Help please.

[Ryzo89]

Alright, got everything sorted on my new pc, everything is in but when i switch it on, the green led on the motherboard comes on but the pc won't boot up. This is what i have done to try and fix it:

Switched the RAM around.

Took GPU out and tried it, then back in.

This didn't make a difference, which leads me to believe that a cable is in the wrong place somewhere or the motherboard is being short circuted by another bit of metal, however, i don't see anything that could be causing it.

I have the DVD-RW and HDD along the same SATA cable coming from the PSU, could this be the problem? The actual fan that came with the case is attached to the peripheral connecter from the fan, it doesn't start when power is on. I have 2 sata cables each from the DVD-RW and HDD to SATA slots 1 and 2 respectively. I even fiddled around with different combinations but no joy.

I know for a fact that the 12V power connector is in the right place and the main power connector is also in the right place.

The PCI-E cables from the PSU aren't plugged in as there is nowhere on the card they will go.

Any ideas?

[Ulti]

Try reseatting the CPU and cooler. Once I reseatted them and the pc worked when previously it wouldn't boot.

Another problem I had once was there was an extra motherboard standoff that a new board I got didn't use which just managed to touch 2 pins on the board and short them, just do a double check with your case to see if this applies to you and hopefully it doesn't as you don't want a fried board

DVD and HDD drives don't use too much power so that won't be a problem.

What do you mean the case fan is attached to the peripheral connector from the fan though? Do you mean the 4 pin molex connectors from the PSU? This may mean that the PSU is faulty. However, if the other fans connected to the motherboard (e.g. CPU fan, graphics card fan) does come on then PSU is likely to be ok.

As you've tried RAM and GPU I can't say there's a problem with those. Looking at the pictures of your board it doesn't look like it has a LED poster thing which could make it hard to find the problem

Anyway, try the ideas I've listed. I'm afraid I can't help you more than that though if they don't work.

[Ryzo89]

I have 'P4' running from the PSU to the case fan, however, there is still P5 and P6 not being used, should they be somewhere too?

[peterb]

It might be useful to remove everything from the case and build the system again. Place the mobo on an insulated surface (wood, card or similar, and again check all the connections. If the mobo has a built in graphics system, use that (remove the GPU). That will test the PSU and mobo, and being out of the case you can see all the connectors that bit better. Also have another read of the mobo manual!

What make of PSU is it?

And as Ulti says, check the CPU positioning. Some CPUs can be mis-seated, and it is easy to damage the pins on some CPU/socket combinations. But try the rebuild first - the less you disturb the CPU, the better, unless you really have to.

[mycarsavw]

If you have an internal speaker, any beeps?

[Ryzo89]

Quick question, i've been putting the AC'97 into a socket on the corner of the motherboard as it's the only one that fits it. In the manual (which is is french by the way) as AAFP.

Could anyone link me to a diagram of the sockets that should be filled on the motherboard and with which cables? I've been searching everywhere and can't find any english manual on this motherboard or decent guide.

[shadowmaster]

Quick question, i've been putting the AC'97 into a socket on the corner of the motherboard as it's the only one that fits it. In the manual (which is is french by the way) as AAFP.

Could anyone link me to a diagram of the sockets that should be filled on the motherboard and with which cables? I've been searching everywhere and can't find any english manual on this motherboard or decent guide.

What motherboard do you have again?

[Domestic_Ginger]

Pro model

EPU model

Can't help more I'm afraid, the manuals are in the download bit.

Is it booting ok now?

[peterb]

AAFP is Analogue Audio Front Panel.

A google search using the term

AAFP connector

brought up many hits, including this one...

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=155831

[Ryzo89]

Alright lads got it working. I was really at a loss about where everything should be because i was sure i had it all right. It turns out it was something shorting the circuitboard, at the minute some screws are in but not tightened, holding the motherboard down. Whenever i tightened them the thing wouldn't boot. I accidently bumped into the case a bit as well and it knocked off, how do i combat this?

It's lying on the floor open now and i'm careful when moving, trying to install windows. It says no hard disk detected as well, does this mean i need drivers for the HDD to work?

Cheers

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I assume you have used some washers between the motherboard and the case??

[Ulti]

I'd like to assume you're using the motherboard standoffs too. Generally they're the gold hexagonal things that you balance the motherboard on and screw your screws into.

If it shorts everytime you place a screw in then there's either something hanging off/sticking out the back of the motherboard that shouldn't be or you have an additional motherboard standoff. Either way, it should be generally easy to spot.

I can't imagine that bumping into a case will knock the motherboard off if it's tightened in though.

If it's saying no hard disk is detected then either the SATA cable is not plugged in properly or is faulty or your hard drive is faulty. Usually hard drives get corrupt and fail to boot but they are recognised. HDDs don't require drivers to install an OS on them either.

[Ryzo89]

Hahah yeah i'm not that bad, i'm using the standoffs but there are no plastic washers that came with the case. It knocked off because it wasn't secure enough and it must've just hit a bit of metal.

As for the hard drive, when it booted up it said no hard disk detected but i'm currently installing windows onto it so i'm assuming it recognises it. Hoping to use the upgrade trick.

Anyway, so i need plastic washers you reckon?

[Ulti]

I've never had plastic washers but seeing as you're having problems it's worth a try. I've used 4 cases before and none of them had plastic washers. I still find it odd it could be knocked off so easily though.

Also, I just remembered something now, with my previous motherboard, Abit IP35 Pro, it always said no hard disk detected (or something along those lines) but I've never had a problem with it. I just learnt to live with it as it booted as normal everytime.

[Ryzo89]

I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the screws going into the motherboard being too big, some of them go outside the circle around the hole so i reckon plastic washers will fix this. The screws are even the ones that came with the case but fair enough, i don't find getting washers. It just means i have to wait until tomorrow to actually piece it all together properly, it's on now but not stable enough to set it upright.

[Ulti]

They're bigger than the circle thing where the screw holes are? That is your problem then I guess. Take those ones out immediately and leave the normal ones where they are and screw them tighter.

The ones I tend to use are these:


They're the ideal ones I think after a quick search.

However, one of the cases I used before (cheap Casecom one) provided lots of the ones in the left of this picture (labelled as CD-ROM screw) and they also worked fine too as they were within the little white circle of the motherboard screw hole.



Here's what my motherboard looks like: