PC fails to boot - a new box

Hi folks,

CPU - AMD Athlon64 dual core 512Kx2 3800
Motherboard - ASUS M2N-E
Video Card - Gigabyte GeForce 6600 DDR2 256M
RAM - Corsair DDR2 PC-6400(800) dual channel 1Gx2 (2G)

Just build the capationed PC. It failed to boot. The problem is as follows;

Remark: all new components except the video card which was removed from another PC. The said card is working without problem. I put it back to its PC.


- turned on the PC and pressed [DEL] at boot
- if started the BIOS page. But I can't save the settings selected. It only hung on scree after hitting [OK]
- pressed [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] The PC rebooted. Same problem reoccured unable to save BIOS. Pressed [F5] - default setting, with the same result, unable to save only hanging on screen
- pressed [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[Del] again. PC failed to boot with a dark screen resulted.

I have to turn off the power, allowing the PC standing a while (about 20 min). The PC can be booted again. However the same problem reoccured.

I suspect the problem coming from the floppy drive. I put a working floppy drive from another PC on this new box. Problem remained the same.

Please advise what will be the possible cause. Reset button on PC has no function. TIA


B.R.
satimis

Seems like a BIOS problem! Have you tried resetting your CMOS by taking off the motherboard battery for a few minutes and trying to boot again?

Hi dakz123,

Tks for your advice.

I visited ASUS agent bringing with me;
- M2N-E motherboard
- CPU - AMD Athlon64 dual core 512Kx2 3800
- RAM - Corsair DDR2 PC-6400(800) dual channel 1Gx2 (2G)
- a brand new Video card, ASUS EN7300GS

The technician started the test as follows;
- put the motherboad on a paperbox, with RAM, CPU and video card plugin
- connected a power supply to the motherboard
- connected a LCD monitor to the video card (VGA connection)
- connected a keyboard to the motherboard.
- turned on the power supply.

BIOS page started without problem. Saving new settings were possible.

He advised me to repeat the test at home. After having checked it works without problem, connect other components, HD, floppy drive, CD/DVD Rom, etc. and install OS on the HD. After finish and checking the OS working without problem put the whole set components back to the PC box.

I forgot to ask him how can the motherboard boot without connecting power switch to activate booting.

B.R.
satimis

Does that mean that you now have it working ?

Hi aitken325i,


No.

I did as advised by the technician. Sometimes it worked and other time failed. The PC always hung after editing the settings on BIOS. I moved the RAM to another pair of slots then it worked, but hanging again. Another time the PC failed to boot only a black screen resulted. I have to switching off and wait for an hour or longer before the PC can boot to BIOS again.

I only have one PC running DDR2 RAM, no other PC running DDR2. I suspect the problem coming from RAM.

The reset pins have no function. I shorted them with a screw driver and it did not reset continue to run with a dark screen.


B.R.
satimis

Why dont you test your RAM on another system. Until you isolate your problem, you wont be able to find a solution. Some motherboards are considered to have that probem for example the VIA chipset motherboards so try running you system at a minimal. Only install basic components such as CPU, RAM (Alternate), Graphics...and try to boot ur system. See if it helps!

Hi folks,

I visited ASUS agent the 2nd time, bringing with me the M2N-E motherboard, Corsair Dual Channel RAM and ASUS video card. (same agent for Corsair RAM) This time the technician took a serious aptitude on my complaint, checking the components carefully. He turned on the motherboard with RAM and video card plugged in. It failed to boot, the luck not being with him. Then he checked the RAM on all 4 slots individually discovering that one slot did not work. He suspected the motherboad having problem but without a new motherboard for replacement. He requested me coming back 2 days later. I rejected saying that I'll get a new motherboard replaced with the retailer. He asked me to wait a while taking the RAM to the lab to test. He returned with another conclusion that one of the Corsair RAM was found not working properly, some time working another time fail. He requested me waiting for 15 min for him to get a new pair of Corsair RAM. He came back with a new pair of Corsair dual channel RAM. He tested the RAM separately as well as in pair on all 4-slots to certifying that they were working w/o problem. I got a replacement of another pair of Corsair RAM.

I'll build the PC later making an overall testing.

The problem costs me 3 working days, 2 trips to ASUS agent and a power supply. The cable of the power supply for connecting floppy drive got burned accidently for unknown cause after numberous plugin and removed. It was also a brand new power supply made by 2th Max. I turned up to the retailer shop for replacement but met with a refusal on the ground that I plugin it on the floppy drive wrong. So I have to get another new power supply. Although the retailer checked it without problem. I have no confidence on it anymore. I don't know whether the floppy drive got damaged or not. I don't need it.

Had the technician checked the motherboard and RAM carefully on my first visit. OR if I tested the Corsair RAM one-by-one at start on booting the PC, not in pair I'll discover the problem.

I do hope that there will be no further problem surfaced on my continue test building the PC. Now I have almost all new components, motherboard, RAM, video card, power supply, HD, case, etc. except the DVD writer.

Anyway, folks, lot of thanks for your advice.


B.R.
satimis

Hi folks,

Have Slackware installed and running on this PC. The PC seems generally working except USB ports, all 6 of them. They seems not stable.


Made following tests:-

1)
Attached an USB mouse and booted PC. The mouse can't be detected and did not work after starting KDE desktop

2)
Attached a wireless mouse to USB port. Wireless mouse failed to work.

3)
Plugged a Pen stick (thumb drive) on each of the them. Sometime worked another time failed. (tested 2 pen sticks. They are working on another PC without problem)

If working
# fdisk -l
can detect it.

If not working
on plugging in the LED light glowed first and went off soon.

Checked BIOS, USB 2.0 , 1.0 and lagacy all enabled.

How to check the ports to see whether it is hardware or software problem before calling the ASUS agent again. TIA


B.R.
satimis

I just got a new 350 watt PSU to replace my old 250 watt inside my HP Pavilion a220n PC. The fan on this PSU though sounds like there is a leaf blower under my computer desk!!! So loud and noisy. Don't get me wrong, I have heard PSU's get loud and sound like buzz saws. This is not that sound. The PSU just runs 24/7 and blows air so loud, it drives me nuts. Is this just the PSU or is it faulty? I will want to send it back but I want to make sure it is bad before I start a big stink. I got it off eBay but next PSU will be from newegg.com.

Also, I added a new Nvidia Geforce AGP 128MB video card. Could this be causing this problem with the PSU?

I am new to this forum, so if I am posting in the wrong place, please help me out and direct me to the right place.

Thanks, Devilfan#1.