pro if I can get the thing to boot.
Any ideas greatfully received.
Simon
Do you get as far as the BIOS and POST if the hard disk is not connected?
Is your PSU beefy enough to cope with that lot? (350W+ I'd expect you need)
Also, have you tried all of the ATA master/secondary sockets, and tried one HDD or CDROM at a time?
Try it with just one or two memory sticks as well.
I just ordered a P4C800-E and P4 3.0GHz myself .. can't wait
>> Edited by john_p on Monday 2nd February 17:40
Is your PSU beefy enough to cope with that lot? (350W+ I'd expect you need)
Also, have you tried all of the ATA master/secondary sockets, and tried one HDD or CDROM at a time?
Try it with just one or two memory sticks as well.
I just ordered a P4C800-E and P4 3.0GHz myself .. can't wait

>> Edited by john_p on Monday 2nd February 17:40
I don't know about conflicts, but it might be worth, wiggling all the components, especially the memory. Do you get any beeps on startup?
I was driven nuts by something similar when I built my last PC. No BIOS, no beeps, nothing. It turned out that the motherboard doesn't even POST unless there was memory installed . . .
I was driven nuts by something similar when I built my last PC. No BIOS, no beeps, nothing. It turned out that the motherboard doesn't even POST unless there was memory installed . . .
Have you got the HDD as master, the CDROM as slave *and the drives on the right connectors on the cable*??
Since the introduction of ATA133 you'll need specific cables and they usually have coloured connectors - blue and black normally. The master is the one at the end of the cable - normally blue I think.
Ideally you want the CDROM on another channel altogether ofcourse...
having said that, complete lack of startup is usually a processor or memory fault. You've got quite trick memory there - chances are the mobo won't start up with them in. Do you have some lower-speed "bog standard" SDRAM you can stick in it - you possibly just need to get into the BIOS and change the memory timings for your fancy-schmancy memory. Unfortunately this means temporarily starting it up with lower performance memory in it, change BIOS, shutdown, new memory back in, and (again, hopefully) away you go.
Cheers,
Dan
>> Edited by brumster on Monday 2nd February 18:26
Since the introduction of ATA133 you'll need specific cables and they usually have coloured connectors - blue and black normally. The master is the one at the end of the cable - normally blue I think.
Ideally you want the CDROM on another channel altogether ofcourse...
having said that, complete lack of startup is usually a processor or memory fault. You've got quite trick memory there - chances are the mobo won't start up with them in. Do you have some lower-speed "bog standard" SDRAM you can stick in it - you possibly just need to get into the BIOS and change the memory timings for your fancy-schmancy memory. Unfortunately this means temporarily starting it up with lower performance memory in it, change BIOS, shutdown, new memory back in, and (again, hopefully) away you go.
Cheers,
Dan
>> Edited by brumster on Monday 2nd February 18:26
Thanks for the quick responses.
John P :
I get nothing on the screen at all - the graphics card doesn't seem to initialise - the LED on the monitor flashes as if on standby. I've tried a different graphics card, but that made no difference.
I've tried just the HDD in both Pri and Sec IDE sockets. It only spins up if there is no IDE cable attached - same for the CD player.
It doesn't seem to matter how much RAM is installed, I've also tried 1 and 2 strips in various slots.
The power supply might be a thought, it is only a 300W as standard - would that stop the drive initialising though ?
Whoozit :
I get no beeps or anything, if it wasn't for the CPU fan spinning you would think the whole thing was dead.
You might have hit on the RAM idea though - is it a possibility that all 4 strips are dodgy ? If so, do you think that might stop the HDD / CD spinning up when the IDE cables are connected.
Brumster :
All the cables are connected as per the instruction manual - as you say blue one end and black the other.
I've put the HD as master on the Primary IDE and the CD as master on the Secondary IDE.
Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit new to all this building PC's lark - they tend to work first time normally.
The weird thing is, this is happening on 2 machines - both identical spec.
Do you think it's realistic that I might have 2 dodgy motherboards ? Both with the same problem ?
Cheers
Simon
>> Edited by 130tdi on Monday 2nd February 18:27
John P :
I get nothing on the screen at all - the graphics card doesn't seem to initialise - the LED on the monitor flashes as if on standby. I've tried a different graphics card, but that made no difference.
I've tried just the HDD in both Pri and Sec IDE sockets. It only spins up if there is no IDE cable attached - same for the CD player.
