PCA Forums

Ok some kids in the A+ Class at my Vocational school are building the 64-bit machines this year. And it seems to be that mommy and daddy's pocket books are endless for them here is a list of the first kid's specs (There is 2 of em)

1st Kid:
64-bit Processor
Opteron 240
GForce 4 MX440 (:rolleyes
Asus Sk8n Mother board.

Description - The computer starts up with the power running to the board and all the components. The HD light on his case flashes continously. No idea why that is. There is no Post at all. The website says it needs a bios update but we try to put a Floppy Disk in with the update and the A: won't read. It's in one of those clear plexi glass cases as well. We've tried moving the RAM into all the ram slots, swaped ram sticks, and tried everything else we can think. Reset the CMOS.

2nd Kid:
64-Bit Processor
FX-51
GForce XFX 5600
Asus Sk8n Motherboard.

Description - The computer starts up with the power running to the board and all the components. The HD light on his case flashes continously. No idea why that is. There is no Post at all. The website says it needs a bios update but we try to put a Floppy Disk in with the update and the A: won't read. It's in one of those clear plexi glass cases as well. We've tried moving the RAM into all the ram slots, swaped ram sticks, and tried everything else we can think. Reset the CMOS.

(exact same problem)

We can't figure it out and we're open to anything. We need answers ASAP though. Thanks

I don't have any direct answers to those problems..... but whenever troubleshooting you shouldn't have anything not neccessary to post (i.e. no hard drives, cd-roms, sound cards, NICs, etc). The best thing to do it to take the motherboard out of the box and place it on top, preferable on an anti-static material if you have one, put in your video card (use a proven one for testing if you have one), 1 stick of ram (again, proven ram will knock out another variable), the cpu, and if you have, the retail heatsink applied just as they say. Of course, once it works, take that POS off... but then at least you are violating any warranty things. Lastly, put in the power supply. Use a screw drive to short the starter switch pins. I have personally never puyt together a machine with a new motherboard that didn't need the CMOS flashed, but maybe it is worth a try without doing that.

I gather everyone knows to do this... but i myself often take shortcuts that end up costing me more time, or worse, money. I've never had any static electricity problems at all, and i've never taken any precautions, but it really matters with where you live (static electricity affects some areas / weather patterns more than others).

I've put together about 5 new computers in the last 2-3 years, both AMD and P4, and have never had a DOA motherboard or CPU. I have had a bad power supply though, however, it was pretty easy to figure that out. Most of my problems have been something on the case shorting out the motherboard.

This is probably irrelevant now, but this is sorta "Matts quick guide to success" when building a computer.

Also... how would you manage to flash a BIOS with a floppy when it doesn't post? Correct me if i'm wrong, but that would qualify as a dead board... only the manufacturer would be able to flash that? Maybe i'm wrong, but i can't see any simple way to do it.

Are these people using the same monitor? If the hard drive light is flashing, wouldn't it need to have gotten past POST? Might want to check your monitor/video connection... My reason for thinking this is.... if it was ram then it would be beeping right?

Maybe more detailed information about what is happening will help. Fishy that it is the same type of motherboard though.

general suggestions:

- Pull ALL cards except the vid card
- Pull ALL ram except 1 stick
- Make sure CMOS reset jumper is in the proper position (some boards come from the factory with the jumper in the reset position)
- Try resetting the CMOS
- Check the manual - some mobos have a key you can press while you turn the computer on that forces BIOS to go into very safe settings.

Hope this helps....

You do know that these mobos require ECC Reg DDR Dimms right?