PCA Forums

First time on MSI KT3 ultra. Swapped case and will not boot. Does anyone know if I should get beeps from spkr if boot fails, or is other equipment required to troubleshoot?
Tks for help

If it fails to POST and the CPU and RAM is functional, you'll get beep codes. You won't get any beep codes if the CPU or ram isn't initializing.

Re-seat the RAM and the CPU. If using more than 1 stick of RAM, pull 'em all except one.

Disconnect EVERYTHING except the mobo from the PSU, and the vid card. Pull all other cards and cables. Disconnect all power from the drives.

Disconnect all front panel connectors including the power switch. Now start the mobo by shorting the pins for the power switch on the mobo with a screw driver. If it works, connect everything ONE AT A TIME. Start with the front panel jumpers. MAKE SURE THEY'RE CONNECTED PROPERLY. If you plug an LED into the reset swich header for instance, it won't POST.

If the mobo's still dead then take it out of the case sit it on a cardboard box (you don't want anything metal touching the bottom and shorting anything out). Just connect the PSU and video card - nothing else. You can turn it on by shorting together the header pins for the power switch with a screw driver.

If it POSTS then it's almost certainly something in the case touching an electrical contact on the mobo and shorting it out. Make sure all your standoffs are aligned with holes in the mobo.

Check for shorts and then put it back in the case - try it again with only the PSU and vid card connected. If it works, add one thing at a time.

ALWAYS kill the power (either by using the kill switch on the PSU if it has one or pulling the power cord) when installing cards. Even with the mobo turned off the board is energized and just dropping a screw or anything metal on it could damage it.

When handling the mobo or the ram be VERY careful not to flex the circuit board - this is often hard to avoid when inserting the ram in stiff sockets. You can easily crack a foil trace in the mobo or memory stick and then it's all over.

ALWAYS observe static precautions when handling the mobo, memory or CPU. Touch the case (power cord must be connected to the PSU or the case is not grounded) or anything else that's metal and has a ground before touching anything that can be damaged by static. If you live up north and the weather is dry (dry enough that you get shocked all the time touching light switches) then you should be using a static wrist strap.

Hope this helps.