pc doesn't start up

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lenni
  • Start date Start date
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Lenni

My computer starts up, and then shuts down after 3-5 seconds.

After installing the motherboard etc. it first worked fine except that it
recognized only 512meg of memory though i had 1gb. i tried both memorysticks
(512meg) separately and together in different slots. it always showed 512. i
took a new version of the bios from the net on my other computer, and
installed it. now it recognized the memory to 1gb, but with 333mhz, though
it's 400mhz. next, my friend put the other memorystick backwards and he was
also on a carpet with no anti-static protection.. After this it hasn't
started even once (not long enough to go to the screen where it counts
memory and where you can go to bios, anyway). A few times it hasn't even
started up at all, and most of the time it starts up but 3-5 seconds later
it shuts down. Could it be that my friend gave the motherboard a static
spike (or whatever it's called) so it broke? or could it be that the
cpu-cooler isn't fuctioning properly and the mobo shuts down because of
that? or, could it be the power supply? or maybe the one memoryslot is
broken because my friend put in the memorystick the wrong way(but i tried
the other stick in an another slot and it still didn't work). i also reset
my cmos settings by switching the jumper, taking out all the power cables to
the mobo and taking out the battery, waited 10min and put them back.. i also
tried starting with only the mobo, the cpu fan and the mobo-fan (no hd, no
cd, no case-fan, no videocard, no nothing). same result.. please help me!

specs:
motherboard: abit at7-max2 (333mhz bus, 400mhz memorybus)
cpu: amd 2600+
memory: 2* 512mb ddr dimm 400mhz cl2,5
cpu cooler+fan: coolermaster DP5-7JD1B
case: antec sonata
power supply: antec true 380 sp
 
You've never touched a hot CPU have you?

They overheat in SECONDS if not properly cooled.

.... Is the CPU fan plugged in, and into the CORRECT socket?
 
try again but this time put the memory & graphics card in too, or else you
waont see anything!
Min boot specs are PSU,MOBO,CPU,RAM,VIDEO, monitor comes in very handy
Click to expand...
too.

i tried to minimize the stuff that were causing problems. didn't need to
actually see anything, just see if it started up or not. if it would have,
then the problem would have been in the graphics card. but anyway, case
solved, putting the memory backwards and booting is NOT a very good idea, it
****ed up my mobo. took it out and it had burnmarks all over the back.. cpu
core is ok, but there's no way of saying with my equipment if it works, nor
can i say anything about the memory... this is turning out to be expensive,
having to buy two sets.. :(
 
Lenni said:
My computer starts up, and then shuts down after 3-5 seconds.

After installing the motherboard etc. it first worked fine except that it
recognized only 512meg of memory though i had 1gb. i tried both memorysticks
(512meg) separately and together in different slots. it always showed 512. i
took a new version of the bios from the net on my other computer, and
installed it. now it recognized the memory to 1gb, but with 333mhz, though
it's 400mhz. next, my friend put the other memorystick backwards
WHAT???

and he was
also on a carpet with no anti-static protection..
Click to expand...

Good one
After this it hasn't
started even once (not long enough to go to the screen where it counts
memory and where you can go to bios, anyway). A few times it hasn't even
started up at all, and most of the time it starts up but 3-5 seconds later
it shuts down. Could it be that my friend gave the motherboard a static
spike (or whatever it's called) so it broke? or could it be that the
cpu-cooler isn't fuctioning properly and the mobo shuts down because of
that? or, could it be the power supply? or maybe the one memoryslot is
broken because my friend put in the memorystick the wrong way(but i tried
the other stick in an another slot and it still didn't work). i also reset
my cmos settings by switching the jumper, taking out all the power cables to
the mobo and taking out the battery, waited 10min and put them back.. i also
tried starting with only the mobo, the cpu fan and the mobo-fan (no hd, no
cd, no case-fan, no videocard, no nothing). same result.. please help me!

specs:
motherboard: abit at7-max2 (333mhz bus, 400mhz memorybus)
cpu: amd 2600+
memory: 2* 512mb ddr dimm 400mhz cl2,5
cpu cooler+fan: coolermaster DP5-7JD1B
case: antec sonata
power supply: antec true 380 sp
Click to expand...


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and ask about registering to be a bone marrow donor.

spam trap: replace shyah_right! with hotmail when replying
 
keep in mind that a cpu can overheat in 4 to 8 seconds if the heat sink is
not making proper contact.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 115,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^
 
nothing is impossible with enough force. I once worked on a system where a
guy had trapped a two wire fan lead under his DIMM and shoved the DIMM (and
fan leads) into the socket and it was fully seated! He could not figure out
why the system would not work... amazingly, that one still worked after I
pried out the DIMM and disconnected the now shorted fan lead. DIMM socket
was still usable even though I would have bet that it was not before I tried
it.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 115,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^
 
If your CPU has a major heat problem, it will shut down within 10 seconds.
If you don't like it, you'd better go Intel -- $$$
 
Ok, but he would really have to try hard to put tha tmemory in backwards,
boss. I'm talking stuff snapping. It jus tdoesn't sound like that's teh
problem here. At first listen it sounded like an overheated CPU, but a
shorted out mb, to the point fo being fried sounds more likely. Well, in any
case, if he HAD force dit in backward wouldn't the guy be able to see
something broken in that DIMM slot?
 
I agree that the locators molded into the slot would make it extremely
difficult to get the ram fully seated. I have seen folks get a regular DIMM
into a slot that was made for FPIO (Fast Page) ram and it did shave plastic
off the extra locators in the slots. and I agree that any resulting damage
to the slot would be visible unless it came from flexing the mobo and
cracking a trace. In that event, it would likely not fire up and you would
not be able to see anything.

--

Thomas Geery
Network+ certified

ftp://geerynet.d2g.com
ftp://68.98.180.8 Abit Mirror <----- Cable modem IP
This IP is dynamic so it *could* change!...
over 115,000 FTP users served!
^^^^^^^
 
If you have to try hard to put memory in backwards then I've seen a lot of
people that must try very hard.

Must have seen over 50 cases like that in the past 5 years.

Like Tom says, if you try then it can be done.
 
Some One said:
You've never touched a hot CPU have you?

They overheat in SECONDS if not properly cooled.

... Is the CPU fan plugged in, and into the CORRECT socket?
Click to expand...

Even if the fan isn't running a modern heatsink can absorb enough heat to
keep it running longer than 3-5 seconds. Maybe not much longer than 20, but
still more than 3-5.

It is possible, however, that if the heatsink fan is not plugged in, or on
the wrong header, the board is shutting down to protect the processor.

Easy way to find out ... turn it on and watch the heatsink fan. If it's not
spinning, there's your problem. If it is, check to see that it's plugged
into the "CPU" fan header.

If everything looks good put your finger on the side of the heatsink and see
how warm it is. If it burns you ... there's an easy sign. If not, either the
CPU isn't overheating or the heatsink is not making a good thermal contact
with the processor.

If you're sure that you used high quality heatsink paste and that you
applied the heatsink correctly ... you can be assured that it's not your
processor overheating. If not, some Arctic III never hurt anybody.

My guess, however, would be that the RAM was damaged when it was
(mis)handled by the OTP's friend.


Drumguy
 
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