New computer won't power up

[bddotnet]

I just bought the following and it won't power up.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=MB-M848A (mobo seems to be the problem)

The other new components that all check out GOOD are:

Processor
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AXDA2200DKV3C-N&cpc=SCH

Heat Sink
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=C26&cat=FAN

2 of these case fans
http://www.outletpc.com/c1673.html

2 new IDE cables, 1 new Floppy cable

I also have these used items:
thermal paste, 2 512MB DDR RAM sticks, 56K PCI modem, Samsung HDD, CD-R drive, DVD drive

I've used the book to set the jumpers, but the case has these jumpers:

POWER LED
HDD LED
M/B SW
RESET SW
USB-1
USB-2
Speaker (red and black)
a rectangular 10-pin connector (not sure what that goes to other than maybe a diagnostic device, which this mobo doesn't have)

The book has these:

PANEL1 shows:
HDD LED +/- (matches mobo)
RESET SW +/- (matches mobo)
FP PWR/SLP +/-
POWER SW +/- (matches mobo)

USB3 on the mobo shows that it can take 2 USB connectors for front panel USB (which my case has)

The red and black speaker wires/connectors should go to SPK1 jumper, according to the book.

My question is:

Could the FP PWR/SLP +/- pins on the PANEL1 jumper on the board correspond to the M/B SW wires/connector on the case?

Thanks!

[Dbrazzell]

A quick hack that I usually do is touch the suspected jumpers with a screw driver and see if the machine kicks on.

You could do this to the two sets of jumpers that you suspect might be the power switch.

Ask yourself if your ok with doing this first though :) you could slip with the screw driver and touch something that wasn't meant to have power to go to it.

Ive been doing this for a long time so I feel pretty comfortable doing it. But its not exactly a elagent solution.


Also do you know if the power supply is ok? A way to test it is to disconnect the whole thing from the pc and jump the PWR_ON wire to one of the ground wires in the atx connector. Look in the mobo manual for a diagram. If you jump the wire to a ground with a paper clip or something it will make the power supply come on. This way you can eliminate it as part of the problem.

[YvetteKuhns]

I never used that motherboard (I never saw one under $50!), but sometimes the manuals are not entirely correct. Did you try going to the manufacturer website for the most current information?

I love the Gigabyte motherboards, because they are reliable and easy to configure. They supply a color map and those jumpers are usually the trickiest part for any motherboard. Another manufacturer actually labeled the spots backwards!

I had a tower with a power button that wouldn't work anymore, so we rigged it to use the reset button until I got another tower. I still think your jumpers are probably not done properly. Go to the manufacturer website (http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWebSite/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?CategoryID=1&TypeID=4&DetailID=341&DetailName=Feature&MenuID=7&LanID=2) for details on your motherboard.

[Doc C]

I've been in IT for 30+ years and have never built a machine for personal use for myself and/or others. I've pieced together a few at work though.

[YvetteKuhns]

Doc, are you serious? I never bought a prebuilt computer and I never took classes to learn how to build computers. My parents did buy my first computer back in 1984 (I think). Oh, and I bought a laptop as part of my school tuition when I went back to college. For the past decade, I built two nearly identical towers every few years. It keeps me off the streets! ;)

[Doc C]

I do it enough at work. Why would I want to do it at home? I may upgrade memory and/or the disk drive but aside from that, I don't waste my time.

[geekworx]

My guess is bad PS or MOBO.

Return it all and buy a Dell.

[YvetteKuhns]

Return it all and buy a Dell.

I have worked on many Dell computers for other people, but I never owned one. Dave's has been working great since I did maintenance on his hard drive. He's the guy who appeared to have used his CD drive as a coffee cup holder since it was so sticky, we couldn't open it!

I did not plan to fix computers for clients, but he was local and desperate. I really planned to refer clients to people who actually want to do this for a job, but after testing a few guys (including a tech from Best Buy), I discovered that I knew more and was not impressed.

The brand of computer isn't too important as long as you can get reviews and support for products. You want to find drivers, upgrades and information online.

