need help in building a computer

The single long beep is usually a CPU problem.  Umm, you didn't list one in your original question, but I assume there is one?  Is its heatsink properly attached?  The first thing to do is to remove everything except the CPU (and its heatsink/fan), memory and video card.  Do not attach disks, network adapters, etc, until the most barebones parts wrk together.

yeah, sorry - it's an athlon xp 2400 with heatsink and fan - pretty sure it's all attached properly.

It's not one single long beep, but continuous beep...beep etc etc. (but the beeps are fairly long if that means anything)

As for removing everything - I've only got the harddrive attached and I've only done that because the graphics card is powered by connecting to the harddrive (and obviously I need the graphics card to see the screen).

Assmuming I can play around and not attach the graphics card to the harddrive, is that the way to go? (I mean removing all the non-essentials)  Would the computer start without anything like that attached?

cheers.

>>>>"the graphics card is powered by connecting to the harddrive" the hard drive and video should have seperate power conectors. you should beable to run them by them self. I.e pull the power from the hard drive is this like a Y adapter?  Double check your ram (just use one stick) to be shure it is seated fully. This some times is hard to do if the motherboard is mounted first because the board will flex a bit while inserting the ram. Also reseat the video card. after a sucsesfull POST you can add the ram and other cards.

Also...

I'm a bit worried that I may have accidentally done some damage through static or to the cpu when putting on the heatsink...

Is this likely? I've also read that if I had done that there's built in safeguards that would mean the fans (or at least the heatsink fan) wouldn't work so I may be worrying about nothing...?

Does it matter which power connectors I use? ie there are lots of the same connectors coming from the psu - generally those quite thick 4 pin ones, often 2 or 3 coming off the same bundle of wires and sometimes with other connectors also coming off the same bundle of wires.

So does it matter which one I use to power the harddrive/ floppy / graphics card etc since they're the same type of connector?

It is almost impossible to ESD a processor unless you manage to touch and exposed microchip.  I would make sure your graphics card is securely seated along with your ram, just use one stick for right now.  You shouldn't have to have your hard drive connected to power your graphics card.  If for some odd reason you do, you do not have to plug an IDE cable into the hard drive; this will eliminate the possibility of the bad hard drive.

If a conecter will fit it will work it dosen't matter what one you use. It is possible that the cpu is damaged and still have the fan come on. also make shure the cpufan is pluged into the cpu fan header this can cause a no post.

Have you tried to clear the cmos via the jumper?

The fact that you are getting beeps is a good sign that the cpu is working check your ram.

Award bios beep codes from maximum pc mag.
1 long 2 short= videocard Error
1 long 3 short= videocard Error
Continuous Beeps= Memory Error

Right...

At the mo I've only got what was said above plugged in - I think the graphic card's seated ok and plugged in (the harddrive isn't in)- the card's fan certainly works anyway.

I'm only using one stick (it doesn't matter which slot it's in by the way does it? - I've tried with both end slots) and the cpu fan is certainly plugged into the right bit.

The monitor just has that flashing led that they do when the monitor's power is on and the computer's isn't.

What would clearing the cmos do?  I've seen it in the manual but like I say - I'm new at this,

cheers.

Ahh - the beeps are definitely of a continuous length but I've tried both sticks of RAM I've got alternatively - surely they're not both broken?

They're definitely seated ok - it all 'clicks' into place and the clips spring down as they should.

Does this mean they are definitely broken? (I haven't got any others to test it with) or could there be other causes?

cheers

Hi,

so I reckon it must be incompatible memory - what an arse.

What do people recommend - I've looked at what I can get and the motherboard either supports 2 sticks of DDR400 or 4 sticks of DDR266.

I'm thinking the 266 so I can continue to upgrade later - is there any substantial benefit of choosing 400, seeing as I won't be able to add more later?

cheers again

Also, one final final (and completely random) question and I'll award the points...

On both the computers at home here, when you start them up, a folder appears - one runs winME, one XP, and these folders never used to appear.  One's 'program' with nothing seemingly useful in it, the other's 'common'.

Any idea what this is about and how to stop it?

Thank you people

shifty mc: Is your memory listed in this link of compatible modules with the AT7 mobo? Link:

  http://www.cmtlabs.com/mbCertPartSearchResults.asp?sManuf=Abit&sMN=AT7&sSortField=&iPg=2&sDetails=yes&bNav=False

When i first built a computer i found that the force needed to properly seat the graphics card into the AGP slot is quite great, try removing the graphics card and reinserting it. (dont be too rough and try to support the graphics card while pushing down on it)

Just a general hint to those who are thinking of building
a computer for the first time:

There are quite a few commercial builders out there that
give highly detailed specifications on their systems.
These specifications include the motherboard manufacturer
and model, memory type and manufacturer, etc..   Pick a
system you like and can afford, then simply copy their
system component by component.  Keep in mind that you get
what you pay for and that commercial builders that stand
behind their systems with after sale support and warranties
will generally avoid building shoddy systems. This saves
you the headaches of researching what components will work
with each other.

However, I have found that those commercial builders that
have the courage to lay their specs on the line usually
charge very close to what I pay for the parts retail.  Plus
these commercial builders will usually provide a warranty
and after sales support.  I provide this hint for those
that want the experience of actually building a working PC
and don't want to waste time and money on uncompatible
parts.

This is a ridiculously long time later, but eventually worked out the problem myself - took everything apart and then back together again and it worked!

So still don't know what the specific problem was but nevermind.

Had completely forgotten about this but have to award the points and snowguy was probably the most helpful.

Cheers everyone.