What piece of hardware is the culprit here?
Hi experts,
I have a serious problem and just cannot figure it out. I need to know what my options are soon, for I have had this man's PC for over a week. I thought a new MB and CPU and Ram would fix things, but apparently not so.
HISTORY:
I spent a week and 31 posts before I was helped by an expert here that a IDE connector was bad on a certain MB. I was able to reinstall windows from another IDE connector. I triple checked every piece of hardware on that PC. PSU is good. DVD Roms were good. Memory was good. I got it up and running but I needed 2 IDE connectors so I hunted for a cheap MB/CPU combo for this man and found one.
I ordered the new MB and Processor to replace the antique setup above. It arrived today and It is a cheap AM2 Biostar K8M600 Micro AM2 ,of which I have bought several prior to this and all have worked out fine, to replace older systems gone awry, for under $100.00. it appears I should have left things the way they were.
CURRENT:
I put the MB in the old case with the older DVD Roms and Floppy and PSU. Brand new is the MB, a Sempron 3800 AM2 cpu and the memory. With ONLY the HDD connected, The 1st boot did not boot into BIOS. The 2nd boot was with the hdd cable in a different IDE connector (that was the 1st thing I did) and the boot went into the Bios great, but did not see the HDD.
However, It went into the bios ONLY after I put the HDD into 2ndary IDE port. JUST EXACTLY LIKE the older motherboard acted . How could that possibly be, with brand new cables and nothing else connected. This new board has never seen the optical drives or the hdd, IF and WHEN it booted into the BIOS. After 20 restarts----Bios came up maybe 6 times.
I Now began the same changing combinations of cables IDE connectors, all hardware unplugged, some hardware plugged, ETC. so I could get it to see the hdd.. Only thing I have not done is try a PCI E Video card as a opposed to the onboard video. I will do that as I wait for a response to this question. If that does not work, I will need you experts badly, because I am stumped.
BOTTOM LINE:
Now the PC will not even Pull up the bios now, no matter what combo of hardware or more accurately, NON-hardware, I try. I have tried maybe 20 restarts, and I may have accidentally unplugged the HDD and or cables while the PC was plugged in. I must tell you that.
I have a funny feeling that the wires on this old case could be the cause of the problem. Is that possible, since I have I think, ruled out everything else? The orignal MB is siittng there staring at me and laughing. It just has a broken IDE, but other than that and its age, it is fine. I fear I have wasted my money trying to help someone. should have left things with just one ide.
QUESTION IS:
What is wrong here and is there any way it could be the case itself or case wiring?
Thank you in advance,
Donnie616
I have a serious problem and just cannot figure it out. I need to know what my options are soon, for I have had this man's PC for over a week. I thought a new MB and CPU and Ram would fix things, but apparently not so.
HISTORY:
I spent a week and 31 posts before I was helped by an expert here that a IDE connector was bad on a certain MB. I was able to reinstall windows from another IDE connector. I triple checked every piece of hardware on that PC. PSU is good. DVD Roms were good. Memory was good. I got it up and running but I needed 2 IDE connectors so I hunted for a cheap MB/CPU combo for this man and found one.
I ordered the new MB and Processor to replace the antique setup above. It arrived today and It is a cheap AM2 Biostar K8M600 Micro AM2 ,of which I have bought several prior to this and all have worked out fine, to replace older systems gone awry, for under $100.00. it appears I should have left things the way they were.
CURRENT:
I put the MB in the old case with the older DVD Roms and Floppy and PSU. Brand new is the MB, a Sempron 3800 AM2 cpu and the memory. With ONLY the HDD connected, The 1st boot did not boot into BIOS. The 2nd boot was with the hdd cable in a different IDE connector (that was the 1st thing I did) and the boot went into the Bios great, but did not see the HDD.
However, It went into the bios ONLY after I put the HDD into 2ndary IDE port. JUST EXACTLY LIKE the older motherboard acted . How could that possibly be, with brand new cables and nothing else connected. This new board has never seen the optical drives or the hdd, IF and WHEN it booted into the BIOS. After 20 restarts----Bios came up maybe 6 times.