It doesn't seem to matter how much RAM is installed, I've also tried 1 and 2 strips in various slots.
The power supply might be a thought, it is only a 300W as standard - would that stop the drive initialising though ?
Whoozit :
I get no beeps or anything, if it wasn't for the CPU fan spinning you would think the whole thing was dead.
You might have hit on the RAM idea though - is it a possibility that all 4 strips are dodgy ? If so, do you think that might stop the HDD / CD spinning up when the IDE cables are connected.
Brumster :
All the cables are connected as per the instruction manual - as you say blue one end and black the other.
I've put the HD as master on the Primary IDE and the CD as master on the Secondary IDE.
Sorry for all the questions, I'm a bit new to all this building PC's lark - they tend to work first time normally.
The weird thing is, this is happening on 2 machines - both identical spec.
Do you think it's realistic that I might have 2 dodgy motherboards ? Both with the same problem ?
Cheers
Simon
>> Edited by 130tdi on Monday 2nd February 18:27
tja said:
Have you got the IDE cables plugged in the right way round? If you haven't got locating lugs on the plugs then they will fit in either way round and this could cause the symptoms you're seeing.
All the cables have got lugs on both ends - I've even tried both connectors on each cable master/slave with the blue end plugged into the MB. Still no joy, the drive still only spins into life if the IDE cable is unplugged.
I've even tried different HDD's in case there is a problem with the new one. Same result.
I'm out of ideas then. Just to re-iterate :-
HHD will need the jumpers configuring to master (don't bother with CSS (cable select) for now)
The blue plug in mobo and the other END plug (not midpoint plug) into the HDD.
How about disconnect HDD and CDROMs, start machine and go straight into BIOS, then double-check the onboard IDE controller is enabled and set to the right settings.
Your mobo doesn't have a RAID controller on it as well, does it, and if so you haven't got it in the RAID controller connector instead of the normal IDE connector?
If so, and you're not planning on using RAID, turn it off in the BIOS.
Will it boot up off a floppy disc (if you've got an old DOS disk lying around that you could try out?)
HHD will need the jumpers configuring to master (don't bother with CSS (cable select) for now)
The blue plug in mobo and the other END plug (not midpoint plug) into the HDD.
How about disconnect HDD and CDROMs, start machine and go straight into BIOS, then double-check the onboard IDE controller is enabled and set to the right settings.
Your mobo doesn't have a RAID controller on it as well, does it, and if so you haven't got it in the RAID controller connector instead of the normal IDE connector?
If so, and you're not planning on using RAID, turn it off in the BIOS.
Will it boot up off a floppy disc (if you've got an old DOS disk lying around that you could try out?)
300W should be enough to start it off, certainly if you have just a hard disk and the mobo/memory/graphics card.
I agree with the others then, I've definitely had times in the past when machines have refused to POST because the hard disk cable wasn't in the right way around. Have you tried another IDE cable - perhaps the one you have is broken?
I can only wonder if there is a problem with the motherboard?
I agree with the others then, I've definitely had times in the past when machines have refused to POST because the hard disk cable wasn't in the right way around. Have you tried another IDE cable - perhaps the one you have is broken?
I can only wonder if there is a problem with the motherboard?
Also, have you tried plugging in a set of headphones to the audio out (green)? The P4C800 has a "voice POST" system which replaces the conventional beeps ..
You have connected the +12V line (next to the memory)?
Try with just one memory stick in for now (any slot)
Other than that the fact two identical machines aren't working points to a setup error..
>> Edited by john_p on Monday 2nd February 20:25
You have connected the +12V line (next to the memory)?
Try with just one memory stick in for now (any slot)
Other than that the fact two identical machines aren't working points to a setup error..
>> Edited by john_p on Monday 2nd February 20:25
Thanks for all the positive responses.
I'll take a pair of headphones to work tomorrow for the voice post and try all the other ideas.
If I get any further (I find it hard to believe I've got 2 dodgy motherboards with identical prolems), I'll post any feedback asap.
Once again, thanks all for your assistance. PH triumphs again
I'll take a pair of headphones to work tomorrow for the voice post and try all the other ideas.
If I get any further (I find it hard to believe I've got 2 dodgy motherboards with identical prolems), I'll post any feedback asap.
Once again, thanks all for your assistance. PH triumphs again

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