Heart sinking after new build not working.

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22-03-2006, 04:08 PM
MSIC

Heart sinking after new build not working.

Just wanted to post after feeling really crap this morning....
Made a new computer for a mate, using (with his permission) my old motherboard, P4 and fan, together with a new case, PSU and other new bits all from Scan. The case is a £24 job, compete with "400W PSU". As I type this, i can already envisage the obvious response...
I set it all up, and it all initially worked, got the OS and drivers on and a few applications, all going well.
Turned it off and left it overnight.
Power on this morning.... nothing. Well actually the fan does a 1/2 turn before stopping, plus I can see an LED on, so I know some power is going through.

Piece by piece, unplugged all things like RAM, hard drives, graphics card etc etc. One by one, and still nothing.

Going to be mighty p'd off if the PSU has knackered the motherboard, as it was working 100% stable in my current system.

Sorry about this, just wanted to vent my frustrations!!
22-03-2006, 04:13 PM
schrickvr6

Have you tried clearing the cmos?
22-03-2006, 04:23 PM
sawyen

yea, try unplugging the mains.. leave the CMOS at clear position and leave it for a few hours.. Go get a pint while u release wrath on that chick serving u...

Come back, and 7/10 It should be back online.. :P
22-03-2006, 04:26 PM
leeglf

i have had the same problem before try running the motherboard out of the case on a non conductive surface like cardboard with just the hdd, power supply,cpu and ram connected if it works as mine did there will be a problem with the motherboard shorting out on the case some times happens with cheap cases!

if this is the case try using some paper/fibre washers between the standoffs and the motherboards and if you can between the motherboard screws and motherboard!
22-03-2006, 04:37 PM
MSIC

Quote:

Originally Posted by leeglf

i have had the same problem before try running the motherboard out of the case on a non conductive surface like cardboard with just the hdd, power supply,cpu and ram connected if it works as mine did there will be a problem with the motherboard shorting out on the case some times happens with cheap cases!

if this is the case try using some paper/fibre washers between the standoffs and the motherboards and if you can between the motherboard screws and motherboard!

Fantastic advice mate!
I will certainly do that, and you know what - the bloody case COMES WITH some small paper washers, I just didnt know what they were for.

Cheers lads (or lasses) for your advice and sympathy, :bowdown: as I was really just posting to vent frustration but I will implement all of the above tonight.
Looking forward to that pint too - are you buying?
22-03-2006, 05:40 PM
shaithis

Interested in hearing how it goes....

I gave a good freind an old ABit BD7-II and 2.8GHz P4 recently and hes having the exact same problems.....although sometimes it turns on and works (worked for 18 months solid before it got removed from its case).

He has an Enermax modular PSU though, so I am guessing his problems definatly aren't power related ;)
22-03-2006, 06:21 PM
Hans Voralberg

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaithis

He has an Enermax modular PSU though, so I am guessing his problems definatly aren't power related ;)

You havent seen an Enermax blowing up :P.

For the owner of this topic: as some1 suggested try it outside the case, i have the mobo shorting enough time with the case that now i run i bare naked on a cardboard box.
22-03-2006, 07:01 PM
arthurleung

I've had a cheap case killing my NF4 SLI-D...
22-03-2006, 07:03 PM
mike_dowler

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Voralberg

now i run i bare naked on a cardboard box.

Now, THAT is entertainment! :lol:
22-03-2006, 07:06 PM
5lab

its not something simple, like cpu fan has come unplugged (or rheostat twiddled round to far on it?)
22-03-2006, 07:35 PM
MSIC

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5lab

its not something simple, like cpu fan has come unplugged (or rheostat twiddled round to far on it?)

Funnily enough I did unplug the CPU fan header in order to put in a voltage-reduction lead thingy, but as it didnt work afterwards I swapped it out and tried again without the thingy lead and still no joy. Am at home now (where the PC in question is) and will be doing the above over the next few hours....
22-03-2006, 07:45 PM
leeglf

good luck!
22-03-2006, 08:34 PM
5lab

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSIC

Funnily enough I did unplug the CPU fan header in order to put in a voltage-reduction lead thingy, but as it didnt work afterwards I swapped it out and tried again without the thingy lead and still no joy. Am at home now (where the PC in question is) and will be doing the above over the next few hours....

sure you plugged it back into the same place? rather than a different mobo header for a case fan or similar..

also check your on-off button is wired up properly - try running a screwdriver along all the contacts down there (normally works for me)..
23-03-2006, 07:19 PM
Zak33

how did it go? Is it up and running?
23-03-2006, 09:59 PM
MSIC

You are all magic.
I loves ya.

It was leeglf who deserves credit for being first with the answer, it was the case shorting out. Basically I hadnt screwed in the extra standoff screws, and there were none at the back half of the motherboard - result : direct contact with the case (and clearly not good).
Have now added these, as well as the paper washers between the screws and the case standoff screws, and we have spinning fans and everything.
Just about to reconnect all hard drives and get all working, but just wanted to post my thanks to all here.

Nice one chaps.
24-03-2006, 12:18 AM
leeglf

just glad i could help ;)