I Now began the same changing combinations of cables IDE connectors, all hardware unplugged, some hardware plugged, ETC. so I could get it to see the hdd.. Only thing I have not done is try a PCI E Video card as a opposed to the onboard video. I will do that as I wait for a response to this question. If that does not work, I will need you experts badly, because I am stumped.
BOTTOM LINE:
Now the PC will not even Pull up the bios now, no matter what combo of hardware or more accurately, NON-hardware, I try. I have tried maybe 20 restarts, and I may have accidentally unplugged the HDD and or cables while the PC was plugged in. I must tell you that.
I have a funny feeling that the wires on this old case could be the cause of the problem. Is that possible, since I have I think, ruled out everything else? The orignal MB is siittng there staring at me and laughing. It just has a broken IDE, but other than that and its age, it is fine. I fear I have wasted my money trying to help someone. should have left things with just one ide.
QUESTION IS:
What is wrong here and is there any way it could be the case itself or case wiring?
Thank you in advance,
Donnie616
Mc7400
Try to disconnect everything even the monitor, keep the RAM and keyboard only, then start, and tell me what sounds you hear and look at keyboard LEDs and tell how then turn on or of.
ASKER
Be Back In 5 Mins.
Thanks
D616
Thanks
D616
ASKER
Hi,
The KB flashes all 3 LEDs once very quickly on, then off. No sounds at all. I tried 2 more different sticks of ram---Same results. Next?
D616
The KB flashes all 3 LEDs once very quickly on, then off. No sounds at all. I tried 2 more different sticks of ram---Same results. Next?
D616
If you are sure of the RAM is working then it is the mobo.
Can't you enter BIOS?
press DEL or INS (check one every time) and keep it pressed before turning on the power, then on with the key pressed and see if you can enter BIOS. With sound LED observations
Can't you enter BIOS?
press DEL or INS (check one every time) and keep it pressed before turning on the power, then on with the key pressed and see if you can enter BIOS. With sound LED observations
ASKER
OK Thank you.
Please remember, I was able to get into BIOS about 5/6 times of the 20 boot attempts I made. No real rhyme or reason to it. So It is real difficult to pinpoint when or what should be unplugged to boot. If it is a MB issue, then I am probably guilty because I unplugged and re-plugged so many HW items with th power on due to "FRUSTRATION FORGETFULNESS'. BIOS was there. It just did not see any of the other HW. BUT does it sound like it was beginning to die on me anyway?
Anyways, I will do what you are telling me to do and will be back in 10-15 minutes. Cannot wait to try. OK?
Thank you so much again. I am not a professional and need all the help I can get.
Donnie616
Please remember, I was able to get into BIOS about 5/6 times of the 20 boot attempts I made. No real rhyme or reason to it. So It is real difficult to pinpoint when or what should be unplugged to boot. If it is a MB issue, then I am probably guilty because I unplugged and re-plugged so many HW items with th power on due to "FRUSTRATION FORGETFULNESS'. BIOS was there. It just did not see any of the other HW. BUT does it sound like it was beginning to die on me anyway?
Anyways, I will do what you are telling me to do and will be back in 10-15 minutes. Cannot wait to try. OK?
Thank you so much again. I am not a professional and need all the help I can get.
Donnie616
ASKER
I am becoming paranoid, so I will try some other RAM sticks.
D
D
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thank you. Keep an eye out for me. this may not be over. Between you and I, I have a bad Hard Drive. Period! I decided to try a different one on a whim, and it showed up in the bios right away.
That was the only thing I did not check, because it booted the last time I tried it, on the original MB Will reinstall Windows on another drive and hope for the best.
Thank you sir.
Donnie616
That was the only thing I did not check, because it booted the last time I tried it, on the original MB Will reinstall Windows on another drive and hope for the best.
Thank you sir.
Donnie616
You are most welcome