PC still won't POST replaced MOBO CPU RAM PSU...

[Gibbo]

It all started the other day when my computer stinkily blew up.
I assumed it was the PSU and swapped my Antec Smartpower 500 for a brand new Tagan 700.
The computer wouldn't POST -the fans would twitch but that was all.
So I assumed I'd fried the mobo.

SO I replaced my old Asus P5W DH Deluxe + E6600 + 2 x 1 GB 533 DDR2 RAM
with an Asus P5QL-E + Q9550 + 2 x 2 GB 1066 DDR2 RAM

and still the bastard won't POST.
I've tried getting it to POST without Graphics card and without RAM - but still all I get is a moment of power as the fans twitch and then nothing.

Yes I have checked that both the 24 pin and the 8 pin power connectors are connected correctly.
I have tried booting with all fans disconnected too.

What do you reckon I should look atg now?

[Viper81]

Man, that must be really annoying!
I'd try booting with the motherboard outside of the case and nothing installed other than the cpu and power supply connections. That should give you _something_ hopefully.
Have you got a multimeter or a power supply tester?

[peterb]

You have probably got a short cct somewhere - and teh PSU is shutting itself down (either that or youhave been really unlucky and got a PSU that is DoA - unlikely but possible.

As viper says, build a minimum system outside the case - put the mobo on a shet of cardboard, and test it that way. Don't run it without the CPU fan though. Even with the system powered down (but the PSU connected and switched on at the wall) you should get an LED alight on the mobo.

If that doesn't work, then test the PSU - you will need a multimeter and a dummy load of some sort - but IMHO those PSU testers that are sold for a few pounds (or given away) are pretty much useless - they don't provide any worthwhile load at all. An old car headlight or indicator lamp can be used as a load if required.

[Gibbo]

Found the problem

The boot HDD must have a short on the power side.

if it is connected to the PSU then I get the fault whether or not it is connected to the mobo.

I got this by building up a system outside the case.

Oh bugger

all my applications are on there and a partition with 120 GB of storage ( not backed up)...

[Funkstar]

Thats pretty bad if the HD is stopping the PSU from starting the system. But it also sounds like the PSU is shutting down, preventing itself from being harmed by the short.

all my applications are on there and a partition with 120 GB of storage ( not backed up)...

How important is that data to you? Is it worth a few hundred pounds?

There are data recovery companies that should be able to get that for you, even if it means replacing the whole PCB on the dead drive. That is assuming the data is intact on the drive itself.

Backups are good

[Gibbo]

How important is that data to you? Is it worth a few hundred pounds?

All my software licences for my studio apps and plugs are on there

if the companies won't let me reactivate then i stand to lose about £2k

[Funkstar]

If it's Adobe, then you can get all your license keys by loggin into their site.

Others I have no idea about.

[Gibbo]

If it's Adobe, then you can get all your license keys by loggin into their site.

Others I have no idea about.

Cakewalk
Native Instruments
ReFX

[Funkstar]

Well, all the more reason you should have been backed up

I can understand if someone doesn't bother backing up a few MP3s and things they have downloaded, but when it is part of a commercial setup, there really isn't any excuse in my opinion.

[Gibbo]

Well, all the more reason you should have been backed up

I can understand if someone doesn't bother backing up a few MP3s and things they have downloaded, but when it is part of a commercial setup, there really isn't any excuse in my opinion.

it's not commercial

merely a hobby home studio

some people play games i make music

that said i was looking into a backup solution when it went pop - i was getting paranoid that i had too much valuable stuff

here's hoping i can get everything reactivated once reinstalled

[Funkstar]

Oh, I just assumed it would be commercial

Thats one reason I love my NAS boxes, I can just copy everything onto them. Granted it's not the "ultimate" in backups, but a copy on a RADI-5 nas is enough for me. My email is through a hosted Exchange service, so if Outlook dies, I just sync it all down again and I'm good to go. Though I do also take backups of that as well.

[smargh]

Are you using the same SATA data cable as before? If so, consider replacing it...

[Gibbo]

anyone got a Thailand made Seagate ST3200822AS running firmware 3.01 that I could swap out the logic board on?

[Gibbo]

Are you using the same SATA data cable as before? If so, consider replacing it...

why should I bin it?
will it be fubared too?

[smargh]

I was just thinking that perhaps it was the cable which became knackered, not the HDD.

[Funkstar]

if it is connected to the PSU then I get the fault whether or not it is connected to the mobo.

I was just thinking that perhaps it was the cable which became knackered, not the HDD.

Sounds like the power side of the drive to me