FUBARed my comp

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dab49873

Upgraded my memory today. Because of the big CPU cooler I had to take
the mobo out of the box and the heatsink off the CPU to access the RAM
slots.

When I put the machine back together: nothing.

I've tried it in the box, out the box, screwed down, not screwed down
and with the old memory back. I've stripped the machine of everything
except for the CPU and RAM. No joy.

The only clue is that not only is power getting through - the CPU fan
runs - but also the power gets through immediately the PSU switch is
thrown, regardless of the power switch, or indeed if the switch is
connected.

Any ideas (other than a new mobo and/or CPU)?


Thanks you

Derek
 
Upgraded my memory today. Because of the big CPU cooler I had to take
the mobo out of the box and the heatsink off the CPU to access the RAM
slots.

When I put the machine back together: nothing.

I've tried it in the box, out the box, screwed down, not screwed down
and with the old memory back. I've stripped the machine of everything
except for the CPU and RAM. No joy.

The only clue is that not only is power getting through - the CPU fan
runs - but also the power gets through immediately the PSU switch is
thrown, regardless of the power switch, or indeed if the switch is
connected.

Any ideas (other than a new mobo and/or CPU)?
Click to expand...

This is not a good sign. If video card or RAM is poorly seated I would
expect a series of beeps upon powering up. You might have knocked out a
critical component with static electricity if you didn't take precautions to
ground yourself properly prior to handling the mobo.
 
I was under the impression that I had taken the necessary precauitons -
have done similar things before sucessfully - but perhaps not.
 
Upgraded my memory today. Because of the big CPU cooler I had to take
the mobo out of the box and the heatsink off the CPU to access the RAM
slots.

When I put the machine back together: nothing.

I've tried it in the box, out the box, screwed down, not screwed down
and with the old memory back. I've stripped the machine of everything
except for the CPU and RAM. No joy.

The only clue is that not only is power getting through - the CPU fan
runs - but also the power gets through immediately the PSU switch is
thrown, regardless of the power switch,
Click to expand...

improper wiring of the switch or the switch is no good (atx switch on the
case right?)
stuck reset button
reset wired wrong

or indeed if the switch is
 
Case fan spins up whether front switch connected or not. No other front
panel connections made.
 
Given the lack of apparent damage to both the CPU and mobo, would it be
reasonable to assume ESD damage to the mobo?

Would it be possible for me to damage a CPU with a heatspreader with no
external signs of it?
 
I really doubt you killed anything unless you cracked something or an
obvious static spark.
Try removing everything but the essentials. You may have just grounded it or
have a wire or two misconnected.
 
Sounds like ESD to me. I did it once. I was working on a linoleu
floor, a wooden workbench, and I kept constant contact with the case
Still fried the board. Doesn't take much, less static than you ca
feel. I hate to say it but I think you are SOL now
 
Is it possible to knock out a CPUI with a headspreader by ESD?
Click to expand...
just a sidequestion (from a n00b) - does having an anti-static wrist
strap (properly attached and all) prevent static frying totally?
 
Is it possible to knock out a CPUI with a headspreader by ESD?
Click to expand...

I'm following this saga thinking you've got a short somewhere, maybe a
place where you need to use some plastic washers or something like
that.

It could be that you've fried a critical component with ESD, but I've
had this kind of thing happen a lot of times and magically fix itself
at some later point.

Have you reset the CMOS by the way?

Another idea, if possible, is to swap in a different CPU, or try the
CPU in question on a different board.

And what about the PSU? Could that have gone south?

I find this stuff damn frustrating, so I can empathize with your
situation. Good luck.

Charlie
 
Got the machine to start POST now - not sure how.

According to MSI's diagnostic bracket -
http://www.msicomputer.com/support/sup_tshoot.asp#1_4 - POST is
stalling at the initialisation of the keyboard controller. The keyboard
is okay - I'm typing on it now on my old, NOISY, computer.

I'll have to turn off to see what the beep code was - only got one
power cable in use.
 
Beep is a single long one. Apparently this is a ram problem - though
the D-braket indicates keyboard controller which is after memeory
check.
 
Upgraded my memory today. Because of the big CPU cooler I had to take
the mobo out of the box and the heatsink off the CPU to access the RAM
slots.

When I put the machine back together: nothing.

I've tried it in the box, out the box, screwed down, not screwed down
and with the old memory back. I've stripped the machine of everything
except for the CPU and RAM. No joy.

The only clue is that not only is power getting through - the CPU fan
runs - but also the power gets through immediately the PSU switch is
thrown, regardless of the power switch, or indeed if the switch is
connected.

Any ideas (other than a new mobo and/or CPU)?


Thanks you

Derek
Click to expand...
I have no idea what you may have done, but upon reading your post, all I
could think about was how many times I've moved/removed/replaced/upgraded
components and literally prayed to the digital gods that my system would
POST upon next power up. More than once it has not. Last one was a BIOS
upgrade on an Asus A7N8X; flash reported successful, rebooted and nothing,
nada, kaput. Sent it back, got replacement and moved on. Are these
components really that tempermental?
 
I have no idea what you may have done, but upon reading your post, all I
could think about was how many times I've moved/removed/replaced/upgraded
components and literally prayed to the digital gods that my system would
POST upon next power up. More than once it has not. Last one was a BIOS
upgrade on an Asus A7N8X; flash reported successful, rebooted and nothing,
nada, kaput. Sent it back, got replacement and moved on. Are these
components really that tempermental?
Click to expand...
I've had the same experience, but I have yet to actually fry anything,
and believe me, I'm sloppy. I just put together a new system and was
adjusting something when it was running, and I sparked a ****in
capacitor with my screwdriver. Of course, that caused an instant
power off. Oh Christ, I said to myself, now I've done it. And sure
enough, it wouldn't power back on. So, I unplugged it, went and did
something else for awhile, came back, and it powered up, no further
problems. If I can make these things work, anyone can.

Charlie
 
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