New System won't even reach POST

[brikis98]

System specs:

- MSI K8N Neo4-f
- AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice core)
- TR2-M6 (K8) HSF
- Kingston 2x512MB DDR400 Value Ram
- ATI X800 XL
- 160GB Maxtor 7200rpm 8mb cache IDE HD
- NEC 3520a
- Antec True 430w

Originally, I hooked everything up, and pushed the power button. The computer began to run, and the screen listed that I had an A64 3000+ and at the bottom there were some dates (I think BIOS version), and then something along the lines of "push DEL to run BIOS Setup or F11 for startup options".

These are the only things that appeared on the screen (following one beep of the system speaker), and after that NOTHING happens. moreover, pushing DEL or F11 has no effect. I thought this might be because I was using a wireless keyboard/mouse and the USB hub was getting no power... i switched to a PS2 keyboard, and still no effect - the system hangs, and pushing DEL or F11 does absolutely nothing.

so, i took out one stick of ram, leaving just 1x512MB. didn't help. i moved the stick to a different slot. didn't help. then i unplugged the HD and DVD burner. didn't help. i removed all RAM and then got a slow beep code, which I guess means no RAM (nothing comes on screen when this happens). so, i put the RAM back and kept trying, but with no luck.

The heatsink fan spins as it should, as do my case fans (which i've also tried unplugging, just in case), as does the video card fan. however, everytime it got to that screen, NOTHING else will happen.

the MSI Neo4-f has a D-bracket connector in back which has 4 LED's that encode system errors. Each time I boot, the LED's output the code for "BIOS Sign on"... not very helpful.

so, i decided out of desperation to try a CMOS reset. this mobo has a CMOS button on it, and i pushed it. now when i turn the computer on, i get a screen that says "Platinum" in big gray letters (wtf? this isn't a platinum MSI board??) and has this text on the bottom:

"Press <Tab> to switch to POST or <DEL> to run BIOS Setup"

as you might guess, pushing either key does NOTHING, and the system just hangs there.

wtf is going? is the mobo dead? CPU? BIOS? please help!

[zolis]

At this stage the most likely problem is the mother board. If you are able to boot, don't get any post code memory errors, and display video, not reading from PS2 or USB for keyboard the most likely culprit is MB. I think the processor and memory are fine, but you might try using the other stick of memory if you haven't tried that already. Other than that, call your motherboard manufacturers tech support and see if they can help you or the company you bought the board from if you bought it in the last 30 days.

[diyrn]

this actually sounds like the machine is hanging at or before the IDE drive detection.

check for loose IDE cables to either the HD or DVD drive, both ends...

The platinum designation is probably in the system BIOS, when you cleared the cmos you probably reset the small logo display setting, so now you're seeing this.

another thing I've seen cause these sorts of unusual hangs is miswiring the front panel connectors, USB headers, or firewire headers. make sure the jumpers on the hard disk are set properly as well.

good luck

[sevenal]

dito on the front panel connections and Ribbons
g/l

[brikis98]

Ok, the new system is up and running!

Sounds like you guys were right about the front panel connectors. Here's all I did last night to get it to boot beyond the logo splash screen:

- unplugged the keyboard & monitor
- unplugged the power supply from the mobo
- unplugged the power button/reset button/LED's from the front of the case
- unplugged the front USB, headphone and microphone connections
- removed the motherboard tray (this thing is so convinient)
- put the motherboard tray to the side of the case on an anti static bag
- left installed in the mobo ONLY the CPU, HSF, 1 stick of RAM and video card
- plugged the PSU back into the mobo (just the 20 pin and 4 pin connectors)
- plugged in the power button from the front of the case
- hooked up the (PS/2) keyboard and my monitor
- turned it on and VIOLA

Conclusion: one of the items above that I unplugged and replugged must have been hooked up wrong originally. My guess includes the power button/reset button from the front of the case (maybe i put them on the pins wrong), the front USB ports (maybe they short out if installed wrong), or maybe just a bad job of plugging in the PSU (20 pin connector not fully seated).

I'm not sure which of these was the culprit, but after I got it sorted out, everything went very smoothly. The mobo recognized my HD and DVD-RW, recognizes the CPU properly, is running the 2x512MB of RAM in dual channel mode, etc.

I got WinXP installed with no problem as well as all the motherboard software - some cool utilities in there, I must add. Right now, the CPU runs at 36C idle and after 30 mins of battlefield 2, got up to just 42C, so the temps seem to be pretty good.

Thanks again for everyone's help! I can't wait to get home from work and tweak (and mabe OC) the hell out of this thing

[diyrn]

glad you got it going...remember that with that board and that RAM, the MSI's memory divider in the cell menu is your friend, and will allow you to run the FSB and RAM asynchronously, so you can see what the venice chip can do. Most will do 2.4-2.5ghz with decent cooling.

good luck