My guess is bad PS or MOBO.

I agree based on the given information and I have personally experienced both scenarios.

[bddotnet]

I have a power supply tester. The power supply comes on when I hook it to the tester and shows GOOD.

I hope it's not a bad motherboard. I just bought this one...GRRR!!

I have also tested the CDROM, DVD, HDD, RAM...found all to be GOOD.

My only other component is the MOBO. UGH!

[geekworx]

I have a power supply tester. The power supply comes on when I hook it to the tester and shows GOOD.

I have had power supplies test "good", but they where bad :confused: . Try a different PS if you can before chalking it up as a bad MOBO.

[Doc C]

I think you should shake the magic 8 ball and see what it tells you. :)

[YvetteKuhns]

I have had power supplies work with one tower and not another. And I do check the switch on the back of the tower as well as manuals to see if the power supply is correct for the system.

[coan.net]

I do it enough at work. Why would I want to do it at home? I may upgrade memory and/or the disk drive but aside from that, I don't waste my time.

That's the same for me - I'm the network administrator, I've "pieced" things together at work - but for home, I don't want to work on computers - I want to buy one that I know will work.... not spend hours doing "work stuff" at home.

[bddotnet]

I will test it all to make sure the mobo isn't bad, but the mobo is new, so I can send it back for a replacement too, if that's what it takes.

[YvetteKuhns]

I had an Asus motherboard that wouldn't work as expected with a specific Operating System. I had to manually install drivers in a specific order or I couldn't use the onboard sound or something. It was a nice mobo, but it was a pain to configure.

Do you have another motherboard to test to see if the problem is indeed the motherboard or the configuration? I actually could get some motherboards to work on one tower and not another using nearly the same hardware. The power supply, the switch on the back of the tower, the power button, the power switches or other things can affect your results.

Do you see any lights on the motherboard? Are you testing it with the barebones (just the motherboard, primary hard drive) to see what happens? I am still wondering if you have the jumpers set correctly. Did you check the manufacturer website for revisions to the manual? They may have information in their knowledge base or support.

It would be a bummer if you sent the motherboard back for replacement only to discover it was okay and the problem was your jumpers! You could have damaged your motherboard trying to install it incorrectly as the manual states. If the manual is incorrect, the manufacturer should replace the motherboard.

[Doc C]

This is why I buy machines. :) Too much frustration building them.

[geekworx]

This is why I buy machines. :) Too much frustration building them.

Amen.

Besides, I can't build them cheaper myself anymore. Dells are so cheap if you watch for the deals.

[YvetteKuhns]

Besides, I can't build them cheaper myself anymore.

I don't replace a monitor and other things that still work. I live in a rich neighborhood where people buy the latest, greatest things and sell the "old" computer parts up to $10. I bought a nice monitor from one person for $5 that lasted for years.

I used to keep replacement parts for testing purposes, but I gave some to programmers or clients who needed to replace parts in a hurry. My luck is that something needs replacing when I don't have the money or time to replace it. That is why I like to build two similar computers. My son can "borrow" my computer if I borrow parts from the second computer (in his room).

I agree that it is cheaper for most people to buy a prebuilt computer if everything is outdated, incompatible or just not working. The time and money wasted to troubleshoot can be better spent. It is easier to buy a new computer and make the old hard drive a slave for backups or retrieving files when something goes wrong!

[IanS]

You can buy just the base unit with the 'new' faster processor, 'new' high speed large amounts of RAM, 'new' Windows (whichever is new at the time ;) ), 'new' CD/DVD type of drive, massive 1Tb of hard disc etc from Dell, without the monitor. - That's what I did, I already had a decent monitor etc, just not the best of everything else :p

[YvetteKuhns]

I have bought a barebones tower from Tiger Direct.

A few years ago, Dell called me and asked me how they could improve sales. I told them to ditch the "Dude, you're getting a Dell" ad that sells to idiots and promote customized computers. As you can see, the newer ads work better and appeal to people like you and me. Still, I personally haven't purchased a Dell but I have serviced them.