System Won't Boot

[Takumi8187]

Hi, I just finished building a Duron system for a friend but it won't boot. I've tried the motherboard with 2 other working PSUs and still nothing. I noticed there's a 4-prong plug (I think it's called a ATX2) that's supposed to go into the motherboard but this motherboard didn't have a place to put it. What could be wrong? Motherboard bad, CPU bad, need a special PSU for Durons? Help me out please, thanks!

[John Prophet]

They put those 4 prongs on thepower supply just in case the motherboard needs it..but if there is no plug on the motherboard then dont worry about it.

There is no special psu for durons.

Try it with just a psu, cpu/heatsink, one stick of ram, video card..take out any other cards and also pull off the ide cables etc.

"Reseat" the ram and video card....by taking them out and making sure they are in the slots good.

Check the cmos jumper....thats the little jumper usually beside the battery.....sometimes they come in the "reset" position (pc chips motherboards)..but they need to be in the "normal" position.


Do you get any beeps or anything? fans spinning?

Do you have the cpu fan plugged into the proper little plug on the motherboard?? Some of them wont boot if they dont detect a fan on the correct plug.

What is the exact model/make of the motherboard and what is the speed of the duron?

JP

[Takumi8187]

Oh, OK. I thought that 4-prong plug provided a voltage to the CPU.

I've tried booting it up with just what it needs to run but still no luck. And I've checked the RAM and Video Card, they are in correctly.

There's 2 jumpers, the CMOS jumper is set to normal. The CPU Frequency Jumper is set to 100 MHZ.

There's no beeps, no fans spin. I have the CPU fan plugged in and 1 case fan plugged in.

The mobo is PC Chips KT266A Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "M811LU" and the Duron is a 1.4 GHz Applebred.

[SPEEDO]

Is the power button connected to the right header on the motherboard?

Also if it's a new case make sure the little switch on the power supply is set to the proper voltage for your area.

[John Prophet]

ahhh..okay, I think you have a newer Duron which is a 133mhz fsb.

I dont see how that would stop it from booting though.

BUT...there is one question....does that board support that cpu?? that is the question.....

Do you have an older cpu you can try to see if it boots up?

Besides that you COULD try resetting the cmos one time and seeing if that helps.


JP

[Takumi8187]

Speedo: Yes, it is. The only plug I did not connect to the mobo was the Power LED because it took up 3 slots and the mobo only had 2 slots for it. I figured it was just a light so it wouldn't matter. The switch is set to 115V and I live in the US so it's right.


JP: Hmm, maybe I should switch the 2nd jumper to 133 MHz? The site for the mobo only says "AMD Athlon/Duron processor at 200/266MHz FSB". Here it is if you wanna check it out: http://www.pcchipsusa.com/prod-m811luv31.asp

I don't have any old CPUs lying around. I just tried resetting the CMOS but it still doesn't want to boot

[John Prophet]

yeah..it says duron/athlon etc but I know the baord came out before that particular model of Duron did....so possibly it doesnt recognize it or give it the proper voltage or something like that....that is the only thing I can think of anyway, lol.

Asus and a few other makers have great websites where you can plainly and simply go look up EXACTLY what cpu will work with what motherboard....I think PC Chips various sites are more like playing the lottery, lol.

There is a dude named Peter M on this forum who works with PC chips boards a lot..maybe he will see this thread and answer.

[Takumi8187]

I've tried sending an e-mail the PCChips but they're on vacation until January 4th, I don't wanna wait that long, lol.

[Takumi8187]

Any other ideas?

[John Prophet]

not unless you have some spare parts.

you COULD try to take the motherboard out of the case..set it on the foam or static free packing material that it came in...try to boot it there...the reason to try it that way is because sometimes it could be accidently shorted to the case, or a wire could be pinched or something....so if you take it out and lay it on the table you can at least narrow it down further.

JP