So I build a new computer...

someone16 · 11-28-2003, 04:34 PM

and when I turn it on, the fan spins for about half a second and turns back off. The power supply seems fine.

Raidmax 868 case w/ 420W psu
Athlon 2500+
Shuttle AN35N Ultra
Hynix PC 3200 512mb
Maxtor 30gb
Gforce2 mx 400
TDK CDRW

RamonGTP · 11-29-2003, 02:38 AM

Make sure your CPU fan is plugged into the correct fan header on the motherboard. Many boards will not power up until the detect a fan present. Also make sure your bios jumper isn't set to the reset pins. Make sure your RAM and video card are securly in their slots. Also if you have USB ports on your case, many times the cables have an extra ground wire. I've found that if I hook up that extra ground wire to my motherboard, it won't power up at all.

squeech · 11-29-2003, 02:52 AM

The obvious one: make sure that both ATX power connectors are in securely (the 20-pin connector everyone loves and the 4-pin 12V connector next to the CPU).

I agree with Ramon and check the CPU fan connection (make sure it's in the plug right next to the leftmost RAM slot's upper clip).

Check the underside of the motherboard for any metal that could be shorting the board to the chassis (like an extra riser or something). This will ground the board and shut it off almost instantly.

What do you mean by the PSU seems to be fine? Did you test it, or plug in another one? Just b/c it is may be new doesn't guarantee that is works

Finally, make sure ALL external ports hooked up to the board are grounded (USB, SD, Firewire breakouts, etc.). Those "extra" ground wires are about as necessary as the power switch on the front of the case don't disconnect them as they will generally cause ports to malfunction in the future if not immediately (ungrounded electronics are ALWAYS a bad idea

).

Well, try those on for size and see if any of them fit

RamonGTP · 11-29-2003, 03:42 AM

Get an epox 8RDA+ and hook up the extra ground wire and see what happens... Its an EXTRA ground, not the only ground... I just put together a system today, and the wires that were hooked up to the front USB didn't even have that extra ground that my case did, so its obviously not necessary.

someone16 · 11-29-2003, 11:55 PM

Ok thanks guys, I solved my hardware problem.

But now my windows is acting weird. Whenever I restart my computer my programs are all gone from add/remove program list and would not run. The files are still there but it's corrupted and I have to reinstall everything again. The only programs that stay after a restart is my nvidia drivers. I tried using AVG and zonealarm to prevent viruses but doesn't seem to do anything.
Seems like it keeps restoring my computer to a certain state. System restore turned off

Thank you!

Starfury_2260 · 11-30-2003, 08:08 PM

that first problem sounded like maybe there was a problem with your cpu fan and the cpu was overheating which would cause the mobo to shut off the computer (in most new mobos anyway)

Bertus02 · 12-02-2003, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starfury_2260
that first problem sounded like maybe there was a problem with your cpu fan and the cpu was overheating which would cause the mobo to shut off the computer (in most new mobos anyway)

It’s impossible for a CPU to overheat after 1/2 second. The board recognizes a fan is not connected and then subsequently shuts down.

imac9556 · 12-02-2003, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bertus02

It’s impossible for a CPU to overheat after 1/2 second. The board recognizes a fan is not connected and then subsequently shuts down.

srry if off topic a little
Unless you have an AMD Athlon/Duron and forgot to put the heatsink on or did not put it on properly... Also, check out THG's Video "how modern processors cope with heat". AMD CPUs burned to death..lol

Learned the hardway.... lol

Starfury_2260 · 12-02-2003, 08:13 PM

as hot as amd processors get i bet they could if the heatsink is messed up somehow.