Is this possible?

  • Thread starter Thread starter AKA gray asphalt
  • Start date Start date
A

AKA gray asphalt

I bought a motherboard and case and memory, etc.
to match a computer I have ... thinking that I
could install the motherboard and get the
connections right by copying the original.
Everything seemed to be going well until I plugged
it in. Nothing. So I plugged the prototype in and
nothing, no lights to fan, no nothing.

I switched plugs, plugged both computers in
different plugs that I know are working. Did I
blow a fuse and how could I have screwed up both?
It seems that no matter what the power supply fan
would turn.

Thanks for any help.
I don't mind being laughed at.
: -)
 
"AKA gray asphalt" said:
I bought a motherboard and case and memory, etc.
to match a computer I have ... thinking that I
could install the motherboard and get the
connections right by copying the original.
Everything seemed to be going well until I plugged
it in. Nothing. So I plugged the prototype in and
nothing, no lights to fan, no nothing.

I switched plugs, plugged both computers in
different plugs that I know are working. Did I
blow a fuse and how could I have screwed up both?
It seems that no matter what the power supply fan
would turn.

Thanks for any help.
I don't mind being laughed at.
: -)
Click to expand...

If you had given details about the system, like processor
type, motherboard make and model, power supply make and
model, RAM brand and type, it would make it easier to
correlate your symptoms with typical assembly errors.
For example, a missing ATX 12V 2x2 power connector
would prevent a CPU from starting up. A missing auxiliary
power connector for certain video cards, might prevent
video output. And so on.

Are the hard drives spinning up ? What fans spin in the
system ? Does the system stay powered, or does it turn itself
off ? How easy is it to turn the system off again ? The more
observations you make and pass on, the better the quality
of answer you get.

As for construction technique, I recommend reading the
manual from cover to cover. This is easiest if you use
a PDF version of the manual, available for free download.
You can zoom into diagrams and actually see them - the
paper manuals are too small for all the details to be
easily read.

It is better to understand what you are supposed to be
connecting, so you will be able to recognize what bit(s)
you missed. While we can give you a shopping list of
things to check, there is no substitute for a pair
of eyes next to the computer.

Paul
 
I bought a motherboard and case and memory, etc.
to match a computer I have ... thinking that I
could install the motherboard and get the
connections right by copying the original.
Everything seemed to be going well until I plugged
it in. Nothing.
Click to expand...

Check the power supply for a 110/220 switch, that it's set
correct per your location.
So I plugged the prototype in and
nothing, no lights to fan, no nothing.
Click to expand...

What does this mean, "prototype"? Is this a different
system than the other one?

To back up a bit, a concise description of the system(s) and
clearly differentiating between the two would be a good
start. Since you have two presumably identical systems it
should be rather easy to swap parts back and forth to test
them, unless a visual inspection reveals something you
might've overlooked. Sometimes taking a break helps - go do
something else and then return to the system with a fresh
perspective. Also try clearing CMOS.

I switched plugs, plugged both computers in
different plugs that I know are working. Did I
blow a fuse and how could I have screwed up both?
Click to expand...

I doubt you blew a fuse, there is one in the power supply
but unless it was defective or shorted internally there
should not be cause for the fuse to blow.

It seems that no matter what the power supply fan
would turn.
Click to expand...

Try stripping the system down to bare essentials- CPU, 1
memory module, heatsin/fan, video. If no luck, disconnect
all drives, keyboard, mouse, etc from both board and power.
Disconnect the case wiring for the front LEDs and switches
and short the two power-on pins on the board with a
screwdriver tip or other metal object (carefully). The
motherboard manual will detail the location of these 2
power-on pins.

If still no luck, pull the board and try it on a
non-conductive surface, _not_ on anti-static surface or
anti-static packaging (which conducts).

In this bare minimum configuration if swapping the CPU,
memory, power supply doesn't help, presumably all that's
left is the motherboard.

Also check the battery voltage, even before starting to
strip the system down as described above, and clear CMOS
after any/all significant changes.
 
Paul said:
gray asphalt"


If you had given details about the system, like
processor
type, motherboard make and model, power supply
make and
model, RAM brand and type, it would make it
easier to
correlate your symptoms with typical assembly
errors.
For example, a missing ATX 12V 2x2 power
connector
would prevent a CPU from starting up. A missing
auxiliary
power connector for certain video cards, might
prevent
video output. And so on.

Are the hard drives spinning up ? What fans spin
in the
system ? Does the system stay powered, or does
it turn itself
off ? How easy is it to turn the system off
again ? The more
observations you make and pass on, the better
the quality
of answer you get.

As for construction technique, I recommend
reading the
manual from cover to cover. This is easiest if
you use
a PDF version of the manual, available for free
download.
You can zoom into diagrams and actually see
them - the
paper manuals are too small for all the details
to be
easily read.

It is better to understand what you are supposed
to be
connecting, so you will be able to recognize
what bit(s)
you missed. While we can give you a shopping
list of
things to check, there is no substitute for a
pair
of eyes next to the computer.

Paul
Click to expand...

No offence, but I did write that I got nothing, no
fans, no lights, no nothing. Thanks for the idea
about getting pdf manuals. I think
I may have done something wrong with the wire from
the off/on switch to the motherboard and maybe
when I was looking at the
one that worked put it back on wrong. Thanks for
reading my post. If that doesn't work I'll be
back.
: -)
 
kony said:
Check the power supply for a 110/220 switch,
that it's set
correct per your location.


What does this mean, "prototype"? Is this a
different
system than the other one?

To back up a bit, a concise description of the
system(s) and
clearly differentiating between the two would be
a good
start. Since you have two presumably identical
systems it
should be rather easy to swap parts back and
forth to test
them, unless a visual inspection reveals
something you
might've overlooked. Sometimes taking a break
helps - go do
something else and then return to the system
with a fresh
perspective. Also try clearing CMOS.



I doubt you blew a fuse, there is one in the
power supply
but unless it was defective or shorted
internally there
should not be cause for the fuse to blow.



Try stripping the system down to bare
essentials- CPU, 1
memory module, heatsin/fan, video. If no luck,
disconnect
all drives, keyboard, mouse, etc from both board
and power.
Disconnect the case wiring for the front LEDs
and switches
and short the two power-on pins on the board
with a
screwdriver tip or other metal object
(carefully). The
motherboard manual will detail the location of
these 2
power-on pins.

If still no luck, pull the board and try it on a
non-conductive surface, _not_ on anti-static
surface or
anti-static packaging (which conducts).

In this bare minimum configuration if swapping
the CPU,
memory, power supply doesn't help, presumably
all that's
left is the motherboard.

Also check the battery voltage, even before
starting to
strip the system down as described above, and
clear CMOS
after any/all significant changes.
Click to expand...

I glad I posted here. I appreciate your detailed
and quick response to my problem. Part of my
difficulty is that I'm getting older and my eyes
aren't so good anymore. I think I might have put
the wire from the off/on switch on incorrectly ...
to the mother board. I have one of those jewelers
hoods with magnification. I guess I better get it
out.
Thanks, very much
: -)
 
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