Kicka$$ Gaming Machine - DEAD!

[Viper16]

So I have an awsome machine! The only problem is it doesn't work! I have an Athlon 1.2 (Running at 1.5), on a MSI K7T266 MoBo, with a Maxtor 30Gb HDD, and 256 Mb DDR.

So what's the problem you may ask? Well a few weeks ago my computer simply stopped working. I had though it was the motherboard, so stupidly went out and bought a new one with DDR memory and everything. Ofcourse I felt I didn't need to check anything else. So I broght home the new MoBo hooked everything up, and quickly found out that I had just wasted $350! Yes, you guessed it, the comp still doesn't work.

I really have no idea what the problem is, I unplugged everything from the comp except the basics (CPU,RAM,MoBo) and the system beeped, so I know the Mother Board is posting, but I plugged in the video card, and nothing comes up on the monitor. So I tried another videocard, and the Mobo posted on the screen. So I plugged in the HDD, and, you guessed it, the screen stayed blank. but if I put in my old video card, it won't post.

Now the really weird thing is the LED system diagnostic display keeps telling me that my RAM is bad, or not installed properly, but I don't know.

Any help would be awsome, and perhaps it will save me from stupidly spending more money.

Thanx

[NeoStarO1]

Have you tested the mobo with a different hard drive or tested the hard drive in a known working machine.

Also have you tested to rule out the the monitore is the culprit? Test the monitor on another system that you know is functioning.

Those are the only things I can think of at the moment. There will be plenty of help more coming along the way.

<edit> what operating system are you using. That will get asked.


BTW. WELCOME TO TECHIMO!!!

NeoStar

[freem]

i had an old at motherboard that would beep repetedly when it was started. it had to be turned on and off until it didnt beep then it would boot. it stayed that way for about a month untill the ram was switched around now it boots fine. on stick was 60 megs the other was 128 megs. for a while there i thought it was lizard crap from my iguana on the motherboard causing problems

[Viper16]

I have tried the monitor with other machines, and I'm confident that it does work. Also I'm using the Windows 2000 OS.

thanx

[Pakaraatzi]

Hmm, sounds like something to do with the power supply.

Lots if things could effect that, maybe you have an air conditioner or other large power consuming appliance attached to the same circuit that the computers plugged into. Try using another circuit or taking the AC off that one.

It could just be something wrong with the power supply too, so try using another one that you know works.

Regards Pakaraatzi

[Ace McGirk]

First thing would be to suspect the parts that you brought over from the old motherboard,I would replace each in turn until you find the culprit.(include anything from the old pc, power supply ,processor,fans,floppy ,vid ...... you get the idea)

[Imperion1]

Have you tried the DDR ram stick in a different ram slot?
Since ram is fairly cheap, have you tried a different stick of ram?

[Emc2]

I'd trust the LED lights. They've never been wrong for me.

[Daft_Ghosty]

I've know to many ppl with bad Maxtor hardrives.. while I dont' knwo of anything that coudl happen to a hardrive to not allow your system to post,, u coudl always chcek it on another system..

some other things to test that could cause a system not to post..

Mother board grounding out.. u can test this by taking the mother board out of the system placing it on a card board box.. and hooking in vid card only.. with keyboard and mouse.. and power of course.. just don't touch the board while on.. this will let you knwo if it grounding out..

also.. someone said before about ram.. u may have one piece of bad ram.. which can cause this prob.. was your old board a ddr board? if it is 2 pieces of ram (s 128) by chance run it with only one..

another little prob that kt7266 has a agp pro slot.. if u removed the little plastic pin that was covered by the little yellow tape.. put it back in.. if u are not running a pro card.. I had a friend who removed his once.. and coudlnt' get his system to post either till he put it back..

Video card.. could be bad.. make sure it is well seated.. use a different vid card get a friends test it out..

What will ake this all easier is if u have another machine to test each part on.. to see where to prob lays..

Well I hope u find the prob

-Sean

[Viper16]

Just want to say thanks to Sean. That was probably the most informative post yet.

In regard to the air conditioner, I'm pretty sure that's not the case, considering I live in Ontario Canada and now isn't really the time of year for airconditioners.

In regards to the power supply, I tested a second one and even more powerful with the system. and the same problems proceeded.

In regards to the RAM that and the HDD remain the only things I havn't tested yet. I tested the CPU, and found no problems, I tested the Video card and that works perfectly as well. The only two things I am unsure about are the RAM and the HDD. The ram may be the culprit, because it is brand new, and as Ford wuld say, it isn't "tried tested and true."

Now here's the real kicker. The board posts only until I plug in the HDD. when I unplug the HDD again, it posts again.

Anyway, I'll see what I can do, HDD testing wise.

Thanx again for the responses.

~Brent